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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 hands are badly tanned and my elbows are dark. I tried applying lemon and honey but to no avail. — Janani

Rub pieces of lemon daily on your elbows. After washing it off, massage til oil or cream into the skin. Mix besan, curd, lemon juice and a little turmeric and apply the mixture at least three times a week on your hands. Wash it off after half an hour. Then massage til oil into the skin.

My face is very oily. I’ve used many astringents but they don’t work. — Pooja

Wash your face and wipe it with an astringent lotion. Mix multani mitti with rose water and lemon juice into a paste and apply it daily on your face. Wash it off after it dries. Apply pressed powder (powder compact) before going out. It helps reduce oiliness. Mix witch hazel with rose water in equal quantities and keep it in a bottle. This mixture has an astringent effect. Witch hazel may be available at a pharmacy. Cucumber juice can also be applied on the face as an astringent. Leave it on for 10 minutes before washing it off with water.

How can I camouflage grey hair without using a hair dye? — Fatima

Henna is the only natural hair colorant. Add amla to henna powder, as amla is believed to prevent greying. However, henna turns white hair reddish brown. It will not colour dark hair. Soak a handful of dry amla in about 2 to 3 cups of water overnight. The next morning, strain the water, but do not throw it away. Grind the amla. To the henna powder, add the ground amla, 4 tsp each of lemon juice and coffee, 2 raw eggs, 2 tsp of oil and enough amla water, so that the henna mixes into a thick paste. Allow the paste to stand for two to three hours and then apply it on the hair. Keep it on for at two to three hours and then wash if off with water. If you do not have too much grey hair, then a herbal hair mascara can be used to conceal it. Herbal hair mascara is like a crayon and can be used to streak the hair. The effect lasts till the next shampoo.

How can I have smoother and softer palms. Suggest a home remedy for thicker eyelashes. My eyes look dull and small. — Arshia

The use of soaps and detergents can make the skin of your palms hard and rough. If you use detergents for washing, use rubber gloves. After washing your hands, massage cream into the skin. Two or three times a week, soak your hands in warm water for 10 minutes. Mix 2 tbsp of sunflower oil, 2 tbsp of lemon juice and 3 tbsp of coarse sugar into a paste. Rub it on your hands. Rinse it off after 15 minutes. Castor oil is said to encourage growth of eyelashes. Apply a little castor oil daily on your lashes, using a moist cotton bud. Apply it only during the day. Do not apply it at night and go to sleep, as it can cause puffy eyes. Meanwhile, use mascara to make your eyelashes appear thicker. You can also apply kajal or eyeliner to define your eyes and make them look brighter.

I have a round face. I have long hair and want it to be of medium length. Suggest a suitable hairstyle. — Swathika

A round face needs a style that will lengthen it. A straight hairstyle, with a centre parting would help. Avoid styles that add width at the ear level. Keep the forehead free of fringes and curls.

Hair falling straight down to shoulder level would be good. You can have some curls or layers at the ends.

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