The summer months, which stretch on endlessly in Vizag, are agony filled for those who have a difficult relationship with the sun and heat. In addition, there is the dreaded humidity factor which is peculiar only to Vizag and other coastal areas. It is even more distressing for those who have to commute to work or classes in the blistering heat, resulting in a suntan. Nothing is spared, including the face, hands and feet. That is why you have so many women making a beeline towards salons for long session in regaining some of the freshness that summer steals.
“We have a lot of women coming in for tan removal facials. Since we live close to the sea, the effects are especially harsh on the skin and hair,” says Sowjanya Bathula, a beautician at Naturals salon. Many women don’t have the time to incorporate an extensive skin care routine at home, and therefore, submit themselves to such treatments once in a while. Students, whose budgets don’t extend till as far as the end of the month, can opt for some of the more economical treatments. “You can also go in for a clay treatment for your hair. It is especially for those who don’t have time for a long hair spa, and have an oily and dirty scalp,” she adds. These treatments start from Rs 200 and can go up to Rs 3,500.
One need not necessarily make a dash for the parlour every week. There are a few simple tan removal remedies that can be tried out at home.
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Ruchali Gade, a makeup artist, recommends using sour curd to wash your face. “We are near the seashore, which makes it even more essential for us to pamper and take care of our skin. People who have oily skin should ideally use non-fat curd or mix cucumber juice with multani mitti (Fuller’s earth) and apply it on their faces. For hands and feet, I suggest applying ripened mashed bananas or a paste of rosewater and multani mitti,” she says. The hair loses its ph balance when exposed to the sun for too long; Ruchali advises everybody to cover their heads with a scarf and keep your hair tied while travelling during the day.
It is important to always wear sunscreen; you can even carry a small bottle or tube in your bag. The trick is to apply it ten to 15 minutes before leaving the house. Make sure their SPF is at least 30, since the sun tends to be unforgiving this time of the year. However, tanning is inevitable, but it can be helped.
“You can make a few simple face packs at home, with ingredients that are readily available. For example, mix a tablespoon of honey with half a cup of ripe, mashed papaya; or make a paste of buttermilk and oatmeal. These need to be kept on for 20 minutes, then lightly scrubbed before washing,” says beautician Deepa Shekhar, who has personally tried them.
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