We're all trying to save money these days (I've been doing my own nails with help from this) and one way to do that is to skip the salon color and DIY-it up at home. But, if this is your first time with at-home hair color, or if your last foray resulted in bright yellow streaks (don't worry, you're not alone), then use these tips to get color so good people will think you maxed out your credit card at the salon.

• Which box to buy? How about one of these reader-approved dyes.

• Get salon-perfect highlights with this video.

• Protect that gorgeous new color with a quality shampoo, find one here.