BEAUTY TIPS BY SHAHNAZ HUSSAIN

This is the collection of Shahnaz Hussain beauty tips. All these tips are safe and can be tried at home.

SHAHNAZ HUSSAIN tip 1: Home Hair Cleanser:
Take a handful each of dried reetha, amla and shikakai. Soak them in one litre water overnight.
Next day, simmer the herbs on a low fire till the water reduces by half.
Allow the mixture to cool and then strain it with a clean cloth. Use the liquid to wash hair. This quantity should be enough for four to five washes. Refrigerate it.
Make small quantities at a time.

SHAHNAZ HUSSAIN tip2: Pimples occur on the oily areas of the skin
Therefore, applying cold cream can lead to further pimples. Mix one part of pure glycerine with four parts of rosewater and keep it in the fridge. Apply it on the face after washing and before applying it, add a few drops of lemon juice to it. Once daily, apply curd mixed with a little turmeric on the entire face, and wash it off with plenty of water after 20 minutes. Apply sandalwood paste on the pimples.

SHAHNAZ HUSSAIN tip 3: Dandruff:
Twice a week, heat pure coconut oil and apply it on the scalp at night, using cotton wool. Leave it on overnight. Next morning, apply the juice of a lemon on the scalp and wash your hair after half an hour. Apply henna once a week.

SHAHNAZ HUSSAIN tip4: Lifeless Hair:
Once or twice a week, heat pure coconut oil and apply it on the scalp and hair. Then dip a towel in hot water, squeeze out the water and wrap the towel around your head like a turban. Keep it on for five minutes. Repeat the hot towel wrap three or four times. This helps the hair and the scalp absorb the oil better.
Use a mild herbal shampoo.
After each shampoo, apply a conditioner, massaging it lightly into the hair. Leave it on for two minutes before washing it off with water.
You can have henna treatment thrice a month, adding four teaspoons each of lemon juice and coffee, two raw eggs, two teaspoons of oil and enough curd to the henna powder.
It will make your hair look healthy and lustrous.

SHAHNAZ HUSSAIN tip5: Grey Hair:
Amla is said to check greying. Have the juice of one raw amla after adding it to a glass of water. Also try adding amla to the henna powder.
Henna turns white hair reddish brown. It will not colour dark hair.
Soak a handful of dry amla in about two cups of water overnight. Next morning, strain the water, but do not throw the water away. Grind the amla. To the henna powder, add the ground amla, four teaspoons each of lemon juice and coffee, two raw eggs and enough amla water, so that the henna can be mixed into a thick paste. Apply it on the hair, covering the entire head. Keep it on for two hours and wash it off with water. It will also add shine and substance to the hair. Ask your doctor to prescribe Vitamins B-Complex and C.

SHAHNAZ HUSSAIN tip 6:Oily Hair, Hair Loss:
Excessive oiliness of the scalp can lead to hair loss. Wash your hair daily, using very little shampoo � one teaspoon for long hair and half teaspoon for short hair. Dilute it with a little water and use it.
After washing, add the juice of a lemon to half a mug of water and use it as a last rinse.
Have henna treatment once a week.
Add four teaspoons each of lemon juice and coffee, two raw eggs and enough tea water to the henna powder and mix it into a thick paste. Apply it on the hair and wash it off after an hour. If you do not wish to use egg, add more tea water.
For tea water, boil used tealeaves in water. Cool and strain before using. Include fresh fruits, raw salads and sprouts in your daily diet. Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water. Add the juice of a lemon to a glass of water and have it first thing in the morning.

SHAHNAZ HUSSAIN tip7: Dry, Lifeless Skin:
Use a facial scrub once a week.
For very dry skin, avoid soap and use a cleansing gel or cream.
For the body, use a mild, glycerine soap. Apply sesame seed (til) oil on the body before your bath.
Mix honey with egg yolk and a little milk and apply it daily on the face, washing it off with plain water after 20 minutes.
At night, apply a good nourishing cream and massage it on the face with a few drops of water. Wipe it off with moist cotton wool.
Apply sunscreen 20 minutes before going out in the sun. Til oil actually has sunscreen properties, but it is better to use a sunscreen lotion for proper protection.
Aloe Vera is a powerful moisturiser and an anti-oxidant. It helps keep the skin soft and healthy. It is better to use moisturisers and creams containing aloe vera.

SHAHNAZ HUSSAIN tip 8:Double Chin: exercises:
� open your mouth as wide as you can. Hold this position for about 10 seconds, then relax your mouth, and repeat the exercise a few more times. For faster results, add resistance by placing a tennis ball underneath your chin, while testing your jaw span. Sleeping without a pillow is said to help. Also, you can massage the area daily with a cream. Start from the chin and go downwards using both hands, one hand following the other.

