Beauty on a budget pros share ingenious hacks using household items

In a twist that may raise eyebrows, experts reveal unconventional yet effective beauty hacks for maintaining hair, skin, and nails, using kitchen staples and intimate products repurposed for cosmetic use.

Anita Rice, co-founder of London's Buller and Rice salon, suggests using ketchup to neutralize green tints in light-colored hair after swimming. "If bleached or light hair has a green hue after swimming, it's easily available even on remote holidays," she explained. "It works because the red coloring counteracts the green tones, while the acidity acts as a clarifying agent, helping to improve the purity of the color," Rice told The Guardian. She recommends applying ketchup to dry hair for 10 to 20 minutes before washing normally.

For sleek hairstyles, some professionals turn to an unexpected product: personal lubricant. Evo Hair international color director and Olaplex ambassador Tom Smith reveals, "Session stylists often use it on celebrities before they hit the red carpet." Smith explains that lubricant "defines the hair texture, adds an incredible wet-look shine and will not dry into the hair, unlike gels or mousses."

"Water-based or silicone-based lube will work, although if the hair has been pre-styled, silicone-based lube will retain the style's shape while making hair appear wet – though it will require much more washing out afterwards," Smith continued. 

Dr. Leah Totton, founder of her eponymous skin clinic, advocates for lanolin nipple cream as a lip treatment. "I discovered the cream when I was breastfeeding. I had my daughter in a harsh winter and realized the nipple cream made a great hand moisturizer, and then started using it on my lips, too," Totton said. She found it effective for chapped lips and creating a glossy finish without stickiness.

Dermatologist Dr. Anjali Mahto recommends using "emollient-based balms like Lanolips or Laneige lip sleeping mask" to tame unruly eyebrows. "They provide excellent moisture and control, keeping my brows neat and my hair smooth throughout the day," Mahto said.

Herbar founders Catarina Oliveira and Rui Liu suggest freezing concentrated rice water into ice cubes for at-home skincare. "It works so well because the rice water is rich in vitamins and minerals, such as ferric acid, which help improve tone and radiance," they explained. "The ice cube format is a bonus – the cold helps tighten pores and depuff the face."

Facialist Donna Ryan proposes using a spoon for facial massage. "To begin, apply a few drops of face oil to your skin to act as a lubricant. Allowing the spoon to glide smoothly, and with gentle pressure, use the rounded edge to massage the neck, shoulders, and face in upward strokes," Ryan said. "This motion promotes blood circulation, relieves tension, and stimulates lymphatic drainage, resulting in a rejuvenated appearance." 

Nail artist Giorgia Capella offers a solution for broken nails using teabags. "Push the break shut and use nail glue to stick a small piece of the outer net to the area, like a mesh connecting the pieces of nail," Capella explained. She recommends sealing with a topcoat and trimming excess material.

Celebrity tanner James Harknett suggests using socks as an alternative to tanning mitts when applying self-tanner. Meanwhile, Steam Bar founder Judy Koloko repurposes black tights as a makeshift wig cap. "My non-sexy, go-to product is black tights. It may be a very well-known hack, but I swear by it as sometimes my wig cap goes awol, usually when I am about to run out of the house for that all-important meeting! So, out come the tights – the lower the denier, the better, as that way, it's not putting too much friction on your hairline," she explained.

Other beauty hacks include using glycerin and rosewater products for scalp care, mixing vitamin E capsule contents into lotion for sunburn relief, and applying diaper rash cream to body rashes.

While these unconventional methods may seem unusual, beauty professionals emphasize their effectiveness in specific situations. However, individuals should exercise caution and consider potential allergic reactions or skin sensitivities before trying new beauty treatments.

As the beauty industry continues to evolve, these creative solutions demonstrate that effective treatments don't always come in traditional packaging. From kitchen condiments to medical supplies, everyday items are finding new purposes in beauty routines, offering affordable and accessible alternatives to conventional products.