(edit title) American girl in Stockholm Needs advice: salons? beauty supply stores? ect... Options

[hmurph1]

Hello,
I have a few girly questions below that I could use some help answering. I am an American girl who moved here for my Swedish boyfirend. He has NO CLUE about womens stuff in sweden...lol. Here are some of my silly "girl" questions below:

1- Why can I not find a decently priced quality curling IORN??? I went to 3 electronics stores and it's like $60 US for a "Remington" piece-of-crap-miniature-early-1990's-looking metal one. I only ask because I almost blew up a socket trying to use a "converter" for my US curling iron and haven't done my hair for 3 wks. I'm beginning look a little nutty. Do you have any recommendations for finding decently priced and good quality beauty tools?

2- I'm so used to the crazy wealth of cosmetic stores in the US (EX-Ulta, Sephora, ect..) that I am having a hard time transitioning to the high prices and low amount of products here at Kicks, Ålens and the Apoteket. As of now, I am looking for a cheaper replacement to "Bare Minerals". In the US it is $25 a jar and here it is $65!!! That is out of controllll. Is there any makeup store that would have all "natural" or "mineral" makeup that you can think of? Any other good variety cosmetic stores? Natural cosmetic stores? Any recommendations would help GREATLY!!

3-(non-beauty related question) As much as I love Swedish food, I am American and like American stuff still (unfortunately... it cant be beat out of me). Could you recommend any specialty stores and/or restaurants that carry reasonably priced american food? Just incase I get jonesing for a taste of home? Mcdonalds doesn't really count. haha! And, the "tex-mex" food here is pretty... well... ZZZzzzzZZZZzzzz.

4-I am in need of a regular salon... ok this is a big one!!! I'm pretty anal about good hair cuts and color. Do you know of a "hip" and great quality salon that is reasonably priced? I used to go to Aveda in the US and got pretty spoiled on their high level of service. Can you think of anywhere that could be just as good? or, better?

[foxpur]

#1 You kind of covered why it is more expensive without realizing it. The plugs/power is not as universal available as in the USA. The are 150 million females in USA, there are 5 million in Sweden - The cost of design for a smaller sales means higher price. However, with OnOff in bankrupt you might get a better deal there.

#2 The Make-up store is medium price, recommended is "ID bare minerals" from åhlens or kicks, they have the best price on it. You CAN order it from the US and have it mailed. Saves a little bit after shipping.

#3 There used to be a decent 60's place in Kista at the Centrum near the movie theatre. There is always Hard Rock Cafe in central. Max is ok for fastfood alt to McD's. There used to be the horrorindously over priced Gray's American food store but they are gone. Now you have to look in the "international" section for generic level items. I just learn how to make it yerself

#4 I can't help with, mindless male when comes to salon needs

[dockmandock]

1 and 2, I suggest buying online, either through eBay or online through stores - Germany can be a good source for quality items.

I almost buy everything I need bar food and drink and stuff such as batteries (at least Claes Ohlson is cheap for that) online, and I also buy stuff such as clothes in Germany or the UK when I go there.

[roch]

www.ebay.co.uk
Or the UK Amazon site

Both excellent for finding small electricals cheaper than here.
Also great for finding beauty buys at non Swedish prices.

Because it's within the EU you won't get stung with customs charges.

Happy shopping.

[Stampe]

Because it's within the EU you won't get stung with customs charges.

Amazon.co.uk do charge VAT for certain products, though

[tes85]

#2 - I buy all my cosmetics online at http://se.strawberrynet.com, they have free shipping and good deals. It's not as cheap as in the US, but it's the best price out there

#4 - ended up giving up on hair salons the price is JOKE, I used to go once every 4 or 5 weeks back home. Now it's about once every 6 months just for a trim, very sad indeed! Good luck!

[Darwinder]

I am not a girl but let me reitterate some advice above, buy everything online from ebay.co.uk. It costs sometimes around 1/2 the price of here in a Swedish store with shipping and they send it to your front door in a very reliable 3-5 days max. I seriously haven't bought something from a shop in Sweden in over a year haha, I can't believe what people are willing to pay here for silly things, don't even get me started on baby stuff!

As for American food, I can feel what your saying, sometimes I jones hard for chicken wings and a big fat burger and when I do I head to O'Leary's. They specialize in "American Bar Food" but it is more of a Swedish twist but at least they try hard and some things are kinda sorta the same, except for the prices =)

Anyways, welcome to the Nordic Abyss, hope you like pork and potatoes!

[Tennin]

As a fellow American I know exactly how you feel, as I felt the same way when I first moved here.

Unfortunately everything here is generally more expensive than things back home. You have to remember that alot of the American things are imported here, so that means they get the lovely Tullverket tax, plus Sweden's normal 25%. As another person mentioned the lack of people also makes for higher prices.

As for a cheap flat iron/curling iron, you can look online to find one, or if you ever go down to Gekås in Ullared they have it really cheap there, but it's really far from Stockholm. Another place maybe to check out for inexpensive things such as shampoo, conditioner, handsoap, bodysoap, lotions is ÖoB. I bought a hairdryer when I first got here for about $60 and I almost had a heartattack with the pricetag. Now it's something I'm used to.

As for makeup, the best bet is to order online. Or if you go home buy a lot and bring it back with you. Or if you have family still back home have them send you a semi-annual boxful of things to you. This is what I do, when I go home I stock up, and mail myself a boxful of things, and when those runout I have my parents send me my make up. I ranout of mascara last year and bought a L'oreal mascara for about $28, and it's one of those you buy at the drug store in the states. I almost S*at myself, especially when I know back home the thing only costs about $10-$12. The sad thing was the masacara was made in the EU (Ireland), so I coudln't understand why it was still so expensive.

It's much cheaper to have family mail the make up to you, even with the postage fees. Plus you don't have to deal with the exchange rate, if you still have a bank account in the states.

[Streja]

I have just started using this site on Jersey: www.feelunique.com

www.eleven.se is good as well.

Just google any product you need and then you will find out where to buy it cheaply. I also recommend getting åhlens and kicks store cards so you get all those discounts. Btw they do have more than bare minerals...they hav jane iredale and other brands.

[Tennin]

If you're craving American food things. Right now at Lidl's they have some American type food there. We bought some bagels, which are impossible to find here, and they were about 18kr for a pack of 3. Pretty decent chocolate chip cookies for about 10kr. I also got some American style mustard, and dried cranberries. There were also choco chip muffins, and chocolate choco chip muffins. It's not exactly like home taste, but the foods are better than nothing.

I'm sure in Stockholm they might have some food places that sell things straight from the US. Here in Göteborg at ICA Focus they have a section with international foods, and a section dedicated to American things. I bought some Reese's peanut butter cups since I was craving some, and it was over a year I had one. But those little babies costed about $5-6 for a 3 pack. Let's just say I ate them very slowly to enjoy every bit of it.

[JulieLou40]

To the OP: I sell makeup items on tradera (Swedish ebay) quite often, including Bare minerals. Send me a PM if you want any.

[Streja]

Bagels are Jewish though and can be found in many countries apart from the US.

[Nemesis]

To the OP: I sell makeup items on tradera (Swedish ebay) quite often, including Bare minerals. Send me a PM if you want any.

What brands of make up?

[Nemesis]

Do you have Mac make up?

[JulieLou40]

What brands of make up?

Do you have Mac make up?

It varies. L'occitane, Clinique, DHC, YSL, Bare Minerals and others. Only do it for a hobby, but I can get MAC & other brands if a customer wants it.