The Natural Way

Suparna Trikha Dewan offers natural solutions and home remedies for your beauty problems

Dimpy Ganguly model I follow the basic cleansing, toning and moisturising routine everyday. I also get a facial every month. I never leave home without a sunblock and use a night cream regularly. Since my work requires outdoor shoots quite often I sometimes go for a special tan removal facial. I also drink lots of water to keep my skin clear.

I am a 17-year-boy. My face becomes extremely oily within two hours of washing and looks very unattractive. Also my hands are very dry and the skin there is getting wrinkled. Please help.

Name and address withheld

Use an oil-free face wash twice a day to reduce oiliness. There are a number of gels available in the market that help reduce oil build-up. For your hands, massage them with 2tsp honey everyday.

I am a 16-year-old girl with long straight hair. For the past few years, I am suffering from a severe dandruff problem and my hair is falling at an alarming rate. I have tried many anti-dandruff shampoos as well as natural remedies like lemon juice but with no results. I oil my hair every alternate day with sesame oil and wash my hair once a week with boiled extracts of reetha, shikakai and amla. I also apply henna every fortnight. Please suggest some natural remedy.

Poulami, Calcutta

Dandruff is an internal problem and is caused by reasons like improper diet, inadequate intake of water, lack of exercise, prolonged illness and stress. You will have to see where it is that you are going wrong. Lifestyle changes are imperative for great looking skin and hair.

I am a 15-year-old girl with very soft and silky hair. I oil my hair with Parachute coconut oil twice a week, and shampoo my hair the very next day with either Clinic All Clear or Garnier Fructis shampoo. After shampooing, I don’t oil my hair for a week. My hair is becoming excessively thin and has its lost glaze and shine. Since I have my Board exams round the corner, I can’t spend much time for a detailed haircare routine. I want to have thick and lustrous hair. Do I have to change my shampoo or oil or do I need some other remedy? Please help.

Shradha, Ranchi

You could change both for a start. Add castor oil to the coconut oil and follow with turban therapy. Eat at least five fruits per day. Add a lot of green vegetables and salads to your diet. It is not just your hair products but also your diet and lifestyle that play an important role in determining what your hair looks like.

I am a young woman. I have just given birth. I have been applying a mixture of coconut and almond oils as well as cocoa butter for the past two months to get rid of the stretch marks. But it hasn’t helped. Please help.

Name and address withheld

The stretch marks didn’t appear in two months and they will take much longer to go as well. Continue with what you are doing. I hope you had started the routine before the delivery because the damage was already done then.

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I am a young woman. My hair becomes very thin and looks limp after washing. How do I get thick, healthy hair?

Name and address withheld

Hrishita Bhatt actor I wash my face and hair regularly. I take care not to leave any make-up residue on my face. I go for an oil massage once in a couple of months. Light food helps me stay healthy. I use MAC products.

Call it limp, lank or greasy — this type of hair invariably goes flat after washing because it lacks body from the roots. But with careful styling and a bit of ‘cheating’ you can make it look thicker.

Thin hair tends to be greasy, so when you’re looking after it yourself at home, it generally needs washing everyday. Use a mild shampoo. If you thoroughly wet your hair beforehand you will need to use less shampoo. Avoid 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioners (also called moisturising shampoos) as these leave a residue in the hair that only weighs it down more. Apply a light conditioner to the ends only when your hair needs it.

Use styling products at the roots. The best formulation is a spray which is easy to direct precisely where you want it, and is quick drying. Volumisers coat hair to make it look and feel thicker by increasing the diameter of individual hair shafts.

Here are some volume-building tips:

Semi-permanent and permanent hair dyes penetrate and swell the hair shaft, so hair looks and feels thicker. The colour can also give the illusion of more body. Perming also swells the hair shaft and makes most hair types look thicker.

A good cut can give the illusion of thicker hair. A bob is probably the best. For extra volume, graduate hair at the nape of the neck, coming forward to one length at the chin.

Towel dry hair to remove excess moisture, then dry the roots off first by parting hair into sections and drying upside down, working in the opposite direction from the way hair grows.

Change the way you blow-dry your hair. Part your hair into sections, wrap the ends around a brush and lift the hair up and away in the opposite direction from which your hair grows. Direct the heat of the dryer to the roots, keep it moving to avoid overheating the scalp.