What’s the secret behind Gwyneth Paltrow’s effortlessly glamorous locks? Is it an expensive shampoo? A Brazilian blow dry? No, hairstylist David Babaii insists it’s an uncommon styling tool, the loofah brush.
For this month’s U.S. InStyle magazine cover shot, he wrapped sections of Gwynnie’s damp hair around the loofah before applying heat to enhance texture, while using a tongue brush from the bathroom cabinet to tame flyaway hairs.
We asked several celebrity beauty experts to share their unusual secrets and discovered some surprising tips . . .
TOMATO SAUCE
If you’ve been swimming in a pool filled with chlorine and your blonde hair has turned an undesirable shade of green, consider using ketchup before your shampoo.
Apply it to your hair and let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing with warm water. The red tint will counteract the green, restoring your hair to its original golden hue.
ANUSOLE
This might be the strangest tip, but it truly makes sense. When dealing with piles or hemorrhoids, apply Anusole. Hairdresser to the stars, Jane Dubré, swears by its effectiveness.
Rub Anusole into your skin, forehead, and anywhere else you deem necessary. It acts like botox in a tube, tightening your skin. Although it requires daily application, it genuinely works.
TIN FOIL
For achieving wavy hair without curling tongs, utilize sheets of tin foil. Twist 15 sheets into three-inch long wands; thinner wands yield tighter curls.
Section your hair, wrapping it around the wands and twisting the foil ends to secure. Direct hot air from your hairdryer onto your head for three to five minutes to activate the curls; the tin foil will insulate heat, staying hot for approximately five minutes.
Once cooled, unwind your hair for bouncy, voluminous locks.
CONDENSED MILK
Lea Harrison, Felicity Kendal’s hair colorist, frequently applies condensed milk to her scalp during bleach highlights. “This prevents irritation and soothes the scalp, which can become sensitive from peroxide,” explains Harrison.
FABRIC SOFTENER SHEETS
Fabric softener sheets from Bounce are excellent for eliminating static from hair after blow-drying. Just gently glide them over your hair from root to tip, achieving lovely, static-free tresses.
CLING FILM
For those who find it challenging to apply fake tan to their back, take a lengthy piece of cling film, lay it on the ground, and place some fake tan mousse or cream in the center.
Stand in front of the cling film, grabbing an end of each strip in either hand, and apply it to your back using the same motion as drying your back with a towel.
BABY SPOON
Make-up artist Kabuki always includes a rubber-coated infant feeding spoon in his false eyelash kit. “It’s the ideal tool to tone down mascara,” he remarks.
Position the spoon under your lashes and utilize a clean brush to apply a non-oily makeup remover over the top of the lashes.
The remover, along with any excess mascara, runs into the spoon rather than onto your face, ensuring the false lashes remain intact while keeping the other eye makeup in place, too.
INGROWN HAIR REMOVER PADS
If you’ve made a mistake with your self-tan and are left with patches, there are…Numerous remedies exist, ranging from whitening toothpaste to cigarette ash.
Tanning expert James Harknett emphasizes that one of the most effective solutions is Bliss Ingrown Hair Eliminating Peeling Pads. “They may be pricey, but the salicylic acid and glycolic acid in them get the job done,” he mentions.
HAIR GEL AND SELLOTAPE
During the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, make-up artist Kabuki applied an abundance of black glitter around Lady Gaga’s eyes. He secured the glitter using alcohol-free hair gel, and any stray flecks of glitter were tidied up with Sellotape.
FEMININE WASH
Make-up artist Issidora utilizes FemFresh to cleanse her face and remove her make-up.
“It may seem unusual, but this gynaecologically approved product doesn’t contain soap,” she explains. “It lathers beautifully, and when used with a loofah, it not only eliminates all traces of make-up but also provides exfoliation.”
PENCIL
One of Ariane Poole’s top tips for managing the challenge of false eyelashes is to wrap them around a pencil before application.
Often, these lashes have been stored straight in their packaging for an extended period, leading to a loss of their natural curve; as a result, they may not adhere properly to the eyelid and might pop off.
By wrapping the lashes around a pencil, you slightly break their spine, allowing them to fit more snugly to the lid.
by Debbie Dot