We took a list of age-old beauty wisdom to the experts and, to our surprise, discovered more fact than folklore. When it comes to beauty secrets, it turns out, mother knows best. Here, her 12 greatest hits to keep you looking forever young. Read more: Best Beauty Tips – Mom’s Beauty Advice – Good Housekeeping
By Stephanie Jacob
“You look prettier with your hair off your face.”
“Too much hair covering your face can drag your features down,” says Jet Rhys, hairstylist and co-owner of the Jet Rhys salons in San Diego and Solana Beach, California. “Styling hair away from the face looks natural and plays up your features.” Just be sure to keep hair soft and not pulled back tightly, which can add years to your appearance. Keeping hair out of the way also helps prevent skin from absorbing the styling products in your locks, which can clog pores and cause breakouts (not quite the youthful look you’re going for).
“Rinse your hair with cold water to add extra shine.”
“Warm water opens a hair’s cuticle to allow shampoo and conditioner to do their job,” says Rhys. In turn, rinsing with cold water helps to close the cuticle and seal in moisture from conditioner. “A closed cuticle reflects light and extinguishes frizz,” adds Rhys. Hair that gleams looks healthy and youthful, while age, heat styling, and product-buildup can dull your locks.
If you can’t bear a cold shower, offset dullness by pouring one-cup apple cider vinegar mixed with two-cups water over hair after washing and conditioning. “Vinegar, a gentle exfoliator, removes product build-up and dandruff from the scalp and smooths the cuticle,” says Rhys.
“Don’t stray too far from your natural hair color.”
“Not only do you look more youthful with a few natural colors in your hair, it also softens your look,” says Rhys. And softer looks younger. “There’s nothing more dated than a harsh, solid, monotone hair color — particularly when grey comes into play.” Rhys’ rule of thumb: Lighten up when hair turns gray. Ask your colorist to highlight your hair with hues similar to what you had as a girl. “Having at least three different colors swirling through the hair brings back a child-like result.”
“Mayonnaise is the best conditioner.”
Use a mayo-based treatment in your hair once or twice a month to score more manageable locks. “I’ve tweaked my mom’s recipe by adding avocado,” says Rhys. “The two combined are full of the good fatty acids and healthy oils that help add shine and moisture to stressed hair.” (Remember: Glossy hair equals younger looking hair.) Combine one-half cup mayo with half a ripe mashed avocado and apply the mixture to damp hair. Cover hair with a plastic shower cap for 15 to 20 minutes, then rinse, shampoo twice, condition, and style as usual.