Care for Nails and Hair

A 'handy' use for vinegar

CEBU, Philippines - Rub some vinegar on your nails before applying nail polish. This will clean them and help the new polish last longer.

A smooth move

If your nail polish is "gummed up," simply put it in a pan of boiling water to make it smooth again. To avoid that problem, store your polish in the refrigerator. It will stay smooth and ready to apply.

Hair today, clean tomorrow

Try this next time you run out of shampoo, and you'll save yourself some money. Wash your hair with a dime-size spot of ordinary dishwashing liquid.

Smooth on homemade conditioner

You'll never believe this dry hair conditioner till you've tried. Before washing or even wetting your hair, apply about a half cup of mayonnaise to your hair, and work it in well. Put a shower cap or plastic bag over your head to hold in your body heat. Leave it on about 15 minutes, then rinse it out, and wash your hair thoroughly. This treatment will also straighten out a perm, so if you're ready to lose those curls, comb the mayo through well and then shampoo.

- from Fix It Clean It, and Make It Last By The Editors of FC&A Publishing (FC&A)