BEAUTY

When it comes to our hair, some habits may seem harmless but they could actually be stressing your strands more than you realise. Hard habits to break! Tracy Davis BEAUTY EDITOR th ghd Helios hairdryer, $320

From fast-drying hairdryers that do less damage, to tools that comb through wet hair without snagging: here are the latest in hair-friendly picks.

Olaplex No. 7 Bonding Oil, $55

Slip silk scrunchies, $59 for 3 WetBrush Pro Detangler Hair Brush, $28

Schwarzkopf Extra Care Hair Repair Blonde Purple Shampoo, $11.99 Ahhh Shampoo Bar Chamomile & Grapefruit, $12.99

BAD HABIT #1 TYING IT UP TOO MUCH Why it’s bad: Pulling hair back tightly all the time can put too much tension on the scalp and ultimately cause a condition called traction alopecia. Especially common around the hairline and temples, it can lead to permanent hair loss. Break the habit: Avoid wearing the same hairstyle, especially if it’s tight. Alternate hair-up days with wearing your hair out and loose. BAD HABIT #2 USING THE WRONG HAIR TIES Why it’s bad: Hair ties that have no give in them, are joined with a metal clasp, or have no slip (aka rubber bands), can actually create tiny fractures in the shaft that can weaken it and lead to breakage. Break the habit: The softer and more flexible the hair tie, the better. And try not to wear your hair tied in the same place all the time. # 2# 1 B ou t and loose. sa m e p la ce a

AD HABIT #3 EAT-STYLING AMP HAIR hy it’s bad: The xtreme heat from straightening iron r curling wand on air with moisture it literally has a oiling effect –hat’s why you’ll ften see steam. he only way back om burnt hair is o have it cut off. reak the habit: lways make sure air is 100% dry efore heat-styling ecause even a eat protectant won’t shield it if t’s damp. BA H E D A W ex a s or ha in bo th of T fr to B A h b b h w it

BAD HABIT #4 NEVER WASHING YOUR HAIRBRUSH Why it’s bad: Brushes can quickly build up with dead skin cells, oil and styling product residue, not to mention hair. If it’s not removed, all that gunk ends up being brushed back onto your clean hair and scalp. Break it: Remove excess hair and wash your brush once a week in a basin of warm water that has shampoo or antibacterial liquid soap added. Leave it to air dry, bristles down, or use the cool setting on your hairdryer to get rid of moisture.

BAD HABIT #5 NEVER GETTING A TRIM Why it’s bad: As the ends of your hair age, they can look untidy and fray. If any splits are not cut off, they can travel further up the hair shaft. Break the habit: Book in for a regular trim every six weeks, depending on your style, to keep ends healthy and strong.

BAD HABIT #6 HOT SHOWERS Why it’s bad: Yes, we all love a hot shower, but when it comes to your hair, hot water can fade colour and dehydrate your strands, as well as your scalp. Break the habit: Instead, wash hair in lukewarm water, adding a blast of cold water for your final rinse to help seal the cuticles for extra shine.

BAD HABIT #7 TREATING WET HAIR BADLY Why it’s bad: When hair is wet, it’s in a very fragile state, so if you vigorously towel dry, squeeze, or God forbid – brush it while it’s wet, you’ll not only encourage frizz by roughing up those cuticles, but you’ll potentially damage it as well. Break the habit: Gently blot excess moisture from your hair with a towel, and detangle with a wide-tooth comb. If blowdrying, rough-dry your hair until it’s about 80% dry before using any sort of brush to continue styling with.

BAD HABIT #8 TOO MUCH ‘DRY’ CLEANING Why it’s bad: Your scalp needs to be freed from product build-up, sweat, oils and dead skin cells so it can breathe and flourish, so too much dry shampooing can be harmful. Break the habit: Substitute only one real wash per week with dry shampoo, and invest in a scalp scrub to use every few weeks to eliminate any build-up.

WHY USE IT? Hormonal changes can make our eyelashes lighter, sparser and shorter as we get older. But applied well, mascara instantly creates eyes that look bigger, brighter and more defined. WHICH ONE SHOULD I CHOOSE? It comes down to personal preference but if you find mascara transfers to your top eyelid, try a waterproof or tubing mascara. HOW DO I USE IT? Place the mascara wand close to the base of your lashes and wiggle it up and out. Start at the centre of your eye and move to the outer corner before coating your smaller inner corner lashes last (when there’s less mascara on the wand). WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO KNOW? If you have trouble with clumping, brushing your lashes with an eyelash comb while your mascara is wet can help. But clumping can also be a sign that your mascara is drying out and needs replacing. 2

4 (1) Max Factor Lash Revival Mascara, $34.99. (2) L’Oréal Paris Bambi Eye False Lash Waterproof Mascara, $27.99. (3) Maybelline Falsies Lash Lift, $24.99. (4) Revlon So Fierce Mascara, $26.

