In a perfect world, we wouldn’t over-process our hair by dying it every few months, straightening or curling it on a daily basis and blow-drying it to near extinction. But as we all know, most of us are far from perfect, and it makes sense to learn a few hair-saving strategies to at least minimize the damage that we’re nevertheless inflicting.

Celebrity hairstylist Ursula Stephen told Elle.com that she teaches basic and effective haircare strategies to her A-list clients. Never blow-dry your hair all the way dry – if you leave it 10 percent damp, you’ll stop yourself from over-processing your locks, she recommends. Deep-conditioning rinses are an excellent idea – just make sure you rinse with cold water to seal in moisture (read: close the hair cuticles). “A smoothed cuticle will reflect the most shine,” she told the news source.

You can also take some preventative measures to help temper the adverse effects of any dye jobs or chemical treatments. If you can prolong the amount of time that elapses between each successive root touch-up or hair overhaul, you will save your hair a bit of pain without totally cramping your style.