While many women look forward to a trip to the salon, busy schedules can keep ladies from returning as often as they’d like. Gals on the go who don’t have time for regular appointments may want to employ a few tricks to keep their cut and color looking fresh for as long as possible.

According to TotalBeauty.com, hair health expert Gavin Harwin says that a good leave-in conditioner can do wonders for the life of your cut. While Jack Black is known as a men’s line, women may enjoy some of the brand’s products as well. True Volume Revitalizing Conditioner is a fragrance-free hydrating formula that can be applied to wet hair and left in for intense conditioning.

Harwin also advises women to cut down on heat styling, as hot air from dryers, curlers and irons can cause unsightly split ends.

Women who color their hair can also take certain measures to prolong the life of their dye job. These ladies can use a shampoo and conditioner that is specially formulated for color-treated hair, like Leonor Greyl Bain Vitalisant B.

Finally, the website reports that sun, chlorine and clarifying shampoos can quickly drain dye. A leave-in treatment, like L’Occitane Summer Protection Sun Hair Mist, will protect hair from UV rays and can help keep color from fading.