Salon Secrets that Save You Money

Visiting a salon is expensive! Simple 'split-end' trims can be upwards of 20 bucks in the inexpensive places and more when you add in a tip. Chemical services and conditioning treatments are through the roof. So what can you do to keep beautiful locks while limiting your visits to a salon?

1. Get your hair in good shape and keep it that way.
This means knowing your real hair and what you've done to it. Have you bleached, permed or highlighted? Are you outdoors daily and exposed to the elements? Do you use the same shampoo and conditioner you did 10 years ago? Do you blow dry everyday? Wear a hat on a regular basis? The answers to these questions are very important and are things your hairdresser remembers about you.

Pay attention to the condition of your hair and how you care for it. Everyone knows chemicals damage hair, but so does the sun, wind, rain and those products you use on your hair everyday. If you have weathered or chemically treated hair you need to treat your hair delicately and condition often.

Choose a good shampoo and conditioner and use as directed. Everyone will have a favorite but the real secret is to rotate brands every 2 weeks so you don't get a build-up of wax-like chemicals that are in both products. Rinse your hair with cool water to shut down the cuticles on each hair strand. This smoothes the hair shaft, resulting in less tangling and more shine. To remove the inevitable build-up of gels, mousses and sprays use a clarifier. Save some serious bucks and make it yourself by adding 3 tablespoons of baking soda to an ounce of shampoo, lather and let sit in hair for at least 3 minutes, repeat if necessary then shampoo normally and condition.

2. Limit the abuse of your hair.
Simply giving your hair a break from blow drying, smoothing irons or hot rollers on the weekend can make a huge difference in damage. Examine your ponytail holders and make sure they have no metal parts that can pull and break your hair. Use soft cloth holders and make sure your brushes are not aged and ragged.

Protect your hair from the elements as well as the pool by using UV products. Massaging a small amount of conditioner before getting in a pool or hitting the spa will keep harsh chlorine from coloring your hair green and drying it out. Don't think your skin is all you need to protect on a beach outing either. Your hair needs UV protection or covering.

3. Know your styling products.
Always read the labels. Look for the words 'alcohol free' when purchasing styling products. Brands that have a high amount of alcohol leave hair dry and brittle after a few uses.

Common sense dictates you keep the use of 'heat styling' products to a minimum. These products are designed to be used with a flat iron or curling iron. They're literally baked onto your hair. Build up and damage from these products is fast and furious, so clarifying and conditioning regularly is a must.

If you've had a relaxer and use wax and oil based products for smoothing, you know breakage is the biggest problem. This can be avoided by using less product and deep conditioning more often. Try using a pea sized amount of conditioner in the place of the wax once in awhile.

4. Chemicals and you.

Strolling down the aisles of your local superstore you will see dozens of chemical products for your hair. How safe are these? How easy to use? Are you really saving money? If the directions are followed specifically the products are safe to use. Ease is a matter of being comfortable applying the product. The costs of over the counter chemicals are substantially less than a trip to the salon.

When you visit a salon you're purchasing the hairdressers expertise and experience. Of course you pay for the products used, but your hairdresser has been specially trained to use these chemicals. The result should be that you get a great salon experience, feel pampered and have beautiful hair.

It boils down to the question of whether you're comfortable with the application of chemicals and would rather save the cash than be pampered. If you decide to make this a DIY project, always read all the directions. If you perm your hair, have a friend help you roll it, misting with water until your whole head is rolled then apply the chemicals. Spot check the rollers every 3 minutes for the correct wave pattern. If you're coloring your hair at home, don't be afraid to mix two or more shades to get the color you're after. Stick to the same brand when mixing and always follow the correct ratio of color to developer. Applying a thin line of conditioner on the skin around the edges of your hairline will prevent staining. Always remember than your 'natural' color isn't as dark as you think it is! Hair lightens as it grows longer as a natural process and the color we see near our scalp is darker than the color we see 3 or more inches out.

5. Conditioning.
Buying a conditioner can be confusing. There are many products on the shelves and they all promise to shine, soften, detangle and even heal your hair. Before purchasing one I recommend you think of how you use your current conditioner. Do you leave your conditioner in for several minutes while in the shower? Do you use it as a re-conditioner and leave it in for 15 minutes or more? Do you simply slap some on and rinse it out immediately?

Whatever the routine, consider changing it up a bit if you're unhappy with the condition and 'feel' of your hair. If you slap the conditioner in and rinse immediately, use one that you leave in a few minutes once a week. If you leave in conditioner every time you shampoo cut it down to once a week and use a light conditioner for detangling after the other shampoos. Always rinse with cool water after conditioning. Cool water shuts down the cuticle and traps some of the moisture from the conditioner in the hair shaft. Rinsing with warm water washes the conditioner down the drain and right out of your hair. If detangling is all you need then buy a light conditioner that specifically says it detangles and save money by eliminating the expensive conditioners.

Working in the beauty industry for many years has shown me that the majority of people don't do the simple things that could save hundreds of dollars. Most people have complaints about their hair that could be fixed at home using some of the tips in this article. Your professional hairdresser can provide services that you can't get at home, so don't cut out your salon visits completely, just eliminate unnecessary ones and save some cash!