Reports of "recession hair" or "recession-proof hair" have risen as of late, as consumers are searching for ways to stretch their budgets during a time of economic uncertainty. For some, that may look like waiting longer in between scheduled hair appointments (many hairstylists recommend visiting every four to eight weeks, depending on how high-maintenance your style is).
But that doesn't mean your hair has to suffer in the meantime.
If, for whatever reason, you can't make it to a salon in the recommended time frame - or if you're hoping to experiment with a totally different hairstyle without paying salon prices - here's everything hair care experts want you to know before trying this at home.
While hairstylists don't generally recommend giving yourself a haircut at home, they say it can be done in a pinch, as long as you're being mindful of the cuts you're making.
The best course of action can vary depending on your hair length and type, experts note. Kevin Kelly, a hairstylist and founder of Kevin Kelly Salon, says that straight, wavy and curly hair all respond to hair cuts differently, with curly and wavy styles being a little more forgiving if a trim isn't completely even.
For those with long hair, Kelly and hairstylist Jewell Hingorani recommend beginning by parting the hair in the back and bringing all of it forward to land on your collar bone or chest, depending on the length. You can either put those two sections in individual pigtails or gather them together with one hair tie below your chin (like you're creating a pretend beard below your chin) and begin with trimming a small amount of hair.
"Remember that wet hair can appear longer, but it may shrink as it dries, so start with small cuts and gradually work your way up," Hingorani says, recommending you begin with half an inch, and then trimming more if you wish.
"If your hair is curly, consider how much it may spring up after cutting," she adds.
You may have dreams of giving yourself a trendy new 'do, but pros warn against getting too scissor happy, lest you accidentally give yourself a "look that's worse than what (you) started with," as Hingorani puts it.
Cut slowly, and pay attention to the angle at which you're trimming to ensure that the cut is even throughout - especially with bangs.
"If you're cutting your bangs, be mindful of any whirls or cowlicks in your front hairline, as these can affect the cut and may lead to short, unwanted bangs," Hingorani says.
Another common mistake Kelly has seen: "People try to do the butterfly haircut at home, putting it in a ponytail on top of their head and not really realizing that the shortest layer in the front is going to be short because of where hair lives in a ponytail." He urges at-home hair cutters to take the "less is more" approach.
"You can always take off more, but can't put it back on," Kelly says.