Here’s some shocking news: being a woman isn’t always a walk in the park. Thankfully, some women have shared their best tips, tricks, and hacks that can help make life a little easier for us gals. And the best part is, most of these are useful for everyone! From beauty secrets to household hacks to clothing tricks, this list has time- and money-saving advice for everyone. We never knew clear nail polish could be such a life-saver…
1. Pain-free ponytails
If you have long hair, listen up! Be mindful of just how tight your “low maintenance” ponytail is. The last thing you want is for the hair tie to pull out your precious tresses!
Here’s a tip from website Healthline: switch up where on your head you tie your ponytail. Loosening it up and changing its location could save your luscious locks from ruin in the long run.
2. Vaseline for your lashes
This may sound like an old wives' tale, but hear us out: Vaseline on lashes. Yes, petroleum jelly just may be the most useful product in your medicine cabinet!
It can not only be used to hydrate dry skin or smooth frizzy hair, but according to Healthline — and grandmas everywhere — it may also help your lashes look thicker. Give it a try!
3. Icy iced coffee
There’s just something about a bone-chillingly cold iced coffee every morning that women and men seem to crave. If you want your iced coffee to hit extra hard, then consider this interesting tip from website Crate and Barrel. All you'll need is your usual brew method and an ice cube tray.
Simply pour your brewed coffee into the tray and freeze overnight. The next morning, add it to your coffee for a double dose of energy! This could help prevent watery iced coffee, too.
4. Cash and chapstick
When you’re out and about, you may feel a little uneasy carrying cash — especially a significant amount — in your very conspicuous purse or bag.
As per website Lifehacker, for some additional peace of mind, clean out an old chapstick tube, tightly roll up some bills, and store them in the tube. Chances are, a thief will want your bag, not your lip balm.
5. Freeze your jeans
When jeans are as expensive as they are, upkeep can be nerve-racking! The last thing you want to do is over- or under-wash them. Luckily, there's a tried-and-tested trick that should take all the stress out of caring for your denim.
Website Apartment Therapy suggests if your denim pants are still relatively clean after a few wears, try throwing them into the freezer instead of the washing machine. Apparently, the low temperature could help get rid of bacteria and any potential odors without dulling their appearance.
6. Untangle-no-more
If you’re someone who loves jewelry, chances are you’ve had the maddening task of untangling necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. Is there a more soul-sucking accessory-related experience? Thankfully, there’s a cost-effective way to save your soul from such a fate.
As per website PopSugar, find a cheap ice-cube tray and use it to keep your jewelry organized. It may not be the cutest way of storing your earrings, but hey — it’s cheap and effective!
7. Not the good kind of ring
Girls’ night is fun and all, but the aftermath can be a real doozy! It’s especially annoying how your friends always leave their wine glasses on your wooden coffee table. Don’t worry, though: those pesky water rings aren’t permanent.
Website Morehackz reveals all you need to do is run a hair dryer on low heat over the stains and then rub the areas with olive oil. Obviously, this tip works for non-girls’ night parties too…
8. Creative or cheesy?
This may sound silly, but bear with us: add a cheese grater to your morning routine. And no, we're not suggesting you start to double down on your dairy intake, but jewelry fans — it's time to take note. Any old grater won't quite do the trick, though.
Website Turning The Clock Back suggests preferably using one that’s been spray painted/decorated to look a little less like a kitchen tool — to display your earrings. It’s unique, it’s functional, and it’ll definitely be a conversation piece in your bathroom.
9. Getting around the pink tax
Ever heard of the pink tax? Basically, it’s when companies create pink products aimed specifically towards women — hence the rose coloring — and charge more money for them than for identical non-gender-specific products.
Healthline suggests that to avoid paying more for the same product, such as pink razors, simply buy the unisex version of the products. They’re usually just as good as the pink items, and sometimes, they’re ever higher quality. The more you know!
10. The closest shave
Most shaving cream cans are literally full of hot air. Plus, they don’t always get the job done when it comes to creating a smooth, close shave, especially around knees, ankles, and delicate contours of the face.
L’Oreal notes one solution to this problem is already in your bathroom! Apply hair conditioner, shave the area, and then dab in some baby oil for a smooth finish.
11. Never lose another bobby pin
Ah, bobby pins: can’t live with them, can’t live without them, and you can certainly never keep track of them. To save yourself the hassle each time you do your hair, you'll need some magnetic tape and a pair of scissors.
As per website Home Hacks, to prevent any bobby pin-related headaches (except those caused by one poking into your scalp), apply a magnetic strip to your mirror or bathroom drawer. You’ll always know where your pins are now!
12. An easy-to-see key
Fumbling for your house key can go from inconvenient to scary in a matter of seconds, especially if you live in a dangerous area. Thankfully, there's a super speedy trick that could just save your life.
To make your house key easy to spot on your key ring, website Homedit notes you can paint the top part with brightly colored nail polish! Not only does it look cute, but it’ll ensure much more rapid access to your home.
13. The super-straightener
Did you know that your hair straightener can do more than tame frizz? In a bind, a straightener can easily iron your shirt collar and even reach places your regular iron can’t, such as between shirt buttons.
