Hair care from the pantry

Cosmetic chemist, Candice Kalil who lives in Sandton, revealed that the secret to healthy, smooth, nourished hair is the food which individuals keep at home.

As a cosmetic chemist working in Sandton, many of her clients often ask how they can take care of their hair without spending a fortune. Her best advice is to use natural, edible items which are very affordable.

Kalil explained that apple cider vinegar is rich in malic fruit acid and can be used to make hair shinier and softer.

“Mix equal parts vinegar and water, then pour it over your hair in the shower, just like shampoo. Don’t worry about the strong smell as it fades away as the hair dries,” said Kalil.

She added that people can use mayonnaise to improve the health of their hair because it is made of eggs and oil and it makes sense that it would be good for your hair. Kalil’s hair mask recipe is quite simple. To make the hair mask, add a tablespoon of olive oil, an egg yolk and two tablespoons of lemon juice to a cup of mayonnaise. Kalil said that it is best to leave the hair mask in the hair for 30 minutes before washing out.

Kalil said she understand that people are often in too much of a rush to wash their hair. “If your roots are super oily and you have no time to go to the hairdresser or wash your hair, grab some corn starch and sprinkle it onto your roots to soak up the extra oil,” explained Kalil.

Honey is a sticky product that people would typically keep away from when cleaning their hair, however, Kalil said, “Honey is the solution to coarse hair that needs to be softened and this is why I encourage my clients to use products, such as Ruutos Hair, which are rich in honey and other natural ingredients.”

She explained that honey, which is warmed up, can be mixed with olive oil to make a hair mask.

“Look after your hair as it is your best accessory,” she concluded.