Ask Shahnaz

Beautician Shahnaz Husain offers tips and answers queries. Send your queries to askshahnaz@gmail.com

May 12, 2013 03:00 pm | Updated June 08, 2016 05:57 am IST

Actor Huma Qureshi. Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

Actor Huma Qureshi. Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

I have split ends in my hair. How to get rid of them? -Geetha

Twice a week, heat pure coconut oil and apply on the hair, especially on ends. Then dip a towel in hot water, squeeze out the water and wrap the hot towel around the head, like a turban. Keep it on for five minutes. Repeat the hot towel wrap 3 or 4 times. This helps the hair and scalp absorb the oil better. Use a mild herbal shampoo. Use less shampoo and rinse well. After shampoo, apply a creamy conditioner, taking less quantity and massaging it lightly into the scalp. Apply on ends. Leave on for two minutes and rinse. After shampoo, apply conditioner or hair serum. Apply the same way, but do not rinse.

How to get rid of pimple scars?- Priya

Mix rice powder with curd and use as a facial scrub once or twice a week. Apply on the face and rub gently on the skin with tiny circular movements, especially on the pimple marks. Leave on for a few minutes and then wash off. Do not apply on pimples. Mix honey and lemon juice in equal quantities and apply daily on the face. Wash off after 15 minutes with plain water. Twice a week, apply face mask. Mix multani mitti with rose water and lemon juice into a paste. Apply on the entire face, avoiding the lips and area around the eyes. Wash it off when dry.

I don’t know my skin type. Suggest a method to find out. -Hema

The feel and look of your skin is a good indicator of your skin type. Oily skin is prone to pimples, acne, blackheads, spots, etc. Dry skin is fine textured and can acquire rough patches. When you wake up in the morning, wipe your face with a tissue, before washing or cleansing it. If the tissue is clean, you have a normal to dry skin. If the tissue becomes stained or soiled with grease, you have a normal to oily skin. Use different tissues for different areas, wiping the forehead, nose and chin with one tissue and using another one to wipe the cheeks. This will help to know if you have a combination skin.

Due to using different soaps and creams, I have excessive dryness of facial skin. -Vimal

Avoid soap and use a cleansing cream or gel, specially one containing aloe vera, which is a natural moisturiser. Apply sun block cream before going out in the sun. At night, after cleansing, apply nourishing cream or pure almond oil and massage it on the face with a few drops of water. Wipe off the excess with moist cotton wool before bedtime. Aloe vera gel can be applied daily on the face and washed off with plain water after 20 minutes.

Please give me some tips to reduce arms, thighs and hips. -Fatima

For the arms: Stand with feet slightly apart. Stretch the arms out to the sides, with palms facing upwards. Rotate the arms in small circles, clockwise and then anti-clockwise. Do this 10 times and increase gradually.

For hips: Lie on your back and roll the hip to the right side. Try to touch the floor on the right side with your left foot. Do the same on the left side, touching the floor with the right foot.

For the thighs: Lie on your right side, leaning on your elbow. Place the 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. Supporting yourself with your hips, elbow and hands, try to raise the right leg to try and touch the raised left foot. Return both legs slowly to the floor. Repeat this 5 times and then turn on your left side and repeat.

I have to colour my hair once a week. How to retain colour for a longer time? -Sumana

Select hair colour of a good company. Secondly, condition the hair one a week before colouring. Avoid the hair immediately before colouring. Allow a day or two to pass after shampoo and then colour. This helps the natural oils to build up and thus helps to retain colour. Avoid too much exposure to the sun. Keep your hair covered with a scarf or carry a parasol while out in the sun.

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