Ask Shahnaz

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

Sonam Kapoor

I went in for a banana facial and the next day there were small boils on my face. The beautician said it was because of dry skin. — Swathi

The fruit facial would not have caused the eruptions. You may be having combination skin. Massaging your face with cream during the facial may have caused the eruptions on the oily areas of the skin. Apply sandalwood paste on the boils. Mix cinnamon powder with a little lemon juice and a few drops of honey into a sticky paste. Apply it only on the boils daily, leaving it on for one or two hours. If there is any dryness, mix one teaspoon of glycerine with 50ml of rose water. Store it in an airtight bottle in the refrigerator and apply a little of it on your face to moisturise the skin.

I have split ends. Will monthly trimming help prevent the problem? —

Mala

Cutting off the split ends will help. Also give your hair regular care. Avoid tying it tightly with rubber bands or using hair dryers or brushes. Use a wide-toothed comb. Twice a week, heat pure coconut oil and apply it right up to the ends. Then dip a towel in hot water, squeeze out the water and wrap the hot towel around your head like a turban. Keep it on for five minutes. Repeat the hot towel wrap three or four times. This helps the hair and scalp absorb the oil better. After a shampoo wash, massage your hair lightly with just a little creamy conditioner. Apply it on the ends too. Leave it in for a couple of minutes, before rinsing it off. Or, apply a leave-in conditioner or hair serum. Apply it in the same way, but do not rinse it off.

I use groundwater for bathing and have lost a lot of hair. The municipal supply has a lot of chlorine. Which is a safer alternative? — Ranjith

Bore well water may be hard, and this can disturb the acid-alkaline balance of the scalp. Chlorinated water can make the hair dry and also affect the normal balance. Put some alum in a bucket of water and wash your hair with it. Or, after washing, use a hair rinse or leave-in conditioner. You can add the juice of a lemon or two tablespoons of vinegar to a mug of water and use it as a last rinse. This will help restore the acid-alkaline balance. Hair loss can also occur due to oily scalp, dandruff, nutritional deficiencies or stress. Eat a small bowl of sprouts daily and make fresh fruits, salads, leafy green vegetables, and curd part of your diet. Ask your doctor to prescribe Vitamin B-Complex and Vitamin C.