London - Sienna Miller has revealed that she turned to tomato sauce to remedy a hair disaster when her blonde locks took on a green tinge after she used a henna dye kit.
“I thought I was being clever as henna is all natural,” she said. “Little did I know it was the worst thing I could have done... it coats the (hair) so nothing else can penetrate. I ended up using (tomato sauce) for about a year to get rid of the green tinge.”
The sauce can help blonde hair that’s been discoloured: the red helps to cancel out any green tones, and its natural acids remove the minerals that caused the initial reaction.
So could there be any other hair care gems lurking among your condiments?
“Yes, there’s an entire pharmacy of inexpensive hair help at your disposal,” says hairdresser Jason Cocking.
“Luxury products do work and smell amazing, but if your hair needs a quick fix, the answer could be sitting in your pantry.”
Here he gives us his top tips:
DETANGLE WITH GRAPE JUICE
To untangle hair you need a product with a low pH. White wine vinegar is perfect for working through haystack hair, but it may not leave you smelling as fragrant as you’d like. Instead, use grape juice. Apply for 15 minutes, rinsing well afterwards, then run a wide comb through your hair.
ADD SHINE WITH MAYONNAISE
This is a pure protein boost for dry, under-nourished hair. Apply mayonnaise straight from the fridge to penetrate each hair shaft. If you’re not a fan of mayo, you could try whisking up an egg-white mask. Apply to your scalp, then wrap your scalp and hair in cling film, with a towel over the top to minimise mess. Leave for 20 minutes then wash out thoroughly with lukewarm water (not too hot or you’ll scramble the eggs).
DO AWAY DANDRUFF WITH SEA SALT
Give your head a good exfoliation using sea salt – the chunky crystals will help get rid of all the dry flakes. A good rinse with warm water and shampoo will make sure that any residue is dissolved out.
NOURISH WITH A DRIZZLE OF OLIVE OIL
A favourite of glossy-haired celebrities, extra-virgin olive oil is a cheaper deep-conditioning treatment. Gently warm the oil by placing the bottle in a basin of hot water for a few minutes (never heat it in a saucepan or microwave as you risk making it too hot and burning yourself).
Then apply to the mid-lengths and ends of your hair, avoiding your roots as these tend to be naturally oilier. Leave for 20 minutes, then shampoo thoroughly. If you have fine hair, use an olive oil spray. This is much lighter on your hair yet still de-frizzes and creates shine.
CREATE WAVES WITH SALTY WATER
Fill an empty spray bottle with tap water and then add a teaspoon of ordinary table salt. Spray into your roots to give instant volume to your hair.
ERASE HAIR DYE STAINS WITH TOOTHPASTE
If a home hair dye job has left you with unsightly stained skin around your hairline, you can use whitening toothpaste to get rid of it. It’s slightly abrasive, but doesn’t contain so much whitener that it will damage your skin. Use a finger to massage a small amount on to the stain, rinse and repeat until the mark has gone. – Daily Mail