Growing up, I had very long, stick-straight hair and desperately wanted curly hair. I wore my Mom down with all my begging and she finally agreed that I could perm my hair.

It wasn’t a complete disaster since I did get those curls I wanted, but it came at a steep price: dry, brittle hair.

No matter your hair type, all ladies want to have healthy hair that looks and feels good. It won’t even cost a fortune if you follow these frugal tips for beautiful, shiny hair.

Get Regular Hair Cuts

If you haven’t had a haircut in a long time, you most likely have split and dry ends. Your best solution is trimming those ends off.

Haircuts can be expensive, but regular haircuts are necessary to keeping your hair in peak shape. To help minimize costs, I recommend a low-maintenance hairstyle.

One where it grows out nicely between haircuts, so you can get by with fewer trips to the salon. Short haircuts need to be trimmed regularly to maintain their style and shape, so you probably want to avoid those cuts if you want to save money.

Drink Plenty of Water

There are numerous benefits to water, including giving our dry skin and hair some much needed hydration.

Unfortunately, it isn’t always easy to drink the recommended 8 glasses of water every day.

At least, it was a struggle for me until I started adding some slices of lemon, lime or cucumber to a pitcher of water. Now I crave it. If you miss the carbonation of soda, then add a few watermelon chunks to sparkling water. It is delicious and you won’t even miss your soda.

Eat Foods that Promote Hair Health

You are what you eat, so pay attention to which foods promote hair health and make them a part of your regular meal plan.

The omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon make it a healthy hair superstar.

Your body can’t make those fatty acids on their own, but needs them to grow hair. If you are not fond of salmon, some other options with omega-3 fatty acids include trout, mackerel, fresh tuna, halibut, avocado, pumpkin seeds and walnuts.

Eggs are another good choice, especially omega 3 enriched eggs.

They are a great source of protein, zinc, selenium, sulfur, and iron. Iron is especially important, because a major cause of hair loss in women is due to an iron deficiency. If you suffer from hair breakage, boost your blueberry intake.

These sweet berries are bursting with Vitamin C, which helps keep your hair follicles strong.

DIY Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse for Shiny Hair

There are a ton of hair products at the salon and store, which can be overwhelming and expensive. The good news is you can DIY some of those products yourself at just a fraction of the cost.

You can make a quick rinse for shiny hair that will rival the results of a high-priced salon product with just apple cider vinegar.

Mix together one part apple cider vinegar with one part distilled water and store in a spray bottle.

After shampooing, spritz in apple cider vinegar solution and massage into your hair.

Let it set for up to 15 minutes. Rinse in lukewarm water and finish in cold water to lock in the shine.

You do not need to condition your hair afterwards. This rinse will also remove build-up and eliminate dandruff too.

Only use the rinse once a week.

Please Note: Your hair may smell like apple cider vinegar afterwards but the scent will fade as your hair dries.

DIY Hair Mask for Soft, Healthy Hair

If your hair tends to be on the dry side, like mine, a moisturizing mask can help keep it soft and healthy.

One mask that I love is a simple mix of mayonnaise and avocado.

Combine 1 avocado with 1/2 cup of real mayo (you want the fat!) and massage it into your hair. Cover your hair with a thermal shower cap and blow dry your hair (still under the shower cap) on low for a couple of minutes. The heat helps the mask better penetrate your hair. Let it rest for up to 1 hour, then rinse and shampoo your hair with cool water.