Beautician Shahnaz Husain offers tips and answers queries. Send your queries to askshahnaz@gmail.com
Suggest remedies for dandruff and hair loss. — Aparna
Apply a herbal hair tonic on your scalp daily, using cotton wool and leave it on. Avoid massaging your scalp. Wash your hair with a mild herbal shampoo three or four times a week. Use just a little shampoo and take care to rinse it off thoroughly. Half an hour before a shampoo wash, lightly massage your scalp with two tablespoons of vinegar. Once a week, heat olive oil or til oil and apply it on the scalp at night. Leave it on overnight. The next morning, apply vinegar as advised half-an-hour before a shampoo wash. 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.
There’s a one-inch dark area around my lips. How can I get rid of it? — Nasreen
Apply a sunscreen with a 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 only on the dark area, rubbing the skin gently with tiny circular movements. Leave it on for a few minutes before washing it off. Mix honey and lemon juice in equal quantities and apply it daily only on the dark area. Wash it off after 15 minutes. Twice a week, apply a face mask. Mix three 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.
My hands and feet are tanned. Suggest how I can get rid of it. — Priya
Massage your skin daily with sesame oil. Mix gram flour, curd, lemon juice and a little turmeric into a paste and apply it at least three times a week. Wash it off after half an hour. Then massage your skin with oil, as recommended.
I had a big wart on my forehead. Though I consulted a dermatologist, it spread all over my face. Suggest a home remedy. — Isaac
Such warts can appear on the face and other parts of the body. They can also be caused by a virus and spread easily. It is best to refer it to a dermatologist, or go in for homeopathic treatment. As far as home remedies are concerned, it is believed that applying vinegar on the warts daily causes them to fall off. Apply vinegar only on the wart, using cotton wool. Onions are also believed to help. Soak cut onions in water overnight. The following morning apply the water on your face.
I love long nails, but mine don’t grow. — Mounika
Pour a cupful of warm milk in a bowl. Add half a teaspoon of pure almond oil to it. Soak your fingers in it for five minutes to strengthen your nails and soften the skin. Avoid using very hot water to wash your hands as it can make your skin and nails dry. Avoid frosted nail varnish, as it makes the nails brittle. Diet is important for healthy nails. Include adequate protein and calcium in your diet. Consume skimmed milk, yoghurt, cottage cheese, fish and sprouts. Dissolve one teaspoon of gelatine in a little boiling water. Cool the water and add it to fruit juice. Drink this daily for 10 days.
