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The fiscal palette first sent the TSX red, then made investors blue. Now, it threatens to turn Toronto's platinum blondes into an endangered species.

In a few fraught months, the city's beauty scene has been turned on its well-coiffed head. Manicures and facials have been deemed fripperies, hair highlights are a luxury, and regular waxing can be delayed thanks to forgiving layers of winter clothing.

But pedicures and haircuts remain an absolute must, even if they are postponed for a week or two.

A year ago, Toronto firefighter and natural dark-blonde Susie Opie thought nothing of dropping $200 every eight weeks to maintain the hair she admits "takes a beating," opting for whatever salon was handy.

Lately, though, she's been researching downtown salons in a bid to scale those costs back to $150 every 10 weeks.

"I'm spending the money," Ms. Opie said as she settled into a salon chair on King Street West.

"There used to be a time when you'd go to the top places in Yorkville, [but] I think people are realizing they don't have to spend as much money to get an equally good a haircut."

But it's not the exclusive haunts in Yorkville or the edgy alternative salons of downtown that are being affected.

Instead, it's at the more mainstream salons that clients are trying to get more beauty for their buck. Men are switching to barbershops, and beauty salons are throwing in free services.

For some, that strategy is a winning one. At the Terminal Barber Shop at Bay and Dundas Streets, barber and co-owner Karim Saaden says business is better than ever.

"Unfortunately, some of my clients lost their jobs," Mr. Saaden said. "I really felt sorry for them. ... But we are getting new clients every day. Our commerce is going up."

With its $17 haircuts and $5 scalp massages, the Terminal has a constant flow of business executives, traders and office workers in its antique leather chairs.

"I find we are kind of recession-proof. It's a little bit bizarre," Mr. Saaden said. "The more there's stress about the economy, the more people enjoy themselves in terms of relaxation and pampering."

Elsewhere, Ossington Avenue hipsters and young west-end families are keeping the rock-infused Grateful Head salon busy. And the upscale Yorkville salon The Private World of Mary Tripi is unfazed by the economic downturn.

But other businesses are rolling out special deals.

At The Ten Spot Nail Bar on Queen Street West, pedicures now come with a free mini-manicure, a facial earns a complimentary back massage, and e-mail subscribers getting Brazilian waxes can get a free lip wax or eyebrow tidy-up.

"I don't really like slashing prices. I'd rather add value," said salon owner Kristen Gale.

But haircuts are becoming more practical as people seek styles that will "grow out well," stylists say. More manicures are being done at home. Facials are being avoided.

Rosa Da Silva, owner of the downtown Rosa Bella Hair and Spa Lounge, said the previously busy beauty side of her business is now all but dead.

Of course, that is affecting the bottom line, but Ms. Da Silva said she is confident the business will be okay. Spa treatments are a luxury, but "hair is essential," she said. "It's an essential part of day-to-day grooming, especially for the office crowd."

At The Private World of Mary Tripi, where a haircut and blow dry can cost up to $200, owner Mary Tripi isn't seeing any slackening in demand.

"When you talk to the clients, they say they have to be careful, but I don't think anything has changed in the way they're taking care of themselves," Ms. Tripi said.

The personal economy is a series that looks at people in the Toronto region coping with the economic downturn. To share your story, write Tenille Bonoguore at tbonoguore@globeandmail.com