Household Hints for a Beautiful You

Young woman with beautiful long hair — Photo: Shutterstock

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 realize you're out of your usual beauty product.

Hair Care:

•  Does your hair need deep conditioning? Try mayonnaise. Simply apply the mayonnaise 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 eggs which smooth and strengthen the hair. Be sure to use only real mayonnaise, not Miracle Whip® or other salad dressings. These products will leave a pungent odor in the hair.

•  Believe it or not, but 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. Suggestion: combine 1 cup of 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 youdon't have time to shampoo. Apply to the scalp and roots of the hair with a cotton ball, then comb the hair to distribute it 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. 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 onhand? Crush about 30 aspirin 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 skins from a couple of ordinary brown onions in water. Allow to cool and 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 acidity of the vinegar helps to contract the cuticle layer of the hair, leaving it looking shinier and healthier. It also helps to control oiliness.

Skin Care:

•  For rough, dry skin (especially on hands, knees, and elbows), combine equal parts vegetable oil and granulated sugar and mix into a paste. Use the pasteon the rough areas and rub gently for about 5 minutes.

Rinse the mixture away and leave the area if possible. If it is not possible to leave the residue on the skin, wash the area with soap and water and immediately apply moisturizer.

•  If you have a problem with puffy, swollen eyes, try saving your used tea bags in a resealable container in the refrigerator. Place a bag over each eye when needed to reduce the swelling and puffiness.

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