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Ask Shahnaz

Beautician Shahnaz Hussain will offer beauty tips and answer beauty queries. You can send your queries to shahnaz_press@yahoo.co.in

I have been suffering from severe hair loss for over a year now. Suggest some home remedies to prevent hair loss. Will the hair colour be affected by using a shampoo? — Charan

Try and identify the cause of your problem. Hair loss can be caused due to several reasons including dandruff, nutritional deficiencies, stress, illness, thyroid imbalance and hair damage caused by dyeing/colouring/straightening. In men, hair loss can be due to hereditary or hormonal factors. You can use a hair tonic or hair vitaliser. Apply coconut oil once a week, the night before a shampoo. Use little shampoo and rinse well with water. Include sprouts in your diet and ask your doctor to prescribe vitamin and mineral supplements. As for normal hair colour, it will not be affected by shampoo. If you have coloured your hair, it will wear off after some time.

I have a tan and there is a marked difference between the colour of my face and neck, which is dark. What is the reason for this and how can I improve the colour of my neck? — Nita

If it is the back of the neck, the reason for the dark skin can be exposure to the sun. Apart from tanning, the exact reasons for pigment changes are not known, especially in areas that have not been exposed to the sun. However, you can mix besan with curd, add a pinch of turmeric and apply it on the neck daily, 20 minutes before bathing. At night, you can massage a nourishing cream on the neck, and leave it all night. If the dark area is behind the neck, provide some physical protection by tying a scarf around the neck when you are out in the sun.

I put on weight in the abdomen area after my son was born. How do I get rid of it? Suggest an easy method as I work in a call centre. — Yasmeen

The only way you can trim the abdominal area is by exercising regularly, for which you will have to find the time. Besides, you have a sedentary job that involves sitting for long durations. This can lead to muscular laxity in the abdominal region. Yoga is a good option for you. Or, you can do some stretching exercises daily, following it up with some exercises for the abdomen. You can try the following abdominal exercises — lie on the floor on your back, with feet together and arms at the sides. Lift the legs about six inches above the ground and hold the position for a count of ten. Then lower the legs to the floor. Repeat this 3 to 4 times and increase gradually. For the second exercise, keep lying on the floor, the same way. Bend the knees and keep feet flat on the floor. Raise to the body to a half-sitting position, arms stretched out before you. Lower body to the floor and repeat 3 or 4 times.

I am 26. My skin is neither dry nor oily. I have a lot of pimples, a few scars and blackheads on my face. I have dark circles too. I do not apply any cream. My hair is rough, dry and I have a lot of dandruff, as well as split ends. Suggest some remedies for both my problems. — Usha

Pimples and dandruff are related. You may be having a combination skin, with the pimples occurring on the oily areas. You should wash your face twice a day with a medicated soap. Mix rose water and lemon juice in equal quantities and apply on the areas that are prone to pimples and blackheads. The blackheads may have to be removed at a beauty parlour. You can apply curd on the face daily and wash it off after 20 minutes. Apply sandalwood paste on the areas with pimples and leave it on for an hour.

When there is dandruff, the scalp remains oily, while the rest of the hair becomes dry. Heat coconut oil and apply on the scalp, rubbing gently with cotton wool. Leave overnight. Next morning, apply the juice of a lemon on the scalp, half an hour before washing the hair. Split ends should be cut off before starting the regular hot oil treatments. Weekly henna treatment will also help. Add 4 teaspoons each of lemon juice and coffee, 2 raw eggs (optional) and enough curd to mix into a thick paste. Apply on the hair and keep it on for an hour. Wash off with plain water.

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