15 Old School Hair Hacks That Still Make Waves in 2017
ICYMI, 2017’s top fashion trends included a few can’t-miss tributes to grandmotherly style: Victorian collars, couch-y floral prints, and lace that says “doily” more than “boudoir,” to name a few. We may not adore all the fashion throwbacks, but the old-school beauty hacks have been fabulously spot-on. This granny-informed hair guide is full of oldies but goodies that will boost your mane to next-level health and shine. Scroll on for 15 hair hacks we learned from the older queens among us that will still slay in 2018.
diy hair masks for shine, strength, and texture
1. Mayonnaise is an ace deep conditioner. Head to the fridge, grab the trusty condiment, and get to work on those locks. It can be used on its own or combined with other hair-nourishing ingredients, like avocado oil and honey, to create your own at-home hair mask for glorious hydration. (Photo via Getty)
2. Warm olive oil boosts shine as a pre-shampoo treatment. Thank you, Beautylish, for introducing us to this hack that brings dull tresses back to life. Microwave a half cup of olive oil — such as Thrive Market Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil ($25) — for 10 seconds, leave it on for 20 minutes, then shampoo. Ta-dah! Shiny strands for days.
3. Banish breakage with a strengthening avocado mask. Cosmopolitan‘s at-home strengthening concoction calls for one avocado, one egg yolk, and a quarter cup of olive oil. Hint: For added oomph, wrap a warm, wet towel around your strands while the mask sits for 20 minutes. (Photo via Getty)
4. Amla, coconut, and castor oil will nourish your scalp and hair this winter. Reader’s Digest saves our lives with this hair- and scalp-rescuing blend — particularly when the weather turns frosty. Combine two tablespoons each of amla, coconut, and castor oil, then let it sit for 30 soothing minutes. (Photo via Getty)
“no heat” CURLS and Preservation
5. Snag a beauty-boosting silk pillowcase — then, repurpose your old one into rag-curlers. Our grandmothers knew that luxurious sheets, like Fishers Finery 100% Pure Mulberry Silk Pillowcase ($42), were a clutch solution for frizz and split ends. Swap yours out, then have Refinery29 walk you through the process of using your old pillowcase to create no-heat curlers.
6. Bobby pins give shorter-length cuts perfect Old Hollywood waves. Avoid heat damage altogether by opting for another no-heat curling option you already have on hand. The tried-and-true beauty staple will score you those same crimped waves you love from Hollywood’s golden era. (Photo via Getty)
7. Coke cans and frozen juice containers make for wider-width waves in long manes. Curl, spray, and set for a look like Jessica Simpson, circa the early 2000s. (Photo via Getty)
hair solutions
8. Get rid of dandruff with an apple cider vinegar rinse. Cosmopolitan let us know how to DIY a post-shampoo rinse whose anti-fungal properties kill dandruff. Use two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar for every cup of water, or head to the store for a bottle of dpHue Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse ($35).
9. An apple cider vinegar rinse *also* helps seal in your color. Maximize the duration of your dye-job with an apple cider rinse that, according to Reader’s Digest, closes the cuticle of freshly colored hair, effectively locking the pigment in. Your credit card will appreciate the bargain of buying White House Organic Apple Cider Vinegar ($6) to do the job instead of splurging on costly touch-ups.
10. Castor oil protects your hair from seasonal changes and weather-induced dryness.Marie ClaireUK readers prep for seasonal wear-and-tear by diluting pure castor oil with argan and jojoba oils. But lazy gals can pick up an all-organic, store-bought option like SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Replenishing Shampoo ($11) for similar results.
11. Hygge up your hair with sun- and lemon-juice powered highlights. Beautylish readers score solar-powered highlights by spritzing their strands with a third cup of water and some freshly squeezed lemon juice. Then again, the fruit-powered solution in Sun Bum Premium Hair Lightener ($15) also works nicely.
12. Soften your strands with a spoonful of honey. Nature’s sweetest solution for rough texture is to add a dollop of honey to your conditioner, according to PopSugar. Y.S. Eco Bee Farms 100% Certified Organic Raw Honey ($7) is the real deal.
product swaps
13. Hair ponchos are clutch for preventing frizziness. Um, is it just us or does that retro raincoat for your ‘do look kinda cute? Protect your hairstyle from rain-ensued destruction with The Bonnit Black Polka Dots ($10). They come in pink and white too!
14. Use perfume when you run out of dry shampoo. Old Italian ladies seem to have all the answers, which is how we found out that you can spritz perfume on your roots to minimize oil if you’re out of dry shampoo. (Photo via Getty)
15. Aloe vera is nature’s hair gel. Turns out, green grans have a few tricks up their sleeves too. If you’re all out of hair gel, an aloe vera plant — not the store-bought gel — keeps flyaways at bay like whoa. (Photo via BSIP/UIG/Getty)
Did your grandma share any priceless hair hacks with you? Tell us about them on Pinterest!
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