Nothing lasts forever, not even your color treatments. While we'd all like to be naturals, the truth is there are a lot of women who deviate from their god-given color in favor of something more eye-catching. But with change comes maintenance, especially if you're striving not to look like a bottled blonde, brunette or whatever shade you may be. The frequency of treatments depends on certain factors such as color choice and hair length. The obvious time for a touch-up is when your roots begin to hold a hostile takeover on your head. A good rule of thumb is that highlights should be retouched every six to eight weeks. The faster your hair grows, the quicker your roots will begin to rear their ugly heads. Some people get highlights every other cut. Shorter hair usually calls for highlights every four to six weeks as the highlights are more noticeable. Hairstyle should also be taken into account. With straight hair, the roots are more apparent, while curlier hair tends to camouflage dark roots. If cost is an issue, there are steps you can take to mask your desperate need for haircare in the interim.