Herbal beauty tips

Shahnaz Husain *

Question 1-How to identify good natural coconut oil ?
Shahnaz Husain -Pure natural coconut oil should taste and smell of fresh coconut. It should be white in colour. Check if it is cold-pressed, since nowadays cold-pressed oils are available. Pure or Organic should be written on the label. It should be of a reputed company.

Question 2-Which oil is good for oily hair and how much ?
Shahnaz Husain -Oil should not be applied on oily hair. However, if there is sticky dandruff, heat pure olive oil and apply on the scalp, using cotton wool and rubbing gently to dislodge the flakes. During winter, if the hair is dry and scalp oily, olive oil or sesame seed (til) oil may be applied.

Question 3-Natural ingredients to prevent men baldness
Shahnaz Husain -Herbal ingredients like trifala, amla, brahmi and bhringaraj are useful in hair tonics and hair oils, to check hair loss. However, in male pattern baldness, it is better to consult a trichologist (hair specialist) or doctor, as hormonal and hereditary factors are involved.

Question 4-Natural remedies for flyaway hair
Shahnaz Husain -If there is fly-away hair, mainly due to static, just wet palms slightly and smooth them over the hair. This controls the fly-away look. A few drops of hair serum, or few drops of oil may also be spread on the palms and smoothened over the hair, to make them look settled and manageable.

Question 5-Which home remedies should be used for dark brown pigmentation on skin
Shahnaz Husain -For dark brown patches on skin, apply a sunscreen with high SPF before going out in the sun. Mix rice powder with curd and use as a facial scrub once or twice a week. Apply ONLY on the dark patches and rub gently on the skin with tiny circular movements. Leave on for a few minutes and then wash off with water. Mix honey and lemon juice in equal quantities and apply daily ONLY on the dark patches.

Wash off after 15 minutes with plain water. Twice a week, apply face mask. Mix 2 teaspoons oats with one teaspoon each of ground almonds, honey, curd and lemon juice, or egg white; apply on the entire face, avoiding the lips and area around eyes. Wash it off after half an hour.

Question 6-Natural face pack for open pores solution
Shahnaz Husain -Mix multani mitti with rose water into a paste and apply on the areas with open pores twice a week. Wash off when it is dry. Or, mix oats with egg white and apply on the areas with open pores twice a week. Wash off when it is dry.

Question 7-Which kitchen ingredients is not good for oily skin like honey, coconut oil etc
Shahnaz Husain -Oils are not good for oily skin, like coconut oil or any pressed oil. They can clog the pores of the skin and lead to acne. Milk or cream of milk should not be applied on oily skin.

Question 8-Natural ingredients to treat facial hair
Shahnaz Husain -Home remedies do not remove facial hair. But, they are said to lessen facial hair growth if used regularly over a period of time. Make a thick paste of sugar, lemon juice and water and apply it in the direction of hair growth. Wash off when it dries. Apply it once or twice a week.

Apply a paste of turmeric powder and milk and rub this on the skin with a circular motion. It is said to discourage facial hair, but it may leave a slight yellowish colour on the skin.

Question 9-Natural packs for under arm darkness and why it happens
Shahnaz Husain -Under-arm darkness can occur due to shaving, use of hair removing creams, direct application of deodorants on the skin, or hereditary factors. The normal sugar and lemon mixture used for waxing would lighten skin colour over a period of time. Mix gram flour (besan) with curd, lemon juice and a little turmeric (haldi) into a paste. Apply on the areas under the arms thrice a week and wash it off after half an hour.

Question 10-Side effects of eye liner, hair colour
Shahnaz Husain -If there is lead in the eyeliner, it can lead to allergies, itching or irritation. Hair dye can also cause allergies, as well as pigmentation or discolouration of the skin. It can also lead to dry hair, hair breakage, split ends and even hair loss.

Question 11-For working women air conditioners harm their skin and hair both, how to protect them from natural ingredients
Shahnaz Husain -Moisturisers should be applied in the morning, so that the skin is protected from the drying effects of air-conditioners. Aloe vera gel can also be appled daily, at any time, washing off with plain water after 20 minutes. It moisturises and softens the skin. For the hair, very little hair serum should be smoothed on, as it helps to protect the hair.

Or, take a few drops of olive oil, spread over palms and smooth over the hair. Take hot oil treatments. Twice a week heat pure coconut oil and apply on the hair. Then dip a towel in hot water, squeeze out the water and wrap the hot towel around the head, like a turban. Keep it on for 5 minutes. Repeat the hot towel wrap 3 or 4 times. This helps the hair and scalp absorb the oil better. Use a mild herbal shampoo. Use less shampoo and rinse well with water.

Question 12-Which natural ingredients can be used for hair and skin as daily routine
Shahnaz Husain -I condition my hair with henna once a week. Curd, oil, catechu (kathha) and 12 eggs are mixed with the henna paste. No water is added. The hair is fed by the nutrients in the blood stream, so I take a small bowl of sprouts daily. I also use a herbal hair tonic, which contains trifala.

Question 13-Which kitchen ingredients is used to treat and prevent acne and pimples
Shahnaz Husain-Pimples and acne occur on oily skin. So astringents are needed to reduce oiliness. Cucumber has an astringent effect. Apply cucumber juice by itself on the face and wash it off with plain water after 15 minutes.

Or, mix cucumber juice with a little rose water, for an astringent-toner. Green tea works well as an astringent toner. Soak green tea leaves or a tea bag in hot water for half an hour. Cool and strain and use the liquid on the skin.

Sandalwood paste can be applied on the pimples, acne and boils. Tulsi leaves and pudina (mint) leaves can used. Boil a handful of leaves on a very low fire in 4 cups of water for one hour. Leave it overnight. Next morning, strain the water and make a paste of the leaves. Apply it on areas with pimples and rash. The water can be used for rinsing the area.