Yes, Apartment Therapy reckons your hair straightener can make you look well-coiffed and put-together without even touching your hair! Just be sure to keep the tongs moving to avoid any burn marks.
14. Create a dazzling 'do
Now that you always know where your bobby pins are, let’s put them to good use! Bobby pins are traditionally meant to provide invisible support, but why not make them stand out in your hair?
Website Wikihow suggests spray-painting them for a pop of color, or decorating them with glittery nail polish for a glint of sparkle. Whichever you choose, your ’do will definitely be dazzling.
15. Magnetize your makeup
Makeup and small toiletries can clutter up a bathroom counter faster than you can say “shampoo.” To combat the ever-growing pile of products, get a magnetic makeup board, suggests Homedit!
Attach magnets to your products and simply hang them on the board for a cheap and easy way to declutter your space without throwing away expensive items.
16. No more frizz!
Is there anything more irritating than frizzy hair? Sometimes, it seems like no amount of mousse or hairspray can tame our tresses. Well, maybe the answer to our problems was under our noses — or in the laundry room — all along.
Glamour magazine revealed running a dryer sheet over your hair can help reduce frizziness! It seems the fabric softener in dryer sheets can have the same softening effect on hair that it has on clothes.
17. On-the-go bobby pin
Yes, you read that correctly: we do have another bobby pin hack for you, this one courtesy of website Lifestyle With Sarah! What can we say? Those suckers are nearly impossible to keep track of! Or they were, at least.
When you’re on the go, storing bobby pins in a Tic Tac container prevents them from disappearing on you when you really need them. And you truly never know when a bobby pin-related emergency will arise…
18. Get some breathing room
Sometimes, it feels as though women’s shoes were invented to make life more uncomfortable! So website Lifehacker suggests that if your new shoes are too tight at the toes, try applying some heat. With socks on, put on your shoes.
Then run a hairdryer on low over the shoes as you wiggle your toes. This should help the material expand and give your toes room to breathe! Make sure you keep the appliance moving, though, or you could end up with a painful burn.
19. All hail the cowboy boot
Never underestimate the power of a pair of cowboy boots. The problem is, their innate power is easily squashed if they aren’t stored properly. As per website Practically Functional, a cheap and easy way to keep your boots lookin’ fresh is to stuff them with pool noodles!
Yep, the cylinders of foam keep your boots propped up, which prevents them from getting floppy and creased. Consider their power restored!
20. Revitalize your mascara
Nothing can derail a morning quite like dried-out and clumpy mascara. After all, mascara is supposed to be the easy part of your makeup routine, not the most inconvenient! Luckily, there’s an easy solution to this problem, says website Allure.com.
According to the site, simply soak the tube in hot water for a while, and the dried-out mascara should melt back to its original form. You just saved money and your morning!
21. We're grape-ful for this hack
Who doesn’t crave a glass of chilled wine at the end of the day? What we don’t crave is wine that’s been watered down by the ice that was meant to keep it cool. To prevent this minor annoyance, Country Living magazine advises freeze grapes instead of water.
Adding frozen grapes to your wine will not only keep it cold without watering it down, but it will provide a tasty treat when you finish your glass, too.
22. No one wants a green thumb
Costume jewelry is cute and fun — until it turns your finger green! To avoid looking like the Grinch without sacrificing your rings, a tip from website Business Insider is to paint the inside of the jewelry with clear nail polish.
Doing so should prevent the cheap metal from rubbing onto your skin! Just remember to reapply the clear polish after every few wears to keep the green at bay.
23. A nifty curler
Want to know a foolproof way to be the hero of every party? Always carry an eyelash curler! Not only can you primp yourself at the drop of a hat, you'll be the savior if anyone's forgotten their bottle opener.
As per website BuzzFeed, an eyelash curler can also be used to open a wine bottle if a corkscrew is nowhere to be found. Just imagine the praise you’ll get for saving the party!
24. Save your sanity one strap at a time
One of the most annoying yet undiscussed parts of wearing a bra are the pesky straps! It can only fall down your shoulder so many times before you finally lose your mind. To preserve your sanity, Wikihow suggests bobby pins to strategically hold your straps in place.
You can either attach them to the base of the bra strap and/or to the straps at the back of the bra to suit the kind of top you’re wearing.
25. Heal your heels
If you manage to find a pair of heels that don’t make your feet bleed, hold on to them and never let them go — even if they’re starting to look a little worse for wear.
To keep your favorite heels looking cute and up-to-date, a tip from website My DIY and Crafts is to try decorating them with glitter or even a new fabric. They may end up looking a little crafty, but saving your favorite heels is worth a shot, no?
26. Nailed it
Decorating your nails is all fun and games until a particularly strong polish color leaves your nails permanently stained. Worry not: there just may be a solution, as per website Hello Glow.
Dab a little whitening toothpaste onto the nails, or even water mixed with hydrogen peroxide. Whichever you choose, your nails should soon be bleached back to their natural color!
