4 secrets to reduce dandruff and strengthen nails

Rid yourself of flaky dandruff and weak nails with these four remedies, made from ingredients you may already have at home.

Why? Because your hair stinks. No, not really. Turns out that mouthwash is an effective cure for dandruff, says Lou Schlachter, PhD, RN, a former dean at the University of North Carolina who now teaches herbal and folk medicine at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.

• Mix your own dandruff rinse by combining one part antiseptic mouthwash with nine parts water.
• After shampooing with your regular shampoo, apply the mixture to your scalp and leave it on. Your dandruff will improve, your hair won't be sticky and you can be assured people won't accuse your hair of having bad breath.

• Mash a handful of fresh or dry peppermint leaves and cover them with vodka (sounds good already, doesn't it?). Let it steep for a full day (no tasting) then strain.
• Add one millilitre (1/4 teaspoon) of water at a time to the mix until it becomes cloudy.
• After shampooing, apply the mix to your scalp and leave it on. You should see results by the second shampoo. And if not, you can always drink the stuff (the vodka mix, not the shampoo).

Nails as strong as horses' hoofs, to be exact. It's a secret veterinarians have long known — that the B vitamin biotin strengthens horses' hoofs. The hoofs are made from keratin, the same substance that makes up fingernails (the natural ones, at least).

Several studies find it works just as well in humans. One from Swiss researchers found that patients with brittle nails who supplement with 2,500 micrograms of biotin for six months increased their nail thickness 25 percent. Take 300 micrograms of the vitamin four to six times a day.

Most quick-drying polishes contain more formaldehyde and alcohol than regular polishes, and those fluids can dry and split your nails.

• The best way to fast-dry your nails is by freezing them.
• Dump a tray of ice cubes into your bathroom sink, add enough cold water to cover them, then dip your wet nails into the cold water for a minute or two after each coat.