SHAHNAZ HUSSAIN tip 9: Oily T-Zone:
Either buy a facial scrub or mix rice powder with curd and use it as a scrub. You may add a little turmeric if you wish. Apply the scrub on the face, rubbing gently with small circular movements. Leave it on for five minutes and then wash it off. This will keep the pores free of clogged oil. Once daily, at any time, mix one teaspoon of honey with one teaspoon of lemon juice and egg white and apply it on the oily areas, washing it off after 20 minutes.

SHAHNAZ HUSSAIN tip 10: Glowing Skin:
After cleansing, wipe the face with rose water, using cotton wool and then pat it briskly. Use a face mask once or twice a week. You can make a mask at home with two teaspoons of choker, one teaspoon of oatmeal or ground almonds and one teaspoon each of curd, honey and egg white. Apply it on the face and wash it off after 20-30 minutes.

SHAHNAZ HUSSAIN tip 11 Thin Waist:
Join a gym or health club and lose weight under professional guidance. Or, practise yoga daily. You can also do the following exercises after seeking your doctor�s advice. First, lie on the floor on your back, feet together and arms at the sides. Lift your legs about six inches above the ground and hold this position for a count of ten. Then lower your legs to the floor. Repeat this exercise 3 to 4 times and increase gradually. Then, keep lying on the floor, the same way. Bend your knees and keep your feet flat on the floor. Raise your body to a half-sitting position, holding your arms stretched out before you. Lower your body to the floor and repeat 3 or 4 times. Take a look at your eating habits. Avoid eating desserts after meals and stick to fresh fruits. Take clear soups (without butter) and salads before the main dish. Avoid rich gravies. Cut down on your intake of cereals. For example, if you have been eating three chapatis, eat only two. Or, eat only one cup of cooked rice. Eat fresh fruits, salads, sprouts, curd and paneer made from skimmed milk and lightly cooked vegetables. If you feel like a snack, eat fruit, carrot or cucumber.

SHAHNAZ HUSSAIN tip for Combination Skin; Pimples:
In combination skins, usually the T-zone (forehead, nose and chin) is oily, while the rest of the face is dry. Pimples on the forehead can occur due to oiliness of the skin. You should wash the face only twice a day with a medicated soap. After washing, wipe the oily areas with rose water mixed with an astringent lotion in equal quantities. Use this two or three times a day. Avoid applying besan or multani mitti as they can sometimes clog the pores and cause pimples, blackheads or whiteheads, especially in pimple-prone skin. Add a little turmeric to curd and apply daily on the face, washing it off well with water after 20 minutes. Add a few drops of rose water to sandalwood paste and apply on the forehead and areas with spots. Keep it on for at least one hour.

SHAHNAZ HUSSAIN tip for Dry Skin:
If you wish to use soap, you can try a mild glycerine soap and see if it suits your skin. You should keep your skin well moisturised during the day, or if you are going out in the sun, apply a sunscreen. At night, use a nourishing cream, massaging it on the skin for two to three minutes. Massage the forehead too, starting from the bridge of the nose and using both hands. Go upwards and then in an arc on either side, go towards the temples. Wipe off with moist cotton wool. Once daily, mix one teaspoon honey with egg white and apply on the skin, washing off with plain water after 20 minutes.

SHAHNAZ HUSSAIN tip for Blackheads:
the daily use of a facial scrub will help. You can either buy a facial scrub, or you can mix rice powder with curd or rose water and use as a facial scrub. Apply on the face and rub gently on the skin using small circular movements. Concentrate on the blackhead prone areas. Leave on for five minutes and then wash off with water. Once daily, mix honey and lemon juice in equal quantities with egg white and apply on the face, washing it off after 20 minutes.

Beautician Shahnaz Husain offers tips and answers queries.

I sweat excessively. Can you please suggest a natural remedy? — Radha

You need to first consult a doctor. Most deodorants are also anti-perspirants, and will help deal with perspiration to an extent. Talcum powder also helps. Ayurveda gives some dietary suggestions for excessive sweating. Sip lemon water. You can take some ginger tea before and after meals. Finely chop some fresh ginger and sprinkle some salt over it. Chew this before your meal. Sipping warm water with your meal may also help. A light diet low on spices is advised. Also, eat smaller meals.

How can I get rid of pigmentation and pimple marks? — Sushmita

Mix a teaspoon each of honey and lemon juice, and apply on the face once a day. After 15 minutes, wash with water. This helps reduce dryness and also the marks. Mix multani mitti with rose water and lemon juice and apply on the face twice or thrice a week. Wash off when dry. This also helps reduce marks. If there are no pimples, use a facial scrub twice a week. Apply it on the face and rub gently on the skin with circular movements, especially on the pigmentation and pimple marks. Wash with water.

