Beautician Shahnaz Husain offers tips and answers queries. Send your queries to askshahnaz@gmail.com
My hair is greying, though I am only 20. Other than colouring it, is there a way to conceal the grey hair ? — Sujatha
Try henna which colours the hair and is believed to check greying. Amla is also believed to prevent greying. Drink the juice of one raw amla daily, after adding it to a glass of water. Amla can also be added to henna powder. However, henna turns grey hair reddish brown. It will not colour dark hair. Soak a handful of dry amla in two to three cups of water overnight. The following morning, strain the water, but do not throw it away. Grind the amla. To the henna powder, add the ground amla, 4 teaspoons each of lemon juice and coffee, 2 raw eggs, 2 teaspoons of oil and enough amla water, so that the henna mixes into a thick paste. Allow the paste to stand for two to three hours before applying it on the hair. Ensure that the entire head is covered. Keep it on for at least two hours before washing it off.
I have open pores on my face. — Sana
Open pores occur on oily areas of the skin. A cold compress with a skin tonic or rose water helps. So does the use of a facial scrub. It should be rubbed gently on the problem area once or twice a week and washed off with water. After cleansing, wipe the skin with an astringent lotion or skin tonic, using cotton wool. Then apply the cold compress with cotton wool pads soaked in chilled skin tonic or rose water. Mix oats with egg white and apply it on the open pores twice a week. Wash it off after it dries. Or, use a face mask by mixing multani mitti with rose water into a paste. Wash it off after it dries.
I am losing a lot of hair. I apply coconut oil, shampoo and conditioner. Suggest ways to improve hair growth. — Sruthi
Some of the reasons for hair loss are dandruff, oily scalp, stress, thyroid imbalance, illness, inadequate nutrition, hair damage caused by repeated dyeing, colouring, perming and straightening. Try to identify the cause in your case. Apply a herbal hair tonic on your scalp daily, using cotton wool and leave it on. Apply oil once a week the night before shampooing your hair. You can apply olive oil or pure coconut oil. Avoid massaging your head. If there is hair loss, it means the roots are already weak and massage may aggravate the problem. If the hair and scalp are oily, avoid oil application and creamy conditioners. Diet is important for hair growth. Eat a small bowl of sprouts daily and include fresh fruits, salads, leafy green vegetables, soya bean and curd in your diet. Ask your doctor to prescribe vitamin and mineral supplements.
Suggest a remedy for dry hair. — Yamini
Twice a week heat pure coconut oil and apply it on your hair. Then dip a towel in hot water, squeeze out the water and wrap the towel around your head like a turban. Keep it on for 5 minutes. Repeat the hot towel wrap 3 or 4 times. This helps the hair and the scalp absorb the oil better. Use a mild herbal shampoo. Use less shampoo and rinse if off well with water. After a shampoo wash, massage your hair with a very small quantity of creamy conditioner. Leave it on for 2 minutes before rinsing it off. Or, apply a leave-in conditioner or hair serum. Apply it the same way, but do not rinse it off.
Suggest a daily treatment routine for dry skin. — Riya
In the morning, cleanse your skin with a cleansing cream or gel for normal to dry skin. Then apply rose water to tone the skin, using cotton wool. Then apply a moisturising lotion or sunscreen if you are going out in the sun. At night, after cleansing your skin, massage it with a nourishing cream daily after diluting it with a few drops of water. Wipe it off with moist cotton wool, at bedtime. Once daily, at any time, add a little milk to honey and apply it on your face. Wash it off with water after 15 minutes. Aloe vera gel or juice can also be applied daily to relieve dryness.
My hands are dark. What should I do to lighten the skin? — Mownika
Massage your skin with sesame seed oil daily. Mix gram flour, curd, lemon juice and a little turmeric and apply it at least three times a week. Wash it off after half-an-hour. Then massage the skin with mustard oil, as recommended. To soften the skin and lighten skin colour of your hands, take some sugar in your palm and add lemon juice to it. Rub this on the back of your hands and then wash it off. Take 2 tablespoons of sunflower oil and 3 tablespoons of coarse sugar. Mix the ingredients into a paste. Rub the paste on your hands. Rinse it off after 15 minutes.
