Keeping your head above water

MANY local celebrities are doing their bit to stave off Day Zero.

Media personality Liezel van der Westhuizen is among those who took to social media to preach responsible water usage.

She recently posted a picture of herself in plaits with the caption: “I wear my hair in 2 Pineapple braid, so I don’t need to wash it for at least 2 weeks. # SAVINGWATER. How long can you go without washing your hair? #DayZero #CapeTownwatercrisis #CapeTown #CapeTownDrought.”

The post has garnered nearly 1 000 likes.

The Kfm radio host said she had decided to wear her hair in this way after a shoot.

“I had a shoot a couple of months back and the stylist created this look. I wore it for a week and realised I could go for two to three weeks without washing my hair.

“Another style is to just gel my hair back and wear it gelled back for two weeks.”

She also uses a waterless make- up remover and frequents a Cape Town salon which offers waterless manicures and pedicures. Her home routine has shifted to meet the new water restrictions.

“I have plastic basins in all my sinks so that I catch water from hand- and dish-washing and this gets used to flush the toilet.

“I’ve also placed buckets in the showers to catch water to use for flushing.”

Another A-lister who has been going all out to save water is model Lee-Ann Liebenberg.

She has adopted a minimalistic approach in her beauty regime.

She only washes her hair once a week and puts it in a ponytail when it starts to get dirty.

“I’m very comfortable with wearing my hair in a ponytail for a few days. The natural hair oils are actually very good for you!

“I also only use face wipes to remove my make-up and bottled water to brush my teeth.”

A water- wise approach applies in the Liebenberg household. “We reuse our shower water to flush our toi- lets and a small portable, pressure washing machine to wash our laundry. I banned the use of the dishwasher a while ago and we only use bottled water for drinking, cooking and rinsing a few dishes.”

Liezel van der Westhuizen recently posted a picture of herself wearing braids with the caption: ‘I wear my hair in 2 Pineapple braids, so I don’t need to wash it for at least 2 weeks.’