Despite the recession, many women still get their hair done. You still have to look good, especially if you're in the job market. Thanks to at-home products, now it's much easier to stretch the time between appointments. "There used to only be these mascara wands and they would start crumbling," said Amy Keller Laird, beauty director of Allure magazine. She recommended a few new and improved products.

Taming roots: Clairol has one called Root Touch-Up ($7). It was specifically formulated so you wouldn't have the line of demarcation, and you can use the brush to get color just where you need it.

Temporary fix: Color Mark ($20, www.colormarkpro.com) has a lip gloss wand. It goes on as a liquid and dries in a minute. It washes out with shampoo, but it's super easy to use.

Color-treated shampoos: We don't recommend using a color-depositing shampoo because they do use color dyes that are semipermanent. If possible, avoid washing your hair every day, because tap water has minerals that can break down your color.

Rich conditioner: Use it once a week. Try Aussie's 3-Minute Miracle ($4). It makes your hair really soft and is a great detangler as well .

Glazes: Also helpful is an at-home glaze, such as John Frieda's Luminous Color Glaze ($10) in tinted or clear. If you are in the salon, you can also get a clear glaze there that extends your color for two weeks.

SARA GLASSMAN