27. Spray your hosiery
Is it just us, or do pantyhose form holes if you just happen to look at them the wrong way? They’re truly the most fickle of hosiery. To keep them well-behaved, Wikihow counsels spritzing them with hair spray!
Apparently, the chemicals that help keep an “all day hold” on your frizz could also help keep your pantyhose from splitting so easily.
28. Sloppy to sleek
Nothing makes an outfit go from sleek to sloppy quicker than a missing button. Lifehacker says to keep this unwelcome transformation at bay, you should gingerly paint your sweater’s buttons with clear nail polish.
This should help prevent threads from forming, which in turn should keep your button where it belongs: on you! Just be sure to check the bottle before slopping on the varnish — using a colored polish could ruin your favorite sweater in seconds.
29. DIY bottle-opener
Some of us just don’t have the upper body strength to pry open all these bottles of clear nail polish. Nail polish bottles can be especially difficult to open when they’re brand new!
A top tip from Cosmopolitan magazine: to save your fingers (and your pride) from swift defeat, wrap a rubber band around the caps. The rubber should provide the traction you need to open the nail polish with half the grunting and energy as usual.
30. You never know!
This Reddit hack is useful for everyone, but especially for those who wear makeup: keep a small bag of essentials in your car’s glove compartment or at your office desk.
Fill it with, well, the essentials: deodorant, tampons, pads, perfume, concealer, tweezers, etc. You just never know when you may need them!
31. Important measurements
Part of what makes shopping so stressful for so many women is how they don’t actually know their measurements. So this Reddit tip is twofold: first, learn your basic measurements (bust, waist, hips, and feet sizes are the best). Then, write them down on your phone.
That way, you have them near you whenever you go shopping. Now you’ll know exactly which size pants you need without having to try on a million pairs!
32. Save your skin
Remember how much money you saved when you took the time to melt your almost-empty makeup products? You can do the same thing with your nearly-empty lotion bottle, too! Except this time, a Redditor advises swapping out the hair dryer for scissors.
When you're struggling to squeeze or pump any more product from the pot, just grab your trusty scissors. Cut the tube in half, and you’ll be shocked at just how much product was hiding in the cap/bottom of the tube.
33. Extra clothes
As your mom once said, always be prepared! One Redditor counseled making your mom proud by always keeping a spare outfit in your car in case of emergencies. After all, you never know when you’ll end up with a shirt full of mustard or a skirt dripping in coffee.
If you have an extra outfit waiting for you in your car, these major disturbances become nothing more than minor inconveniences. Just don't park too far away!
34. Im-pasta-ble!
Candles can truly tie a room together, especially when you’re preparing to have guests over. But if you discover that your favorite Vanilla Cookie candle is down to the wick minutes before your guests arrive, worry not!
Grab a piece of dry spaghetti, ignite the end, and use it as a makeshift lighter, advises website Kitchn. It should be able to ignite the short, hard-to-reach wick faster than you ever thought possible.
35. Hang up your bags
Look, sometimes women need different purses for different events, and storing these bags can be a huge hassle. Wikihow suggests saving space and keeping your purses in good condition by using shower hooks to store them in your closet!
This not only keeps them off the floor, but it looks cute, too. Another option for serious bag fans is to hang them on your wall instead! This could work better with specific shelving, but get creative.
36. A shoe-in for the clutter-free closet
Everyone knows that too many shoes can quickly cause closet chaos. So if you're drowning under a mountain of poorly stacked sneakers, boots, and pumps, listen up.
Use wine box separators stuffed inside a spare — and fancy-looking — tote bag as a fetching shoe rack. Cheers to this cheap and effective idea!
37. Make your clothes hangers work for you
Another handy closet storage tip for you here. If you're struggling to fit all of your clothes on the hangers you have available, or you're simply short on space, why not try streamlining your storage space with shower curtain clips.
Just pop as many as you want onto a single hanger, and then you can use one hanger for multiple items. Just think of the closet space you’ll be saving!
38. Make your to-do list part of your evening routine
If the self-help sections of the internet are to be believed, then all of this generation's great minds have locked down a solid morning routine. But why leave the early-AM greatness just to the likes of Barack Obama, Jeff Bezos, and Steve Jobs? Write the next day’s to-do list on the bedroom mirror before you go to bed.
That way, those important items will definitely be seen as you get ready in the morning. Now you can spend your mornings relaxing instead of stressing out!
39. Strengthen screws with nail polish
Sadly, screws can come loose around the house — as anyone who’s ever stepped on one will know. But to keep this from happening from now on, just coat the screws you still have at hand with nail polish.
Apparently, this acts in the same way as any regular adhesive, and it should help keep any fasteners firmly secured.
40. Unclog your shower head with vinegar
They may be what we hop in to get clean ourselves, but have you ever stopped to think how the shower head in your shower gets itself clean? Well, the answer is, unfortunately, it doesn't! There are no shower-head-cleaning fairies. It's a fact of life — they can accumulate a lot of gunk over time.
To combat this, famed home improvement expert Bob Vila’s website recommends pouring some vinegar into a small plastic bag, tying it to the head, and leaving it there overnight. Then, once you’ve taken the bag off, give the head a quick wash. Problem solved!