For many women, keeping their hair healthy and beautiful is a priority – for several reasons. Gorgeous hair contributes to your overall self-confidence, and you take that confidence with you everywhere you go: Job interviews, first dates, important meetings, and special events. Unkempt hair isn’t a good look, especially when you’re trying to look presentable and professional for a job interview – or trying to look attractive for a first date.

The problem is that these days, it can be incredibly expensive to upkeep gorgeous hair. Many women find that maintaining beautiful hair is more expensive than buying makeup or skincare products – and women are always looking for ways for ways to reduce this cost. Luckily, I’ve got 6 great tips for keeping your hair gorgeous on a budget:

1. Switch To a Hair Training Center

When I switched from a fancy, professional hair salon to a hair training center, I did it to save money, and I wasn’t expecting my hair to turn out even better than it did when I went to a pro salon. At Future Hair Training Centre in downtown Vancouver, you can get that gorgeous, professional look on a budget.  You don’t have to sacrifice your hair’s beauty if you pay a lower price. These hairstylists-in-training at hair training centers have been educated in all things hair, and all of the techniques and modern training they’ve just gone through are fresh in their minds. In my opinion, that gives them an advantage over a stylist who is well into their career, and hasn’t been professionally educated recently. Plus, these student stylists tend to be better at actually listening to you when you’re explaining the look you’re going for.

A freshly trained stylist is a talented stylist who has just been exposed to modern techniques, new hair trends, and the most current hair education. You’ll save money, your hair will stay beautiful, and you’ll have a stylist who is up-to-date on current trends. If you’re trying to keep your hair gorgeous on a budget, definitely consider switching to a hair training centre for your haircuts and coloring services.

2. Be a Hair Model

Hairstylists and student stylists are often looking for hair models to try out specific styles, colors and cuts. A hair model typically does not have to pay for the service, and you don’t have to be a real model to do this. The term ‘model’ is simply used because the stylist is practicing on you and taking some photos – but they aren’t looking for professional models. There are several Facebook groups for hair, where stylists will post that they’re seeking a model. Join these groups, keep an eye out, and you just might get a free haircut sometime soon!

3. Balayage or Ombre Instead of Highlights

A full head of highlights that start at the root is an outdated hairstyle, and also quite expensive to upkeep. Balayage, framing, or freehand highlights are much less expensive to maintain because they don’t start at the root – so when they grow out, you aren’t rushing to the salon. Balayage is the modern look, and happens to be a lot less expensive to keep up than regular highlights.

Ombre is another hair trend that is inexpensive to maintain, and it’s not going away anytime soon. The Ombre look is hot, and it looks like it will be for awhile. Ombre typically involves a gradual blend of dark to light, where the color is focused on your ends rather than getting a full head of color. Stylists will apply the hair dye to your hair’s bottom half, and when your hair grows out, your look won’t change much.

4. Learn How To Use Less Hair Product

It’s shocking how many people pour a huge handful of shampoo into their hand when they wash their hair, and use way more product than necessary. Good shampoo is expensive, but it can last a long time if you use the correct amount. All you need is a nickle-sized amount of shampoo in your palm, and if you get some water in your other palm and lather it up, that’ll be more than enough product to wash your hair with.

Another important thing to remember is that you can shower every day without washing your hair every day. Your hair stylist won’t condone washing you hair every day. If you start washing your hair once every 2 – 3 days, you’ll save a ton of money in hair products.

5. Buy Hair Products Online

Your favorite brands of hair products are a lot cheaper on Amazon or other online retailers. You’ll definitely save money by ordering hair products online rather than buying products from professional salons.

6. Make a DIY Hair Mask

If you can make your own hair mask, why buy one? You can keep your hair looking healthy and beautiful by soaking your hair in a home-made DIY hair mask every week or two. Simply whip together one of these DIY hair masks that you can make with home ingredients, apply the DIY mask to your hair, and wrap your head in some saran wrap for 30 minutes before washing it off. I personally love the avocado and olive oil hair mask. It’s very nourishing, and since I always have olive oil and avocados in the house anyway, it costs me next to nothing!