How to save on hair products

More bang for your buck

Times are tough, and a girl can't always spend the money she wants on beauty upkeep. No worries, though. We've got a few tips in mind that will help you save a bit of dough when it comes to hair products. No, we're not completely stingy -- we just believe in saving money where we can so we can spend it on other fun items like a girlfriend's getaway or a pair of must-have heels!

Buy in bulk

If you go through shampoo bottles like a thirsty dog goes through water, then consider buying in bulk. Shampoo and conditioner are two items that are cheaper when bought in larger sizes, and you’ll have more for longer. If you have more than one shower in your household, divvy up the big bottle into smaller ones instead of buying separate large bottles for each bathroom. Another tip: Add a bit of water to the bottle when you’re down to the last bit of shampoo. You’ll be surprised how much sticks to the side, and you’ll get at least another couple of washings from it.

Save on the cut

Hair grooming can get pretty expensive, especially if you’re on a four-week cycle. Instead of going in once a month, ask your stylist to give you a cut that grows out more evenly (chances are, she'll be glad to do this -- after all, she doesn’t want to lose your business). The money you save by spacing out visits even by a week or so will add up at the end of the year. Also consider visiting one of your neighborhood cosmetology schools. Students there are required to perform a certain amount of practice hours on real-life clients, and the service is offered at majorly reduced prices (often, completely free). Don’t worry: The students wouldn’t be allowed to cut hair if they weren’t qualified.

Discount brands

Beauty routines are give and take. You can definitely go bargain-bin on some things instead of always choosing the name brand. If you’ve got normal hair (that is, healthy and non-fried), try switching to a more affordable label instead of your designer-brand shampoo and conditioner -- not necessarily the $3 generic brand but a mid-range line that runs about $7 per bottle, which can be just as beneficial for your locks as the stuff that costs three times is just as impactful on your locks. Same goes for hair accessories like headbands and clips. There are plenty über chic (and über expensive) pieces on the market, but you can find just as many worthy accessories at your drugstore or discount department store. Invest in one or two high-end pieces and supplement your collection with a handful of cheaper options.

Secrets of a perfect salon blowout

Blowout 101

Want your hair to have va-va-volume with the kind of gentle, glossy curves that seem to happen only for celebrities? Try a blowout, a pricey salon luxury that you can do at home easily and affordably. A blowout simply means styling your hair with a round brush as you blow it dry -- no curling iron or flat iron needed.

Even better, a blowout is built to last. An at-home version will hold up for two to three days, depending on hair type. Sure, you put in some time on day one, but a quick touch-up is all you need the next couple of mornings.

"I tell my clients to sleep with a loose ponytail," says Stefanie Henriquez, a stylist at the Frédéric Fekkai salon at the Mark Hotel in Manhattan. "Throw your hair upside down and put it in a loose ponytail at the crown of your head."

We asked Henriquez to share more techniques, tips and favorite products that she uses on her clients.

How to get a long lasting, salon-style blowout at home

1. Shampoo and condition hair with volumizing products.

Apply conditioner to the ponytail portion of your hair only, not on roots. Rinse with cool water. "This seals the cuticle and holds in moisture," Henriquez says. "Rinse very, very well."

2. Wrap wet hair in a towel.

Wrap hair in towel or let it air-dry a bit to cut down on blow drying time later.

3. Prep with styling products.

You'll need two, Henriquez says: One for the ponytail portion of your hair, and another for the roots. For a splurge, Henriquez suggests using Fekkai's Ageless All-Day Hair Plump, $95, on the ponytail section. This leave-in treatment makes hair thick, healthy and smooth. (For a list of retail locations, visit fekkai.com/wheretobuy.) For an affordable option, try Umberto Thickening Spray, about $9 at Target.

To perk up roots, Henriquez recommends Fekkai's Coiff Bouffant Lifting & Texturizing Spray Gel, $23. (For retail locations, fekkai.com/wheretobuy.) For a steal, try John Frieda Luxurious Volume Lavish Lift Root Booster, about $6 at drugstores and mass retailers. Always use lightweight products on roots.

4. Turn head upside down and blow dry hair.

This gives roots even more lift. Don't use a brush just yet – comb through hair with your fingers. Begin drying at the roots and work toward the ends, getting hair about 75 percent dry.

5. Flip head upright and finish drying hair with a round brush.

A boar bristle brush is best, Henriquez says, because it has the right tension to make hair smooth and shiny. Work from the front of your head to the back, separating hair into small, defined sections. Dry each section by rolling it through the brush, root to tip. Lift the brush out and up to give roots a lift, and dry each section completely (damp hair means a frizzy finished style). Once each section is dry, give it a shot of cool air while it's wound on the brush. Then, wrap the section around a Velcro roller. This will set the style and add volume and bounce. Continue until all of your hair is in rollers.

6. Release hair from the Velcro rollers.

Shake out the curls with your head upside down. Flip hair upright and use your fingers to smooth the style into place.

7. Finish with a sheer-hold hairspray.

If necessary, apply a shine serum to the ends of hair.

Blowout do's and don'ts from Henriquez

• Do blow dry using a low speed and high heat. And, use a nozzle attachment, which funnels air in one direction. This results in smoother strands.
• Don't buy a giant hairbrush thinking it will add body to your tresses. In fact, the smaller the brush, the more volume it gives hair.
• Do invest in a professional-grade hair dryer that has at least 2600 watts of power. Henriquez says Twin Turbo dryers are used for perfect blowouts at the salon.
• Don't overdose on styling products. Each is important to the finished style, but be reasonable with the amounts. "The less product you use, the longer the blowout will last," Henriquez says.