Nataly is an experienced freelance writer well-versed in lifestyle, beauty, and fashion. She enjoys testing new hair products to tame her long locks. Believing in the power of self-care, Nataly collects styling tips like gems. Currently, she delivers exclusive content on the latest hairstyle trends and transformations.
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This easy trick makes your stretched elastics look like new. Just follow these simple steps to shrink worn-out hair ties.
Hair elastics are hard to find but easy to lose. They’re never there when you need them most, so searching through the bag or a drawer to get any turns into a real quest. But don’t rush to the store to buy a new set. In fact, you can revive your old and stretched hair ties that are surely scattered somewhere around your place. And yes, it only takes minutes and costs nothing.
We found a great zero-waste life hack that will give you endless elastics, with no need to buy new ones every time. Without further ado, go grab your old hair ties and watch a short tutorial on how to shrink them. Now, they’re as good as new!
To let the magic work for your old hair ties, you’ll need a small cooking pot with water first. And don’t worry, we’re not trying out some fancy recipe here. Put it on the stove and bring the water to the boil. Place your worn-out hair ties in the boiling water and watch the magic happen. Because of high temperatures, the rubber shrinks right in front of you, coming back to its original size.
Before pulling them out, add some dish soap or a detergent to clean off the dust, dirt, and traces of hair styling products. Stir your ‘soup’ gently to help the washing liquid do its job. Take them out and rinse them with some tap water. Mind that they’re hot! So, use the towel for that.
Letting the elastics dry naturally is the next important step. Once the hair ties are out of the hot water, they need to keep their new shape and solidify. You can use a towel to get rid of the excessive moisture. While the elastics are drying up, find a new organizer for them. A storage box or a make-up bag will do.
Pro Tip: Don’t put all of your elastics in one place. Leave some of them in a drawer and save just a couple for the bag you carry around most of the time. You never know when you’ll need them for a quick ponytail.
The hack also works for spiral and coiled hair ties. Since they’re made of plastic, the heat will affect them just like a regular elastic. Just pour some boiling water on the top of the hair tie, and it will shrink to its normal size in a matter of seconds.
Enjoy easy hair hacks? Check Handy Hack: How to Stop Your Headband from Slipping Off and Cute Hairstyles You Can Pull Off Even If You Only Have an Elastic.
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