Cheap Haircare Tips

HAIRCARE can be expensive, although I know quite a few men who would love to have that problem. There are ways, however, you can cut the cost - and be kind to the environment too as no chemicals are involved.

Add a red tone to your hair by boiling some ordinary brown onion skins in water. Allow to cool and strain. Add the liquid to your final hair rinse. Leave hair in the solution for a few moments and dry as normal.
The result will not be instant, but should show after using it two or three times.

Get lovely shiny hair by adding one or two tablespoons of vinegar to your final rinse.

Give hair body and shine by pouring beer over your hair after washing it, massage well in and rinse out thoroughly.

Add softness and shine: Dissolve a spoonful of honey into three or four cups of warm water. Once the honey is thoroughly mixed, pour the mixture over wet, freshly washed hair. Gently wring excessive moisture from your hair, but do not rinse the mixture out. Use a towel to lightly pat hair dry and then style as normal.

Go a shade more blonde by using the juice of one lemon, brushing it into your hair and letting it dry in the sun. You can use this method for blonde streaks too.

Keep your hair blonde by brewing two camomile tea teabags or use two tablespoons of camomile tea, strain and add it to your final rinse. Don't expect to see an immediate difference. It will take a few rinses before you notice.

Here's a recipe for a natural hair tonic. Take 1 lb of stinging nettles and bring to boil in one pint of water. Leave to cool, strain. Rub it gently into scalp and shampoo as usual. It prevents dandruff and also hair loss.

Mayonnaise makes a good hair conditioner. Apply it to dry hair, cover with a shower cap, wrap in warm towel and wiat for 20 to 30 minutes. Wash as usual. Conditioner:

Treat dry hair by beating one egg with two tablespoons of olive oil. Smooth the mixture evenly throughout your hair and then cover with a shower cap. Allow the mixture to remain on hair for ten minutes and then rinse thoroughly. The high protein and amino acid content of the egg will add strength and shine to your hair while the olive oil will help to soften and condition dry hair.

Treat oily hair: Mix the juice of two lemons with a quart of water and use for the final rinse.

Tip For Using A Glut Of Onions

THIS week I bought a huge bag of onions in Sainsbury's, Barnstaple, for 50p. It seemed a great bargain until I got the onions home and wondered if I would ever use them up before they went soft. So, before I got tears in my eyes contemplating squidgy onions sprouting green shoots, I phoned my mother for suggestions.

She gave me the recipe below, which has no name but which I think is an onion compote. Compote is not a word I would ever use with my mother, not unless I wanted that withering, "Who do you think you are?" look that I occasionally get when I use a "fancy" term!

You can serve it hot or cold, like a pickle, or to accompany a roast. I remember having it as a child with a ploughman's lunch - it's great with cheese. It's good spread thinly as a base for a Welsh rarebit or on you can use it on a pizza.

I made a big pan full and have frozen some and bottled some. It will keep about a month in a jar in the fridge.

Below is the basic recipe. You can add things like walnuts or raisins if you like. If you want to use it with pork, add some fresh sage. These additions should be stirred in near the end of cooking.

Onion Compote

1kg onions, peeled and roughly chopped
3 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp sugar or 100g runny honey
1 tbsp vinegar (you can also use balsamic or a red or white wine vinegar)
1 tsp salt
3 bay leaves (optional)
Water


Heat the oil in a large heavy-based frying pan over a medium heat.
Add the onion and bay leaves, stir and spread out evenly.
Add water until the onion is just covered.
Cover (with a lid or tin foil) and bring to the boil.
Remove the lid and stir in sugar or honey salt and vinegar.
Simmer slowly for an hour. Stir occasionally so the onion doesn't stick.
After 45 minutes, put the lid back on. If at any time during the cooking process it starts to get too dry, add a little more water.