Beautician Shahnaz Husain offers tips and answers queries. Send your queries to askshahnaz@gmail.com
How should henna by applied on the hair? I have grey hair. — Baby
To colour your hair, add four teaspoons each of lemon juice and coffee, two raw eggs and enough tea water to the henna powder, mixing 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. The paste should be of toothpaste-like consistency. Divide the hair into sections and apply the henna on both sides of a section, so that it is totally covered with the paste. Wrap the section around your head. Now repeat this with each section, till the hair is totally covered. Keep it on for two hours before washing it off. If your hair is dry, add two teaspoons of hair oil to the henna.
Suggest exercises for trim thighs. — Megha
After consulting your doctor, do the following spot reducing exercises. Lie on your right side, leaning on your elbow. Place your left hand on the floor, palm downwards, in front of your chest. Lift your left leg about 8 inches off the floor, and hold it in this position. Supporting yourself with your hips, elbow and hands, try to raise your right leg and touch the raised left foot. Return both legs slowly to the floor. Repeat this exercise five times; then turn on your left side and repeat it.
What should I do to make my skin can glow? — Mownika
Tone your skin daily with chilled rosewater, using cotton wool pads. Wipe and stroke the skin with them. Then, pat it briskly with the rosewater-soaked cotton wool pads. Use a facial scrub once or twice a week to brighten the skin. Mix ground almonds with curd. Apply it on your face, rubbing the skin gently, with small circular movements, and then wash it off. Twice a week, mix one tablespoon each of wheat bran and ground almonds with milk and one teaspoon of honey. Apply it on your face and leave it on for a few minutes. Rub your skin gently with circular movements. Rinse your face.
What should I do to get rid of facial hair? — Shalini
Have threading and waxing done at a good beauty salon. Home remedies do not remove facial hair. But, they are said to lessen the growth if used regularly over a period of time. Try the following remedies that are believed to discourage facial hair growth. Make a thick paste of sugar, lemon juice and water and apply it in the direction of the growth. Wash it off after it dries. Apply this paste once or twice a week. Apply a paste of turmeric powder and milk and rub it on the skin with a circular motion. It is said to discourage facial hair growth, but it may leave a slight yellowish colour on the skin.
Suggest a homemade cleanser, toner and moisturiser for normal skin. What should I do to get rid of pimples, so that it does not leave marks? — Susmita
Pimples occur on oily skin, or oily areas of combination skin. If you have pimple-prone skin, do not use oily creams or moisturisers. Use a face wash containing ingredients such as neem and tulsi. Or use a medicated cleanser. After cleansing, apply astringent lotion or skin tonic. Mix rose water with cucumber juice in equal quantities to make a homemade toner. Apply sandalwood paste on the pimples. Mix multani mitti with rose water and lemon juice into a paste. Apply it on your face, three times a week, avoiding the lips and the area around the eyes. Wash it off after it dries. If the skin feels dry, mix one teaspoon of pure glycerine with 100 ml of rosewater and store it in an airtight bottle in the refrgerator. Apply a little of this lotion to moisturise the skin and relieve dryness.
My scalp is a bit oily but the ends of my hair are dry. Suggest a suitable shampoo. — Aishwarya
Use a mild herbal shampoo for normal to oily hair. After a shampoo wash, add the juice of a lemon to a mug of water and use it as a last rinse. Then, apply a few drops of leave-in conditioner or hair serum on the ends only. Do not wash it off.
