I have dandruff and am losing hair. What should I do to have soft and healthy hair? — Deepali
Wash your hair with a mild herbal shampoo three or four times a week. Use very little shampoo and take care to rinse it off well with water. Half-an-hour before a shampoo wash, massage your scalp lightly with two tablespoons of vinegar. Once a week, heat olive or mustard oil and apply it on the scalp at night. Leave it on overnight. The following morning, apply the vinegar as advised half-an-hour before a shampoo wash. Henna treatments, once in ten days, will also help. Add 4 teaspoons each of lemon juice and coffee, 2 raw eggs, 2 teaspoons of oil and enough tea water to the henna powder, and mix it into a thick paste. Tea water can be made by boiling used tea leaves again in enough water, and then cooling and straining the liquid. Apply the henna on the hair and wash it off after an hour. If you do not wish to use egg, add more tea water. Include fresh fruits, salads, sprouts and yoghurt in your daily diet. Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water daily. Add the juice of a lemon to a glass of water and drink it first thing in the morning.
I don't have time to visit a beauty parlour. What should I do to remove the hair from my arms? — Gayathri
Waxing is the best option for hair removal from the arms. It removes hair by the roots and is said to reduce its growth over a period of time. You may have to visit the beauty parlour only twice a month, or once in three weeks. Or, you can use an epilator. This is a small gadget for hair removal. The hair must be of a certain length for epilation. Read the directions carefully. There may be some initial pain while using an epilator. You can also make a paste of turmeric and milk and rub it on your arms once or twice a week. This is said to gradually lessen hair growth, but it may leave a yellowish tinge on the skin.
My face is dusky with several dark spots. — Gnana
Apply a sunscreen with high SPF before going out in the sun. Mix rice powder with curd and use it as a facial scrub once or twice a week. Apply it on the face, rubbing the skin gently with tiny circular movements, especially on the dark spots. Leave it on for a few minutes before washing it off with water. Mix honey and lemon juice in equal quantities and apply it daily on your face. Wash it off after 15 minutes. This will help lighten the colour of your skin. Twice a week, apply a face mask. Mix 3 teaspoons of oatmeal with one teaspoon each of honey, curd and lemon juice, or egg white. Apply it on your entire face, avoiding the lips and the area around your eyes. Wash it off after half an hour. This will help lighten the spots as well the colour of your skin.
What's the difference between kajal and mascara? How they should be used? — Priya
Kajal is used for lining the eyes. It may be applied on the lower eyelids, just below the eyelashes. Kajal sticks are available and are easy to apply. Mascara is applied on the eyelashes. It helps make the eyelashes look thicker and darker. Roll-on mascara is easy to apply. When applying mascara on your upper lashes, look downwards. You can apply the mascara both above and below your upper lashes. This makes them look thicker. Apply it on the lower lashes too. Wait for a while and apply a second coat. Then brush out the lashes with a small eyelash brush, otherwise the lashes will stick together.