Can you please advice me on how how to reduce black spots on my face and get rid of the excess fat on my hips? — Priya

Apply a sunscreen with high SPF before going out. Mix rice powder with curd and use as a facial scrub once or twice a week. Apply on the face and rub gently on the skin with tiny circular movements, especially on the dark spots. Leave on for a few minutes, and then wash with water. Mix equal quantities of honey and lemon juice and apply on the face everyday. Wash after 15 minutes with water. Curd or buttermilk can also be applied daily. Twice a week, apply a face mask. Mix three teaspoons of oatmeal with one teaspoon each of honey, curd and lemon juice, or egg white. Apply on the face, avoiding the lips and the area around the eyes. Wash after half-an-hour.

For the hips, consult your doctor before doing the following spot-reducing exercise. Lie on your back and roll your hip to the right side. Try to touch the floor on the right side with your left foot. Do the same on the left side, touching the floor with the right foot.

I am very thin. I eat foods that are said to lead to weight gain, but it has not helped. Please suggest what I should do. — Prerna

What you should be concerned about is whether you are healthy or not. Even if you are thin, you can be healthy and strong. Consult a doctor. You should not be eating high-calorie, non-nutritious foods. Like everyone else, you also need a balanced and nutritious diet. When you sit down for a meal, eat slowly and chew well. Appreciate every morsel you eat. Take up exercises that help build muscles and give better shape.

I have used many shampoos and conditioners, but though my hair smells good, my scalp remains oily and smelly. What should I do? — Sandhya

Your problem may be due to oily hair and scalp, as well as sweat secretions. Wash your hair frequently, using very little shampoo, and rinse well. Avoid creamy conditioners if the scalp is oily. A hair rinse is better. After shampooing, add the juice of a lemon and a cup of rose water to a mug of water and use it as a last rinse. If you wish to apply oil, heat olive oil and apply on the scalp using cotton wool, and rub in gently. Leave on overnight. The next morning, apply the juice of a lemon on the scalp and wash off after 15 minutes.

My hair is lice-infested. I don't want to use chemical formulations for getting rid of them. Can you please suggest some home remedies? — Hema

Apply vinegar on the hair and scalp. After an hour, comb out with a fine lice comb, and remove the nits (eggs) by hand. Then, wash the hair with a mild herbal shampoo. After shampooing, add two tablespoons of vinegar to a mug of water and use as last rinse. Then, comb again with the lice comb. Do this daily for a week. Also, go in for weekly henna treatments. Add four teaspoons each of lemon juice and coffee, two raw eggs, a teaspoon of methi seed powder and enough “tea water” to the henna powder, mixing it into a thick paste. Make “tea-water” by boiling used tea leaves again in enough water, cooling and straining the liquid. If the hair is dry, add two teaspoons of oil. Apply henna on the hair and wash off after an hour.

Can you please suggest ways to remove warts from the face? — Yamini

A wart should never be picked with the nails. It is best to consult a dermatologist, or you can go for homeopathic treatment. As far as home remedies are concerned, it is said that applying vinegar on the warts every day causes them to fall out. Apply it only on the wart, using cotton wool. You could also soak cut onions in water overnight, and apply the water on your face the next morning.

Can you suggest home remedies to lighten the skin on elbows and knees? — Dhivya

Rub lemon halves every day on the elbows and knees. Wash off and apply sesame seed (til) oil and massage into the skin. Make a paste of gram flour (besan), curd, lemon juice and a little turmeric. Apply on the dark areas at least thrice a week. Wash off after half an hour. You can also apply a cream containing lemon and turmeric, every day.

I have long, dry and rough hair, and have noticed hair loss too. My forehead is large; can you please suggest a good hairstyle? — Priya

Avoid tying the hair back tightly, as this can lead to hair loss at the hairline, over a period of time. You can have a long light fringe, or a side-swept one. Fringes help large foreheads, and they are currently in fashion too. Hair loss can be due to an oily scalp, dandruff or nutritional deficiencies. Apply herbal hair tonic on the scalp, every day. Apply coconut oil or olive oil twice a week the night before shampooing. Avoid head massage. Diet is also very important. Have a small bowl of sprouts every day, and include fresh fruits, salads, leafy green vegetables, soyabean and curd, in your diet.

What are the uses of aloe vera? And, how can I use it on the face and hair? — Sangeetha

Aloe Vera is a powerful moisturiser; it also softens dead skin cells and helps in their removal, leaving the skin smoother and brighter. In cosmetic products, stabilised aloe vera gel or juice are used. The gel is the leaf pulp or mucilage, found in the inner portion of the leaves. The aloe juice is found just beneath the outer skin of the leaves. However, while using it directly on the skin and hair at home, wash the leaves well and observe hygiene. The juice or gel can be applied on the face and hair and washed off after 20 minutes. The gel can also be added to face masks. Take one tablespoon gram flour (besan), one teaspoon each of ground almonds or orange peel powder and curd and one tablespoon aloe vera gel. Mix and apply on the face, and wash off after 30 minutes.

( Courtesy: The Hindu )

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