I don’t like to spend a lot of time taking care of my hair and skin which is why I’m always interested in beauty hacks. But they can be tricky as not everything that you find on Instagram or Pinterest actually works. However, there are some tried and tested tips and tricks that have come to my rescue and I’m sharing them with you.

Onion for the scalp

Onion is a great remedy for hair growth and scalp health as it has sulphur and antioxidants. My mother rubs a raw onion on her scalp. It takes care of dryness, flakes, and makes your hair strong and silky in the long run. Earlier, she used to boil chopped onions with oil and use that on her hair. But she found out that rubbing a raw onion works equally well. There are various products in the market that claim to make your hair stronger and smoother, and they all have onion in their list of ingredients. But you don’t have to buy these expensive products when a kitchen remedy is just as effective. One thing I do recommend however is an onion hair mask. Use it once a week or on a biweekly basis for thick, lustrous hair. Simply extract some onion juice and mix it with coconut or rosemary oil and massage your scalp with it an hour before washing your hair. You can also use a warm damp towel to wrap your hair after putting the oil to lock in the moisture. Another great option is to boil onion peels in water for 10 to 15 minutes and strain the mixture. Use this to rinse your hair after washing it. It will make your hair shiny.

Rice water for glowing skin

One of my friends got rid of dry patches and inflamed facial skin with an easy remedy that her grandmother taught her. Now, she readily shares the secret with anyone who asks. Her grandmother told her to freeze rice water (the water from the first rinse) in ice trays and rub a cube on her face twice a day. Just this one simple thing and her skin, she says, has never seen better days. I tried it and it works. Your skin feels refreshed and supple too. I use an ice roller for that as it just feels easier and more accessible than wrapping an ice cube in muslin and using that. You can get really cheap ice rollers in the market or even order one online. If you want an extra dose of freshness, add a few crushed rose petals to the rice water before freezing it. This simple hack is good for both dry and oily skin. It is also believed to be anti-aging as rice water tightens your skin and helps close open pores. If you don’t like rubbing ice on your face what you can do is make a rice water toner and dab it on your face with cotton balls after cleansing it with a mild face wash.

Vaseline to the rescue

This is one product that is so multifunctional that you must keep a tub at home at all times. It can be used by both men and women for a variety of purposes. A friend uses it to style and shape his beard and keep it looking nice. The trick, he says, is to use just a smidgen otherwise it can look greasy. It is also an excellent replacement for hair gels that can be a bit harsh. It gives your hair a wet, slick look. Use it to lock in moisture in dry areas like elbows, knees, and heels, and to tame flyaways and eyebrows. The most common use of Vaseline is as a lip balm but it can also be used as a great cuticle oil or moisturizer. If you dye your hair at home, rub a generous amount of Vaseline on your hairline to keep the dye from getting on your skin. Another friend I know has stopped buying makeup removers. She says Vaseline does the job effectively at less than half the price. The one trick I found most fascinating was dabbing a bit of Vaseline on your pulse points before spraying perfume. It makes your fragrances last longer. I also recently found out that you can use Vaseline to buff leather shoes, and make them shine. You can also put them on squeaky hinges and rub them over stuck zippers to fix them.