Life-hacks: you find them on Pinterest, then you watch people on YouTube try them, and after all this (if you’re brave enough) you decide to give them a go yourself. Some go well, and the others… well let’s not talk about those.
The fabulous HC girls are here to share their not-so-secret life-hacks, to make your life that little bit easier.
- Swap your shaving cream for hair conditioner!
The idea for this article came to me after trying something which, like many of these hacks, sounds a little unconventional. Now, have you ever tried using regular hair conditioner instead of shaving cream? I promise you; it is life changing. The conditioner softens the hairs, which makes them much easier to shave, and quite frankly, my legs have never felt smoother.
- Save time with Lush Shampoo bars and money by buying cheap falsies
Our events gal Jess claims, that what has truly changed her life are Lush shampoo bars and her trusty Camelback bottle, thanks to which she drinks loads more water. We all know how important staying hydrated is, so grab yourselves a cute bottle and drink up! She’s got another tip for all the glam lovers out there – buy cheap falsies! Yes, you’re seeing right. As long as you’ve got good glue they are going to stay on, regardless of how much you’ve paid for them.
- Keep those pesky tights up with a pair of knickers on top!
We’re going into winter, and to fight the cold we’re likely to be reaching for some tights before a night out. Now those can be tricky as at some point, they tend to start slipping down. Worry not, our editor Freya has a tip that’ll save ya! Apparently, if you put another pair of underwear on top of your tights, it’s going to hold them up. Plus, you can wear your comfy undies underneath and flash something racier on top- if you’re feeling it – without having to sacrifice your comfort.
- Use Nescafe Azera for an ‘at home’ Starbucks
The morning after a night out can be tough, but coffee makes everything better and apparently Nescafé Azera, despite being an instant powder, tastes just as good as the real thing yet is still affordable on a student budget! If you’re after something more refreshing, it’s also perfect for easily made iced lattés.
- Perfect those pancakes with a squeezy bottle
All cooking enthusiasts listen up- Jen has some bomb advice for you! If you want to take making pancakes to a next level and become a true culinary artist, simply fill in an empty ketchup bottle with the batter and the pan is now your canvas Pancasso (as in pancake Picasso, get it?)! Another handy food related tip – if you find yourself eating a cupcake with loads of icing on it, just tear of a bit from the bottom of the cupcake and make a sandwich to avoid any face related icing problems!
- Make use of your local tailor to always get clothes to fit you even if you can’t buy your size
Also, the sugar rush you get from that delicious cupcake might send you on a shopping spree! Now, we’ve all been there. You see a piece you really like, but as the luck would have it, they don’t have it in your size. Jen says, buy it anyway, and bring it to a tailor, who can alter it to fit you perfectly! It gets trickier with shoes, where you have no other option than stuffing them with some sponges to take them down to your size (which, after all, can make them even comfier too). Also, if you have to go bra-free and your classic boob tape is not doing it, try wig tape for a much stronger hold!
- Grab a cheap little second hand iPod shuffle to soundtrack your workouts
Let’s face it, working out without music just doesn’t feel right. Lauren too had to go through the struggle of trying to manage her phone and the actual, you know, working out at the same time. And she’s found a solution – iPod shuffle. The handy thing about this tiny device is that you can clip it onto your clothing and it stays put throughout your workout.
- Use Aveeno for clear and smooth skin
Erin has a little beauty tip for all of us – apparently the Aveeno moisturiser is where it’s at! No spots, just beautiful, smooth skin. Double the success!
- Refworks can lighten your referencing burden at the end of an essay
The word “references“ turns out to be a recipe for premature wrinkles if you’re in uni. As Nicole says, not with RefWorks! This program saves all your bibliography for you. She personally uses the RefMe app which she’s got on her phone and all she can say is, it truly is a life (and time) saver and she would definitely recommend it!
- Don’t get stuck with Superglue, acetone is your friend!
Now, academic frustrations, or even mere accidents can get you in all sorts of inconvenient situations, such as gluing your fingers together with superglue. You know what they say, HC girls have a solution for everything. And they’re not wrong! Natala says – just grab some acetone and it’ll come off straight away!
- Save your fingers from going green with cheap jewellery and coat them with clear nail polish
I feel like we’ve all been there. You have that one lovely ring and you’re so excited about wearing it… But then it turns your finger a not so lovely shade of green. Lucy has been there and she knows what to do. Apparently, all you need to do is coat the inside of the ring with clear nail varnish and you’re green free!
- Sneak in that alcohol by disguising it as mouthwash!
Our fabulous HC president/Queen Rachel has some sneaky party tips for you too. Trying to sneak vodka (or any other clear alcohol) into a party or a festival? Grab an empty Listerine bottle, pour your vodka, add a couple drops of blue or purple food colouring and voila! Those tiny travel sized ones might be even less suspicious if you’re just going to a party.
- Get rid of static with hairspray
Now that your alcohol situation is sorted, you might be worried about your dress- more specifically about the static that’s making it cling to your tights. If that’s the case, spray the inside of your dress and your tights with hairspray, then rub them with a dryer sheet and ta-dah!
- Finish your night off with a calming drink to get a great nights sleep
To finish this off on a zen, relaxed note, Natascha advises to drink either green tea, Ovolmatine or the good old warm milk with honey for a great night’s sleep if you’re struggling to drift off.
Once again, HC has proved to live by its slogan – college is hard! We make it easier.