Secret uses for your shampoo & conditioner
We've been fans of 'double-duty beauty' ever since we wrote our very first book nearly 20 years ago (discovering in the process that Dior Svelte anti-cellulite gel worked really rather well as a hairstyling product.) So when these pinged into our inbox from online hair and beauty retailer Hairtrade.com, we just had to share.
Joanne Dodds from Hairtrade.com tells us: “We are always looking for ways to cut corners and make products go further, but we never knew how much a humble bottle of shampoo could achieve. Making the most out of hair products is a fantastic way to improve your beauty regime. Now, you don’t have to just use conditioner when washing your hair, it can be a detangler and a frizz tamer too.'
Shampoo can be used...
... as washing-up liquid Shampoo is twice as effective on dirt than regular dish soap and much gentler on skin.
... as a make-up brush and hairbrush cleaner Keeping make up and hairbrushes clean is essential for banishing hidden dirt and bacteria. Remove excess hair and residue from your brushes then leave them to soak in a bowl of warm water and shampoo for 10-15 minutes. Rinse and leave them to dry out for squeaky-clean brushes.
... to clean delicates Instead of forking out for expensive hand wash products, just use shampoo to wash your delicates instead. Use shampoo as you would normal hand wash detergent and rinse out.
... for an at-home manicure You don’t have to go to the salon to treat yourself to a manicure. Soak hands in shampoo and warm water for silky soft mitts and clean cuticles.
... to stop mirrors from fogging Squirt a bit of shampoo on a paper towel and rub it into the mirror then with a clean cloth wipe it away. Next time you shower your mirror will be fog free with no streaks.
... as a body wash If you’ve run out of shower gel or want to save space on packing, shampoo can easily be used as body wash.
Conditioner can be used...
... as fabric softener Keep a bottle of conditioner in your laundry room for when you run out of fabric softener. Conditioner does the exact same job.
... to remove make up At a pinch, a dab of conditioner can remove make up, just put some on a cotton pad to gently remove make up then rinse your face.. This is great for when you’ve forgotten your make-up remover on holiday.
... as cuticle cream Some cuticle creams can leave you with greasy fingers, instead try dabbing a little conditioner onto your nails beds before pushing them back.
... to tame static hair If you are prone to frizz or static hair, put a tiny amount of conditioner on your palms, rub them together and lightly smooth them over your hair. It will keep flyaways at bay and provide a gorgeous scent.
... as a D-I-Y detangler Get an empty spray bottle, fill with water and a dash of conditioner and shake well. Spritz over wet hair to avoid knotty nightmares.
... to fix stubborn zippers Conditioner is technically a lubricant so if you have a stiff zipper, rub a little on either side of the zip to get it going again.
... as shaving cream Conditioner is a great alternative to shaving cream as it gives you a close shave and moisturises at the same time. Some women find it leaves their skin less irritated than soap too.
And just to add to that, we often try out new conditioners as body lotions - that works, too! Enjoy experimenting...