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AHHH: AHHH.NZ GHD: GHDHAIR.COM/NZ L’ORÉAL, REVLON: PHARMACIES AND DEPARTMENT STORES MAYBELLINE: SUPERMARKETS AND DEPARTMENT STORES MAX FACTOR: FARMERS OLAPLEX: OLAPLEX.CO.NZ SCHWARZKOPF: SUPERMARKETS AND PHARMACIES SLIP: SEPHORA.NZ WETBRUSH: STYLEHQ.CO.NZ

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Make your own beachhair spray, spoil your dog with homemade food, spruce up your salad, and kill ants without chemicals. It’s easy being green! Wendyl Nissen OUR GREEN GODDESS

/ Dear Wendyl, I’ve been thinking about making my own dog food as it is getting expensive to buy. I know in the old days they used to make their own food and I was wondering if you have a good recipe you could share? Joan Dear Joan, This recipe was given to me years ago by a radio listener who said it kept her 12-yearold German shepherd in great shape. 500 g beef mince 1 2 to 3 / 4 cup wheatgerm 1 2 to 3 / 4 cup bran flakes 1 2 to 3 / 4 cup brewer’s yeast (when I can get it) 1 1 2 cups wholemeal flour 1 tbsp garlic flakes 1 2 to 3 / 4 cu p linseed 1 tbsp beef or chicken stock, dissolved in water 2 eggs (optional) – I only use these when I have enough Vegetable peelings and any veges that are going off in the vege bin Mix together and add just enough water to make it paste-like but not too wet. Cook in the slow cooker for about 5 hours. Put into 250g containers and freeze. My cats will also eat it if it doesn’t have too many veges. Do you have a question or a tip for Wendyl? Email her at nzww@bauermedia.co.nz with the subject line “Wendyl”.

DID YOU KNOW? You can make a quick bathroom cleaner by dissolving 40 drops of lavender essential oil in a tablespoon of white vinegar. Mix thoroughly with half a litre of water. Store in a spray bottle and use with a soft dry cloth.

Those of us with curly hair know how great a bit of salt water is for holding the curl. If you can’t get to the beach, bring the beach to you with this beach-hair spray. 2 tsp sea salt 1 cup warm water 6 drops essential oil (orange, lemon or grapefruit is good) Mix ingredients in a spray bottle and shake well to dissolve the salt. Spray on damp hair and distribute with your fingers. Let dry naturally. You can also spray it on dry hair for extra effect. BEACH-HAIR SPRAY

Here’s an easy way to clean the barbecue when you get it out of winter storage. Screw up a ball of foil and rub the grill until clean. BARBECUE TIP

Ants are everywhere at the moment. This is a very easy recipe to make if you can find borax at your chemist or online. It means you’re not laying out traps with powerful chemicals in them. Borax is a naturally-occurring salt that can be toxic in high doses so Ant killer

keep this away from children and animals. ¼ cup honey ¼ cup borax Mix together and place in a saucer or jar lid in the middle of an ant trail. You may need to replenish as your ant trap gets filled with dead ants.

If you have pets who leave hair on your clothing when you give them a cuddle, these two ideas are for you!

The first idea is to put a fabric softener in the washing machine, which seems to loosen the hairs. Here’s my natural recipe: 1 cup washing soda 1 cup white vinegar 10 drops essential oil of your choice (I use lavender) Mix together and store in a bottle. Use as you would a commercial softener.

My other tip is something I learned from stylists on magazine shoots. Wrap a piece of masking tape around your hand with the sticky side facing out. Rub your clothes with it and the hair will attach itself to the tape. Or get a lint roller, which is just the same. I keep one in my car because it isn’t until I’m going somewhere that I notice the hair!

TRY THIS In the old days, milk was often used as a household cleaner. This is a great old recipe that works really well on wallpaper, upholstery, floors and whiteware. Just wipe with a cloth – no need to rinse off. 1 bucket hot water 1 cup full cream milk 1 cup kerosene Mix together and get cleaning!

COOKED MAYONNAISE By the end of summer I start getting a little tired of the same old salad from the garden, so I go in search of a new dressing to spruce it up a bit. I found this lovely recipe for a cooked mayonnaise in an old book by former Weekly food editor Tui Flower. It tastes amazing and is a nice new addition to my salads. 1 tsp dry mustard ½ cup water 2 eggs, beaten 3 tbsp sugar 2 tsp flour ½ tsp salt 1 tsp pepper 1 cup malt vinegar 1 Mix the mustard to a paste with a little of the water. Add the remaining water and mix well. Add this to the beaten eggs and beat mixture again. 2 Pour into a saucepan and add the remaining ingredients. Bring to the boil slowly, stirring constantly – do not allow to boil rapidly. Remove from heat and allow to cool a little before putting into a jar. Keep in the fridge.