Beautician Shahnaz Husain offers tips and answers queries. Send your queries to askshahnaz@gmail.com
Suggest a home remedy for dandruff. My hair is dry and frizzy. — Sukumar
Wash your hair with a mild herbal shampoo three or four times a week, using very little shampoo and rinsing it off well with water. Half-an-hour before shampooing your hair, massage your scalp lightly with two tablespoons of vinegar. After a shampoo wash, comb your hair. Then smear a few drops of leave-in conditioner on both your palms and smooth them over your hair. This will help soften the hair. Aloe vera gel or juice can also be applied on the hair like a pack to soften it. Wash it off after half-an- hour. 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 the vinegar as advised half-an-hour before shampooing your hair.
I have dry and damaged hair. The problem is getting worsen day by day. What shampoo should I use? — Uma
Twice a week, heat pure coconut oil and apply it on you hair. Then try the hot towel wrap treatment. Use a mild herbal shampoo. After shampooing your hair, lightly massage it with a little creamy conditioner. Leave it on for 2 minutes, before rinsing it off. You can also apply a leave-in conditioner or hair serum. Apply it the same way, but do not rinse it off. Have a deep conditioning treatment once a week. Take two teaspoons of pure glycerine, one tablespoon of sesame seed oil and one egg yolk. Mix these together and apply it on the scalp and hair. Apply it on the ends too. Wear a plastic shower cap and leave it on for an hour before washing your hair. Curd or egg yolk can be applied to condition dry hair. After applying it, allow it to remain for half-an-hour, before washing your hair.
I want to have an oil-free and fair complexion. — Rahul
After cleansing your face, apply an astringent lotion, using cotton wool. Two or three times a week, use a facial scrub. Mix rice powder with rose water and a little egg white and apply it on your face. Rub it gently on the skin with small circular movements. Wash it off with water. Do not apply the scrub on pimples, acne or rash. Readymade scrubs are also easily available. Mix multani mitti with rose water and lemon juice into a paste and apply it three times a week. Wash it off after it dries. If your face is very oily, the pack may be applied daily.
My skin is dull and dry. Can I use a scrub? Suggest some homemade scrubs. — Chummu
Scrubs should not be used on dry skin, especially in winter, when the skin becomes even drier. A scrub should be applied and rubbed gently on the skin with small circular movements and then washed off with water. If your skin is not very dry, you can mix ground almonds with curd and use it as a scrub. Or grind sesame seeds coarsely and mix the powder with a little honey. This mixture can be used to scrub both the face and the body. Honey is a powerful natural moisturiser and benefits dry skin.
