Women around the world spend billions and billions of dollars each year on cosmetics, hair care
products and other beauty supplies, and as new products and treatments for the various and sundry issues that women face are developed,
the cost of looking beautiful increases. This is probably the most common complaint I hear as a cosmetologist. However, you don’t have
to spend a fortune to look good. There are dozens of beauty secrets that have been passed down from generation to generation, and most
of them utilize items you already have in your home.
Here are some simple tips for meeting your beauty needs without using expensive store bought
products. These are perfect for women who are looking for “Beauty on a Budget” as well as those times when you discover you’re out of
your usual beauty product.
Hair Care:
• Does your hair need deep conditioning? Try mayonnaise. Simply apply the
mayo to freshly washed hair, comb it through and wrap the hair in plastic.
Leave it on for 20-30 minutes and rinse thoroughly. Mayonnaise
contains vegetable oil which softens and conditions and egg which smoothes
and strengthens the hair. Besure to use only real mayonnaise, not Miracle
Whip® or other “salad dressing”. These products will leave a pungent smell in the hair.
• Believe it or not, a great leave-in conditioner for your hair is nothing other than
laundry room fabric softener. It's very strong, so be sure to dilute it.
Suggestions: combine 1 cup water with 1/4 cup fabric softener. It will smooth and detangle the hair.
• Do you have problems with oily hair and scalp? Use witch hazel when you
don't have time to shampoo. Apply to the scalp and roots of the hair with a
cotton ball then comb the hair to distribute evenly. It dries quickly and leaves
the hair looking fresh and clean.
• Witch hazel is also an excellent “volume builder” for the hair. If your hair is fine and limp,
try using witch hazel in the final rinse after shampooing the hair.
Blowdry the hair using a vented brush to lift the hair at the scalp while drying.
You’ll find yourself with fuller-looking hair that has more body and holds a style better.
• Having trouble with dandruff and flaking but don’t have dandruff shampoo on
hand? Crush some aspirin (about 30) and add it to your favorite shampoo. It will help clear up the flakes.
• If you want to add body to your hair, try beer. Wash your hair as usual, then
pour the beer onto the hair and massage it in. Leave it on for a few minutes
then rinse it off. You’ll find that your hair has more body and will hold a style
longer. Use a full-bodied beer for this purpose, not a light beer.
• If you want to warm up the color of your brown hair? Try this: boil the skin from
a couple of ordinary brown onions in water. Allow to cool as use in the final
rinse when you wash your hair. After a few uses you should see the hair color
begin to warm up and look less mousy and dull.
• To make your hair shiny, add a couple of tablespoons of vinegar to the final
rinse when you wash your hair. The acid of the vinegar helps to contract the
cuticle layer of the hair, leaving it looking shinier and healthier. It also helps to control oiliness.
