Ask Shahnaz

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

June 30, 2010 07:56 pm | Updated 07:56 pm IST

Jacqueline Fernandes

Jacqueline Fernandes

I have rough and oily hair, which becomes curly as it grows. I want it to be silky and straight.Kumar

Oily hair needs to be washed frequently. You can even wash it daily, using very little shampoo and rinsing it off well with water. Avoid oil application or apply very little oil only once a week. Give the hair a tea water and lemon rinse after a shampoo wash. Boil used tea leaves again in enough water. After boiling, you should have about 5 to 6 cups of tea water. Cool and strain the liquid. Then add the juice of a lemon and use it as a last rinse after a shampoo wash. The ends of the hair may be curling. Cut them before they grow too long, or straighten them with a dryer. The effect will last till the next shampoo. After washing your hair, while it is still damp, divide it into sections. Hold the end of a section with a comb or brush. Holding it straight and slightly downwards, use the dryer. Repeat with each section. Hold the dryer at least 6 inches away from the hair.

How is body polishing treatment done?Sreenithi

Body polishing is a top-to-toe body care procedure that helps remove dead skin cells through exfoliation and revitalising the skin, making it smoother, softer, brighter and healthier. Scrubs are used, along with massage and masks. The skin sheds dead cells. Often, these accumulate on the surface of the skin, making it dull and blotchy. Removing dead cells not only smoothens and refines skin texture, but also accelerates the normal cell renewal process. Scrubbing away the dead cells improves the skin's ability to absorb products. Blood circulation to the surface improves. The entire process is relaxing.

What should I do to get rid of dry facial skin?Henna

Avoid soap and use a cleansing gel or milk. Wipe your face with rose water after cleansing, using cotton wool. Apply a sunscreen lotion before going out in the sun. Mix honey with lemon juice and egg white. Apply it daily on your face, washing it off after 15 minutes. At night, after cleansing your face, massage it with nourishing cream or pure almond oil mixed with a few drops of water. Wipe it off with moist cotton wool before bedtime. You can also apply fruit packs comprising papaya or mango pulp, mashed banana, or grated apple. Wash it off after 20 minutes. Salon facials will also help.

My skin is oily and brown. Suggest ways to have fair complexion.Saranya

After washing the face, wipe it with an astringent lotion. It will be available at a cosmetic store. You can also mix rose water and lemon juice in equal quantities and apply it daily on your face. Wash it off after 10 minutes. It will reduce oiliness and lighten the colour of your skin. Mix multani mitti with rose water and lemon juice into a paste and apply it daily. Wash it off after it dries. This also reduces oiliness and lightens skin colour over a period of time. Use a facial scrub twice a week. Ground almonds or rice powder can be mixed with curd and used as a scrub. Rub the paste gently on the skin with circular movements before washing it off.

Should I mix moisturiser and foundation and then apply it? Should I use a brush? How do I choose a suitable foundation? What is the difference between loose powder and compact powder?Arsh

If your skin is dry, apply moisturiser first and then, foundation. If your skin is oily, leave out the moisturiser and apply a water-based foundation. Apply moisturiser with your fingertips. Dot your face with foundation and then blend it with a damp sponge or your fingertips. The foundation should be as close to your skin colour as possible. Apply it on the back of your hand, jaw line or neck and see the effect before buying it. Unless you are very fair, choose a beige colour tone rather than pink. Compact powder is pressed powder; it is not loose. You can get different shades of both loose and compact powder.

I have oily and scanty hair. Suggest a shampoo and conditioner to reduce hair loss.Shreetha

Oily hair or an oily scalp can lead to hair loss. Wash your hair at least four times a week, but use less shampoo, taking care to rinse it off well. Avoid oil application. Avoid creamy conditioners. After a shampoo wash, add the juice of a lemon to half a mug of water and use it as a last rinse. Apply a non-oily, herbal hair tonic daily on the scalp and leave it on. Diet is important. Have a small bowl of sprouts daily and include fresh fruits, salads, leafy green vegetables, soy bean and curd in your 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. Ask your doctor to prescribe vitamin and mineral supplements.

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