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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

My hair gets frizzy when I let it loose. What should I do to prevent it? — Deepti

Use a leave-on type of conditioner or hair serum after shampoo. Very little quantity should be applied. Massage it lightly into the hair and then comb it. It can also be smoothed over dry or damp hair after combing it.

My cheeks are heavy. Is there any way of reducing them? — Priti

Try facial exercises daily. Create a relaxed smile with your lips closed and then suck in your cheeks toward and on to your teeth.

Hold this for 10 counts, relax and repeat it 10 times. For the second exercise, keep your teeth and lips closed and blow air under your top lip and hold it for 10 counts, then move the air to your left cheek, hold it for 10 counts, then to your lower lip, hold it for 10 counts and then to your right cheek and holding it for a count of 10.

Repeat the exercise five times.

My skin is generally normal. After sun-exposure, it tends to look oily. I have light pimple marks, but don’t have pimples now. I am a working woman.

Suggest a skin care routine that can be followed in the night and weekends. — Shobhana

Cleansing is very important before going to bed.

It removes stale oil and sweat deposits, pollutants and impurities that have collected on the skin during the day.

Use a cleansing lotion, as it helps dissolve and remove impurities.

Apply it on the skin and then wipe it off with moist cotton wool. Use a scrub only on the pimple marks. Rinse it off with water. Wipe the skin with rose water, using cotton wool.

On weekends, give yourself a home facial with deep pore cleansing. Use a scrub, rubbing it gently on the skin with circular movements and then wash it off with water.

Tone the skin with rose water. Dip cotton wool pads in it and wipe the skin. Then pat the skin briskly with the cotton wool pad, applying gentle pressure on the temples.

Mix one teaspoon each of honey, curd and lemon juice with egg white. Apply it on the face and wash it off after 20 minutes.

My lips are becoming black and look ugly. I use only good brands of lipstick. — Namita

The perfume in some lipsticks can react on sun-exposure and lead to skin discolouration. It is called photosensitivity.

Apply a sunscreen lotion sparingly on the lips. Then, apply lipstick after 20 minutes. You can also apply pure almond oil daily at night on the lips and leave it on overnight.

I have long nails, but I want them to be shiny. Suggest some tips. — Sathya

To strengthen and nourish nails and the skin around them, mix pure almond oil and honey in equal quantities and massage it on the nails and cuticles (the skin surrounding the nails). Also apply a cream on the nails and then use a buffer. Usually buffing is done with a piece of chamois leather. You may find nail buffers at a cosmetic store. The nails should be rubbed gently with the buffer. This makes them shine. Diet is important for healthy nails. Include milk and milk products, whole grains, eggs, fruits, leafy green vegetables and soyabean in your diet.

Suggest some home remedies for a fair complexion. — Anu

Use a facial scrub twice a week. Mix rice powder with curd and use it as a scrub. Apply it on the face and rub gently on the skin, using small circular movements. Leave it on for five minutes and then wash it off with water.

Once daily, mix one teaspoon each of honey and curd and add a little turmeric.

Apply it daily and wash it off after 15 minutes.

Twice a week, mix cucumber and papaya pulp with one teaspoon of curd, one teaspoon of honey, three teaspoons of oatmeal and two teaspoons of lemon juice.

Apply it on the face and wash it off after 20 to 30 minutes.

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