femalenetwork.com

Text by: The Cosmo Team and Pia Rojas

Whether you sock your money away or spend it with Victoria Beckham abandon, one thing is certain: Everybody loves a bargain. And when it comes to your beauty routine, there’s nothing better than saving a bundle on the stuff that makes you look sexy. That’s especially true if we’re talking about hair. Just shampoos, exotic straightening treatments—oh, and did we mention high-tech blow-dryers and silky hair brushes? Fortunately, you can have all of the indulgent ways to save big bucks on every aspect of your hair routine. So, bring on the teases and thrilling extras—your mane is about to look its very best (for much, much less).

Trim Salon Costs
Love Your Cut For Longer
When choosing a hairstyle, consider a cut that will look even more gorgeous as it grows out, says Sam Provido, top stylist at Bench Fix Salon in Robinsons Galleria. He recommends a mid0legth ‘do with long, swingy layers that blend together. “Soft layers and side-swept bangs make for a simple but manageable cut that still has impact,” says Provido. Short, choppy shags or pixie cuts, while equally sexy, tend to lose their shape quickly and require serious upkeep—think trims every three to four weeks.

Cheat On Your Stylist A Little
Rather than bouncing between two or more salons to lower costs, visit a top stylist for your major style change, and maintain trims with a different stylist at the same salon. “We can show them how to maintain the cut given to you by the salon’s top hairdresser, so you can still maintain your great cut without spending for a major style change,” explains Provido.

Do It Yourself
If your salon doesn’t offer complimentary touch-ups, you can save money (and travel time) with at-home trims, says Jon Bantigue, Azta Urban Salon owner. Ask your hairdresser to give you a quick tutorial next time you’re in (trust us, he’d much rather show you a few pointers than have you butcher his work). That said, don’t get too scissor-happy. Stick to tiny tweaks, like cutting off split-ends or pruning bangs.

Be Careful With Hot Tools
The quickest way to cheapen a great cut? Beating it up with hair dryers, curling irons, and flatirons. “Although blow-drying doesn’t really ruin the style of the cut, it does ruin the texture of your hair because the outer layer dries up,” explains Bantigue. So take a 24-hour break in between using styling tools, and never let a dryer’s nozzle touch your tips (that’s the fastest way to create split ends). Also, don’t assume that you have to sink large funds into luxe styling tools

Take Good Care
The reason your hair feels so soft and silky after a salon cut is because it’s gotten all the attention. While you can’t have a stylist massage your head at home (fantastic as that does sound), you can do a scalp treatment to remove product buildup (just use a toothbrush in baking soda to gently scrub your damp scalp in the shower). Or, try a deep conditioning mask to add shine.

Loyalty Discount
Got hair that grows like Rapunzel’s? Good news: Some salons will offer in-between trims for loyal clients, says Bantigue. “We’ve introduced a service called Bangs Retouch. Although this doesn’t include shampoo and blow-dry, it’s a cost-efficient solution if you just want to trim your bangs.” And if you wish to spruce up the ends of your hair, dust off some split-ends. Most hair dressers are flexible, especially to loyal and friendly clients. “Some stylists will even do it for free [if the finish that the client is asking for isn’t that complicated].”

Homemade Hair Concoction
Mix up your own shine-enhancing treatment—on the house—with this recipe.

The peel from one orange
½ avocado
1 tsp. olive oil
1 tbsp. Apple cider vinegar
1 c. water

Bring the water to a rapid boil, add the orange peel, and remove from heat. Once cool, pur the contents into a blender, and whip for one minute. Add the remaining ingredients, blend for an additional minute, then transfer the mixture to a bowl. Paint it on your hair from roots to tips, cover with a shower cap, and let it sit for 25 minutes. Rinse and shampoo as usual, and voilà, glossy locks.

Maximize Your Color
Fake Salon Color
Considering how much you pay for color at the salon, you’d think they’d spiked their dyes with diamonds. Nope, the secret ingredients are conditioners that impart a shy glow, says Provido. Look for them in at-home kits like Kolours Dual Conditioning Hair Colour. And stick to a shade that’s one or two levels lighter than your natural hue. This way, the regrowth will be subtle, so you can go longer between color applications, says Provido.

Protect and Preserve
Investing in a new hue is only worth it if it sticks around, which means you’ll get more value out of the shade if you treat it right. “Bleach in dyes dries up the hair, so its best to have a treatment immediately after coloring the hair,” explains Bantigue. When it’s time to lather up, opt for a color-safe shampoo and conditioner that are UV-protecting, and steer clear of clarifying or deep cleansing formulas, which can strip-dye pigments. And in general, it’s best not to shampoo everyday. “Sodium chloride is used in shampoo to clean the hair but it strips away the color as well. Try the Davines Nounou Shampoo, which cleans hair while nourishing your hair color. Bonus: You can buy it at the salon, ask your stylist to apply it post-color, and take the rest of the bottle home with you.

Apply It Like a Pro
Chunky highlights tend to look cheap and skunky, and they’re a pain to maintain. Instead, just do thin streaks around your face and part (where the sun would hit your head naturally). Also, some salons like Propaganda offer baliage, a technique where the colorist paints bleach on skinny strands for a natural effect. It’s slightly more expensive than foils, but the regrwoth isn’t obvious, so you’ll end up spending less on upkeep.

Cover Up Roots
Don’t hit the dye bottle at the very first sign of roots. If you only have an inch or less of regrowth, mask it with a quick coloring kit (try Garnier Nutrisse Cream). Pick a shade similar to the color you had done, and keep in mind that the points is not to match your color exactly but simply to make your roots less noticeable.

Cheap Save!
Get a gloss or cellophane treatment if you want a fast boost that won’t break your budget. “It’s shine-boosting so it’ll enhance your natural hair color,” explains Bantigue. Treat yourself to the salon experience, or try L’Oréal Elseve Smooth Intense Mask, to renew softness and sine of listless hair. Most glosses take only a few minutes to activate, so you’ll pay far less than you would for a full head of highlights or a single-process colors.