For years I have been asking hairdressers for tips to achieve better looking, healthier hair, but I’ve never received many useful answers, apart from being told not to put conditioner on my scalp as it can make it itchy if, like me, you have delicate skin.

This week, as part of my challenge, I’ve been looking online for some homemade shampoo recipes to try out. I had no idea but it turns out that DJ and I could be sitting on a make do and mend beauty goldmine. Apparently the produce of our hardworking pet hens Lexi and Molly could be the answer to healthy, shiny hair. According to some websites, egg is the key to a glowing crowning glory, and they don’t mean eating it either – you quite literally have to wear it.

I found two recipes for shampoo and conditioner, both of which included eggs as a key ingredient. Curious, I decided to try them out. The shampoo recipe combined an ounce of olive oil, 1 egg, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and half a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar. To make the conditioner I was told to beat an egg yolk until frothy, then add 1 teaspoon of baby oil, beat the mixture again and add a cup of water.

To be honest, it was a bit strange making these concoctions because I felt as though I should be making pancakes or a cake, not hair products. The shampoo mixture smelt a bit funny, mainly because of the vinegar odour, but the conditioner had a nice scent to it because of the baby oil. But nothing could have prepared me for the odd experience of trying them out. I’m so used to using shampoos that foam up that it felt very strange trying to wash my hair with something as watery as the egg-based shampoo. In the end I just poured it all over my head over the bath, spilling some of it on my T-shirt in the process. I wanted to keep an open mind, but, to be frank, it smelt awful.

I washed it all out and then applied the conditioner, massaging it into my hair and then washing it all out once more. My scalp was beginning to feel a bit itchy but it might have been psychosomatic. It was when I was towel drying my hair that I noticed some sticky white lumps in the towel. Brushing my hair out, I discovered a few more in the hair brush. Not only had I washed my hair, I’d made some scrambled egg at the same time…nice! That’s dinner sorted…

Egg shampoo may be a great way of producing a healthy, shiny crowning glory. But as I sat there last night with wet hair and the unmistakeable scent of oeuf about me, I have to say I remained unconvinced. However, when I woke up this morning the smell had finally gone and my hair seemed much softer than usual, so perhaps there is something in it after all. Perhaps the egg works its magic if you can bear to keep it up for a sustained period, but I don’t think I have it in me. I’m not sure how frugal it would be to do so either, if you have to wash your hair frequently. A box of six free-range eggs costs about £1.30 in the shops and you can buy a bottle of shampoo that will last longer than that for the same money.

Onwards and upwards, though, and I have been acquiring some useful tips on how to make your makeup last longer and make the most of your existing collection of products, rather than buy new ones. Here are a few good links:

http://www.thefrugalface.com/tipsframe.htm

http://www.ehow.com/how_2282484_make-makeup-last-longer.html

And for hair care tips: 

http://www.pioneerthinking.com/of_beautybasics.html

How do you save money on hair care? Do you think egg-based shampoo is frugal or a waste of good food? Leave a message and let me know your thoughts.

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