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Ask shahnaz

B eautician Shahnaz Hussain offers tips and answers queries. You can send your queries to shahnaz_press@yahoo.co.in

I have a round face and a short neck. Which haircut will suit me best? Also, what should I do to make my hair grow long and how can I thicken my eyelashes? — Neha

You should sport a hairstyle that will make your face look longer. A straight hairstyle, with a centre parting, would help. Avoid styles that add width at the ear level. Keep your forehead free of fringes and curls. Hair falling straight down to shoulder level will suit you. Diet is important for healthy hair growth. Have a small bowl of sprouts daily and include fresh fruits, salads, leafy green vegetables, soya bean and curd in your diet. To thicken your eyelashes, apply a little castor oil daily with a cotton bud during the day. Do not apply it at night and go to sleep, as it can make your eyes puffy.

I often get pimples and they leave scars on my face. — Rajeswari

Wash your face twice a day, in the morning and at night, with a medicated soap. Then wipe it with an astringent lotion with cotton wool. Mix a little rose water with sandalwood paste and apply it on the entire face, washing it off after 15 minutes with plain water. Mix cinnamon (dalchini) powder with a little lemon juice and a few drops of honey into a paste. Apply it only on the pimples daily and leave it on for at least one hour. Mix multani mitti with rose water and lemon juice and apply it on your face two or three times a week. Wash it off when it dries.

My arms are fat. Suggest exercises to reduce them. — Preethi

Do the following exercises daily, after checking with your doctor. Stand with your feet slightly apart. Stretch your arms out to the sides, with your palms facing upwards. Rotate your arms in small circles, clockwise and then anti-clockwise. Do each exercise 10 times and increase the number of times gradually.

I have open pores on my face. I’ve heard that steaming opens the pores. I have a sinus problem and, when the weather is cold, I inhale steam. — Priya

Buy an astringent lotion. Mix it with rose water in equal quantities. After steaming your face, wipe it with the lotion, using cotton wool. You can mix multani mitti with rose water into a paste and apply it twice a week on your face. Wash it off when it dries. For open pores, mix oatmeal with egg white and apply it three times a week. Wash it off when it dries. If you steam your face regularly, it should also be followed by these remedies.

Pregnancy has caused stretch marks on my abdomen. What should I do to make them disappear? — Remya

Stretch marks fade with time, but never disappear entirely, because they form when the elasticity of the skin is destroyed. Massage til oil daily on the area. Mix besan with curd and a little turmeric and apply it on the area three times a week. Wash it off when it dries and then apply til oil as advised.

My one-year-old son was fair when he was born, but he is now losing colour. What should I do to prevent this? — Sheeba

Your son is very small and his skin is tender. However, you can apply cool milk on his face daily with cotton wool and wash it off after 15 minutes. Massage til oil on his body daily before his bath.

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