How to Care for Your Hair In Between Haircuts

Sure, it's nice to go to a salon and get your hair cut, but at $50 and up, the price tag is a little bit more difficult to digest nowadays. And, regardless of the economy, sometimes it's difficult to schedule an appointment and keep one if you have a hectic personal schedule to deal with.

So, if you're looking to cut a few expenses, save time and have a relatively steady hand, here are some tips on how to prolong a haircut via conditioning and a D.I.Y. trim.

To start with, if you live near a Sally Beauty Supply, go there. If not, any beauty supply store will do. If you don't have one of these types of specialty stores in your area, try a Wal-Mart or a Target. The only reason I suggest a beauty supply store, is that you can at least equip yourself with the tools that professionals use for hair care and haircuts.

At the Store: Note that this shopping list is based on a visit to Sally Beauty Supply Store.
Once you get to the store, have someone point you in the direction of the shears. These can be pretty expensive, but don't let a salesperson suck you into the hype. You're looking for something sharp and not too long. Make sure to actually grip a variety of scissors to see which one feels most comfortable to you.

If you're looking for some direction, try the Logo Bronze Series Shear #100. I like it because of the smooth cut it gives. The blades are not too long so the user feels in control. The stainless steel blades have yet to rust on me, and it costs only $24.99. It's a pretty good investment, if it saves you $50 upon first use. The price of shears can go quite high, but I don't see the point in investing in an expensive pair unless you're a professional and actually understand the difference between brands.

If you don't have one, pick up a cheap fine tooth comb (which will be used to part your hair). Anything will work (wide tooth, fine tooth - it doesn't matter). Just remember, the finer the teeth, the more precise a part you will get.
Also pick up a couple of Pelican clips (sort of looks like the nail of a bird's claw). These are excellent for gripping your hair to section off pieces to cut. These shouldn't cost you more than $2.99 to $4.99, and you only need a few. If you have thick hair, get the larger clips, obviously.

For hair care, pick up a bottle of Motions Marula Hair & Scalp Oil. You can supposedly put this in your hair any time, but you tend to lose volume. So, I'd put it on once a week on a day when you're staying in the house, and I only use it as a treatment for my scalp (healthy hair starts at the roots). Plus, I don't like the feeling of having oil in my regular strands, it gets in my face and then on my skin, etc. A bottle should not cost you more than $7.

For three to four times per week conditioning, try Quantum's moisturizing conditioner for permed, color-treated hair - even if you don't have a perm or color treatment. It really helps in moisturizing dry or damaged ends. A bottle should not cost you more than $6.

Conditioning Treatment:
Overwashing your hair is an obvious zapper of moisture. This is why it is recommended that people not wash their hair everyday.

At least once per week, rub the scalp oil into your scalp and leave in until your next shampoo. You will instantly notice a difference. But don't overdo it as you will be prone to loss of volume.

Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays, use the Quantum. Before actually turning the water on for a shower, put the conditioner in first. Let sit for 10 minutes and then rinse it off. If you have an issue with volume-less hair to begin with, only concentrate the conditioner on your ends.

Trimming Tips Before Cutting:
Generally speaking, about a month-and-half after your salon haircut you will start noticing the split ends and more difficulty in styling your hair. If you think it's time for a trim, here are some tips before you start.

Cutting wet hair is much easier than cutting dry. Cutting wet hair allows you to make more precise cuts. However, cut substantially less than you would dry, because hair shrinks up once it is dry. So, never cut to the length that you actually like. Always, compensate by cutting less.

You can always go back if you think you didn't cut enough, but you can never go back once you've cut too much.

Additionally, if you've made a severe mistake, don't panic, just go to the salon (yes, that defeats the whole purpose of saving money by giving yourself a trim), and usually a stylist will be able to help you.
If you feel you need to cut off around an inch of hair - it's best to get an actual hair cut. A trim is easy to hide if you're not a professional, but an actual cut is a little more difficult

Trimming your Hair:
If you have bangs, cut them rounded (unless you're going for that straight-across look). And remember, don't cut too much. Just do a centimeter at a time. Once you are satisfied with the length. Take sections of hair between your pointer and middle finger, pull the hair straight up, and cut at an angle, so that you give yourself layers.

If you are trimming your actual hair, part your hair in the middle. Take one half of your hair and clip up to keep out of the way. With the other half of your hair divide, again into manageable sections you can cut. With each section, take your shears and trim upwards. Don't lop of chunks. The idea is to trim layers of hair.

If you don't like cutting this way, you can also bend forward so that your hair is in your face and do the same trimming upward motion. For this, I would definitely make sure that your hair is wet to get a more precise cut.

Then vacuum everything up, wash your hair and style. You'll notice a difference right away.