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Ask Shahnaz

Beautician Shahnaz Hussain offers tips and answers queries. You can send your queries to shahnaz_press@yahoo.co.in

I am a 28-year-old male. I have developed dark circles under my eyes over the past one year and the skin sags. I eat a balanced diet and sleep for seven hours, but the problem is getting worse. — Sunil

Apart from nutritional deficiencies and inadequate sleep, dark circles could be caused by hereditary factors, stress or sun-sensitivity. Mix cucumber juice with potato juice (or tomato juice) in equal quantities and apply it daily. Wash it off after 15 minutes. Also, apply pure almond oil sparingly under the eyes and remove it with moist cotton wool after 15 minutes. Apply a sunscreen lotion sparingly under the eyes, before going out in the sun. Add a drop of water to give lighter coverage. Ask your doctor to prescribe vitamin and mineral supplements and do deep breathing exercises daily.

I have dry, lustreless skin and my hands and face have become dark. I wash my face with a soap-free cleanser, but it hasn't helped. My palms are rough. What soap can I use? — Swathi

If you have dry skin, use a mild glycerine soap. Or, use a cleansing cream or gel instead of soap. Wash/cleanse the face twice a day. Mix one teaspoon of honey with one teaspoon of cold milk and apply it on the face. Wash it off after 20 minutes. Apply sunscreen before going out. At night, after cleansing, apply a nourishing cream. Massage it on the skin with a few drops of water. Wipe it off with moist cotton wool. After washing or bathing, apply cream on the hands and massage it into the skin. While performing washing chores, wear rubber gloves to protect the hands from detergents.

I am only 16 but have started greying rapidly. I am suffering hair loss due to the high salt content in the water. — Alisha

The exact causes of premature greying are not known. Grey hair cannot turn black again, unless it is coloured or dyed. Amla is said to check greying. Dilute the juice of one amla in a glass of water and drink it. You can also try adding amla to henna powder. However, henna makes the hair reddish brown and will not colour dark hair. Soak a handful of dry amla in about two to three cups of water overnight. Next morning, strain the water, but do not throw it away. Grind the amla. To the henna powder, add the ground amla, four teaspoons each of lemon juice and coffee decoction, two raw eggs and enough amla water, so that the henna becomes a thick paste. Apply this mixture on the hair, to cover the entire head. Keep it on for two hours and wash it off. Ask your doctor to prescribe vitamins B-Complex and C.

I am 19 years old and have been suffering hair loss since the age of 15, especially in front of my head. I use an anti-dandruff shampoo. Is it possible to make hair grow in the bald area? — Pradeep

Severe dandruff and excessive oiliness (seborrhoea) of the scalp can lead to extensive hair loss. Or, it can be a condition called alopecia. First, it is necessary to ascertain the cause. Consult a dermatologist and find out if it is due to alopecia, which can be treated. Severe dandruff and oiliness can be controlled with specialised products such as herbal hair tonic and anti-dandruff ointment. Wash your hair daily with a mild herbal shampoo.

Use less shampoo and rinse thoroughly. Half an hour before shampooing, apply one tablespoon of vinegar on the scalp, massaging it lightly. Avoid vigorous massage or rubbing of the head. You can also have ozone treatments in a clinic to stimulate the follicles. Ask your doctor to prescribe Vitamins B-Complex and C and do deep breathing exercises daily.

I am a 30-year-old male. I used to shave on alternate days. However, this has made my chin and neck dark. Suggest a remedy for my problem. — Vignesh

Shaving can darken the skin due to various reasons. Shaving does not remove hair by the root, hence it leaves the area dark. Avoid alcohol based after shave lotions and settle for after-shave creams or gels. These would soften the skin. You can also massage the skin with a nourishing cream daily, wiping it off with a moist towel. Use a facial scrub once or twice a week. For an ideal skin softener, mix one tablespoon of honey, one-fourth cup of cold milk and one teaspoon of wheat germ oil and apply it on the face and neck. Rinse it off after 15 minutes.

I have black hair on my upper lip. Please suggest a remedy to remove it permanently. — Madhu

There are no home remedies for permanent hair removal. It is said that applying turmeric reduces facial hair growth over a period of time, but it turns the skin yellow. The two methods of permanent hair removal are electrolysis and laser therapy. You can try waxing or threading at a beauty parlour. Waxing too is said to reduce facial hair over a period of time.

My problem is that I have a very broad forehead and don't know how to style it. My beautician has advised me to have a front cut style but it made my face look much wider. I have re-grown my hair and now I want to style it without cutting my hair. I have also tried a side parting but to no avail. Kindly suggest a hairstyle to conceal the broad forehead which does not require cutting the hair. — Rumana

You have not mentioned the shape of your face. However, the best way to conceal a broad forehead is with bangs, or long fringes, so you will have to cut at least the front part of the hair. A slight angle can be given to the fringe. You can keep the length, although you can have a long layered style, which would give the impression of length. The layers can start just below chin level. The width below chin level will give a better balance to the face if the forehead is wide. Avoid a look that adds fullness to the top of the head.

I have long hair and use reetha to clean it. My hair is becoming thin from the bottom and there is a little dandruff. I was my hair once a week andput oil the next day. I use hibiscus oil to my hair. Please also suggest some face pack to improve my face glow. I have normal skin. — Padmaja

If your hair is getting thin at the ends (bottom), you can have it trimmed. This would give a better look. If there is dandruff, you should wash your hair at least three times a week. The hair actually attracts more dirt and pollutants than the skin, specially if you apply oil after washing.

For dandruff, heat oil and apply it at night, leaving it on overnight. Next morning, apply the juice of a lemon on the scalp and wash your hair after half an hour. If you use reetha to wash the hair, add a little dried amla to it. This helps to restore the normal acid-alkaline balance. Regular Henna treatments will also help. Diet is most important for both hair and skin. Include fresh fruits, raw salads, sprouts and soyabean in your diet. For normal skin, you can mix 3 teaspoons choker (wheat bran) with one teaspoon each curd, honey and rose water. Apply this twice a week and wash it off after 20 to 30 minutes.

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