LET SHOE POLISH GIVE GREY HAIR THE BOOT

Nothing makes you look old more than a head of greying hair. Yet regular dyeing is messy and time-consuming and having it done professionally can cost a fortune.

Well now, thanks to Janine, top colourist at Froghill’s Looks-U-Like salon, a quick and easy alternative is at hand.

“It’s simple,” says Janine. “Just use shoe polish and ship’s varnish instead. It’s economical, undetectable and you can do it in your own home.”

The first thing is to choose a tin of polish that most closely resembles your original hair colour. This will ensure a more even tonal blend and avoids that sudden drastic change which has everyone sniggering behind your back.

Empty the tin of polish into a small saucepan and melt it over a gentle heat. In the meantime, wash your hair and towel it dry. It’s a good idea to use a conditioner at this stage, as this will eliminate awkward knots and tangles during the application process.

When the polish has completely liquefied, dip a styling comb into the pan and run it through your hair from front to back. Be sure to work upwards from the roots to the end of each individual hair strand. Continue in this way, making sure to cover all the hair evenly. Take care, however, not to get any colourant onto the surrounding skin, as liquid shoe polish is highly corrosive and can leave unsightly scars.

While doing this, pre-heat your oven to 200ºC or gas mark 6.

The next step is important, as your new colour will need to be fixed. First, make sure the hair is combed down flat against your skull. Then, using a light-gauge brush, apply a thin coating of varnish to the entire head, working from front to back, as you did with the polish.

Wait around 10 to 15 minutes for the varnish to become tacky, then put your head into the oven to harden it all off. This will take around half an hour. You can achieve the same result by using a microwave, set on medium for two minutes, but remember to Vaseline your cheeks thoroughly first, in order to avoid friction burns from the revolving turntable.

And that’s all there is to it. In less than an hour you’ll be looking at a new and rejuvenated image in the mirror – and only you and Janine will know the secret of how it was done!