Beautician Shahnaz Hussain offers tips and answers queries. You can send your queries to askshahnaz@gmail.com
I have a round face. My hair lacks body. I have broad shoulders, while the rest of my figure is normal. What hairstyle and clothes will suit me? — Rubina
For a round face, you can have a centre parting. Your hair can fall softly and straight down on either side up to shoulder length, framing your face. You can have waves, curls or layers towards the end, starting at chin level. Dark colours will make you look slimmer. You can wear a dark top with a skirt or light coloured pants. Or, team a dark coloured kurta with a light-coloured salwar. Wear a V or a square neckline, short sleeves or a sleeveless top.
After I wash my face, I find that my eyelashes are dropping off. The area under my eyes is puffy. — Shakila
For falling eyelashes, you should consult a dermatologist. The problem could be caused by dandruff and related conditions. The puffiness may also be due to this, so it is best to seek medical advice. Avoid applying eye make-up till the condition is treated. Also leaving make-up or cream around your eyes at night when you sleep, can lead to puffy eyes. For puffiness, try these simple home remedies. Apply a compress of ice water directly over your closed lids, leaving it on for 15 to 20 minutes. Or soak cotton wool pads in chilled rose water and let them rest beneath your eyes for 10 to 15 minutes. It’s a good idea to lie down and rest while you do this. Grated potato or potato juice, applied around the eyes, also helps reduce puffiness. So do tea bags. Soak them in hot water, allow them to cool and use them as eye pads.
I straightened my hair three years ago. But after a year, I started losing hair. I have a dry, itchy scalp. — Swathi
One of the reasons for hair loss is damage caused by procedures such as hair straightening. Itching and dryness could be due to dandruff or some other scalp condition. Or you may be allergic to some product. Consult a dermatologist to ensure it is not a condition like scalp psoriasis. A herbal hair tonic can be applied daily and left on. Apply pure coconut oil once or twice a week. Leave it on overnight. Avoid massaging your head. If there is hair loss, the roots must already be weak and massaging may aggravate the problem. Use less shampoo. Mix one part of vinegar with four parts of water and dab this solution on your scalp using cotton wool. It helps relieve itching. Have a small bowl of sprouts daily and include fresh fruits, salads, leafy green vegetables and curd in your daily diet. Try clinical scalp treatments to prevent hair loss.
I am a little shorter than average height. What kind of clothes should I wear? Will salwar-kurta suit me? — Rekha
Short people should avoid contrasts. You can wear salwar-kurta. It will be better to wear salwars and kurtas of the same colour, or same print, as this adds height. Wearing salwars and kurtas, or skirts and tops in contrasting colours, takes away height. Wear tops and skirts of the same colour. Wear colourful or decorative chunnis or scarves with one-colour outfits. Short people should avoid bulky clothes.
The designs should be simple. Wear small prints or vertical stripes. Your jewellery should be neat and small, rather than large and ornate. You can wear high heels, but they should not be too high. The shoes should be light with thin straps, rather than heavy and bulky.
