In a perfect world, your medicine cabinet would always be stocked with your A-team of hair supplies. Each time you got down to the dregs of a shampoo bottle or jar of wax, another fresh, unopened one would magically appear right next to it, ready to pick up the slack when the first reached the end of its rope. Like auto-pilot, but for pomade.

Unfortunately, that’s just not the way it is (yet). And because it’s not, there will come a point in every man’s life when he finds that he’s gone too long between restocking trips—whether due to poor planning or simply stubbornness to surrender the requisite cheddar for quality products—leaving him sans a necessary component of his grooming routine for a few days before he can replace it. For just that occasion, here are a couple of tricks on how to make do with what you’ve got on hand. Sure, they might not be the perfect solution, but when all your other options are depleted, they’ll do just fine.

Shampoo, The D.I.Y. Way

Sure, we’ve noted the benefits of cutting back when it comes to shampooing, but there are still moments when your mane needs a bit of cleansing. Should one of those occasions roll around after you’ve already filled the bottle with water to get the last of the suds out (we’ve all done it), try washing with a mixture of baking soda and water. The ratio you want is 1 tablespoons/cup of water; just make sure all the soda’s dissolved before you scrub it into your hair. Rinse, then follow that up with an apple cider vinegar solution (the same ratio applies) and you’ll be good to go.

In Lieu of ConditionerRead MoreHow to Use As Few Grooming Products As Possible

Multitask your way to a cleaner medicine cabinet.

By Stephen J. Praetorius

Hair looking particularly dry and frizzy, yet don’t have the time to run and grab some proper conditioner? Well, if you’ve got a jar of coconut oil in your kitchen, then you’re in luck. Chemical-free and full up with fatty acids, coconut oil will revive damaged hair just as well as any store-bought treatment. Simply rub a tablespoon or so (depending on length) between your hands to warm it up, massage it into your locks and wait an hour or so before rinsing it out. Another benefit: Coconut also helps with dandruff. Check and check.

On the other hand, are you looking to add a bit more more body to lackluster locks? Then look no further than your nearest six-pack, because ingredients like hops and barley ensure that each sip is packed with proteins that will leave you with thicker, fuller, healthier hair when applied to your dome. All you need to do is mix a few swigs with warm water, douse your scalp and let it sit for a minute or two for a better head of hair. And don’t worry, the pubcrawl aroma washes right out.

Styling Sans Resources

Let’s get one thing straight: if you’re looking for a strong hold, you’re not going to find anything that works as well as legit styling products like gel, wax and pomade. And okay, there are D.I.Y. recipes for those out there, but unless you’ve got things like shea butter and beeswax lying around, you’re better off just buying the real thing. But, should you find yourself in need of something to tame your mane, you do have a few options.

For relaxed, yet still smooth, styles, a dab of your regular, everyday hand lotion can do the trick. Acting essentially like a styling cream, it’ll provide a loose hold, adding just a touch of necessary polish to otherwise unruly hair.

For more structured looks, you can always try petroleum jelly. Like you would your regular product, work a tiny bit between your hands for a bit, just to warm it up, before massaging it into your hair, starting at the root. Two warnings, though. First off, it won’t dry like your regular goo, so try not to touch your head too much or risk messing up the whole illusion you’ve got going on. And two, it’s going to be a bitch to get this grease out, so just be ready for that.

Finally, should a salt spray be your go-to, that one’s actually quite easy to make your own. Simply mix a teaspoon of salt with seltzer, throw the mixture into a spray bottle, and spritz away.

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