Polly Blitzer, founder and editor-in-chief of BeautyBlitz.com, has spent years immersed in the beauty industry. Today she offers her insider tips for getting the best style at an affordable price:

Tip 1: Utilize the Internet for beauty buzz and best buys
The Internet is a great place to research, find and buy beauty products. There are blogs, sites and forums devoted solely to helping you look good and they can even save you time and money by weeding through the fads and helping you cut through the beauty aisle clutter.

Tip 2: As weather cools, keep hair healthy and shiny
When looking at hair products, it’s hard to tell if it’s worth spending more for expensive treatments. What’s the difference between pricey and less expensive products? There are a few things that could account for the price difference – packaging, exotic ingredients, small manufacturing facilities, etc. That doesn’t mean, however, that products without those are any less effective. Look for hair care products that have won numerous awards by beauty and fashion magazines since they have expertise in the area.

To get sexy locks at an affordable price, try Pantene Pro-V products. Experts agree that Pantene products provide damage protection that even the leading salon brands can’t beat and the line was even recently awarded the “Good Housekeeping” Institute Seal.

Tip 3: Utilize household staples
When looking to save a buck and still look fabulous, see what you have around your house. Always stock up on cotton swabs because they can be used for virtually anything. Clear nail polish goes beyond nail use – fix a quick loose stitch on the bottom of your pants or stop an itching mosquito bite.

Tip 4: Think quality skin care for less
You don’t need to spend a lot of money to get a quality skin care product. Magazines and beauty editors say great things about – and give plenty of awards to – drugstore favorite Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream. Priced at $25, it recently outperformed pricier luxury creams costing as much as $350 in testing by the “Good Housekeeping” Institute. Its high quality ingredients and both immediate and long-term results make it a great buy.

Tip 5: Focus on the beauty trends
Metallic nail polishes are in this season – everything from silvers to bronzes to golds. The red lip is still on-trend as is the smoky eye, although it’s been freshened up by using soft grays instead of severe blacks. Finally, on cheeks, try a nice pink flush to give yourself an almost fairy or pixie look.

Tip 6: Get the hair color to match the look
Want to find a way to extend the time between your salon visits without sacrificing great looking color? Current at-home dye kits are very easy to use. One that particularly stands out is Clairol Perfect 10 by Nice ‘n Easy. It was the most awarded at-home hair color in 2008 by beauty editors at national beauty magazines because it’s the first to offer high-gloss hair color that covers 100 percent of grays in just 10 minutes. Look for rich, shiny colors in shades of gold.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

The only problem is that while many people are buying the right hair care products for their hair, they forget to follow basic hair care regimens that will guarantee the health and beauty of their tresses. Additionally, many are also causing needless damage to their hair by participating in unhealthy hair care behavior.

So, what should you do to make sure that your hair stays healthy, shiny and strong?

To avoid all hair care disasters, follow these 10 absolute don’ts of great hair care.

Hair care don’ts

1. Avoid unprofessional and over-the-counter hair care products whenever you can. Many of these only offer false hopes and promises.
2. Do not cut your own bangs. Leave all of your cutting needs, even bangs, to your hair care professional.
3. Avoid excessive sun, chlorine and salt water during the summer months. Excessive exposure can cause severe damage that is irreversible even if you use the best hair care products.
4. Do not use clarifying hair care products on your tresses more than one time per week. They can strip hair of moisture and essential oils.
5. Do not visit a hair care salon without first getting a referral from someone you can trust. Choosing a salon based on an advertisement or sale alone is very risky.
6. Do not purchase hair color that comes in a box.
7. Never stick with an outdated look because you are afraid of looking different. Styles change for a reason. Ask your hair care professional to bring you into this decade with a new style.
8. Do not straighten your hair with a clothes iron. C’mon, this was so over in the 70s. We have straightening irons that won’t damage your hair for this now. Look in the hair care isle.
9. Don’t brush your hair or put too much tension on it while it is still wet. This will cause breakage. Also, do not wear tight styles such as corn rows for extended periods of time unless you have ethnic hair.
10. Never use sun-lightening products such as lemon juice or over-the-counter hair care products designed to lighten hair with the sun unless you want a very short hair cut in the future.

In the end, hair care is a very individualized and personal thing. Feel free to add your own flair and style to your hair care routine, but remember to include hair care principles that will benefit your hair and avoid those that damage it.