DIY Beauty! Part II: Make Your Haircut Last Longer

While regular trims are the key to growing your hair long and strong, making regular trips to the salon can put a hurting on your wallet. So what is a budget-conscious beauty to do? Stretch out those hair cuts! The more you do to protect the ends of your hair, the longer you can go between trims.

What to do if the damage is done but you don't have the cash for a trim right now? Citre Shine Shine Miracle Split End Mender, $5 is for you! While nothing but a cut can remedy scraggly ends, this serum can certainly help. Even the labs at the Good Housekeeping Institute found that Citre Shine's split end fixer gives some positive results. Definitely worth the 5 bucks until your stylist can get her hands on your hair.

Heat is a mother on your hair, so protecting it from your flat iron and other appliances is a must to preserve your hair cut on an ongoing basis. One heat protectant I love is Motions Heat Seeker Protector Spray, $4.68. This liquid spray dries fast and doesn't leave a residue on your hair. At under 5 bucks, its a real beauty bargain.

If your not so keen on using a liquid, try FHI Heat Hot Sauce, $14. This silky cream not only protects your hair from heat, but smooths the hair cuticle while imparting serious shine and moisture. The directions say to use on wet hair before blow drying, but I use use it on dry hair too before flat ironing. Its a little pricier, but worth it.

Got any tips to make your style last longer between salon visits? Let us know!