Category: Beauty & Health

Could your skin be more clear and smoother than it is? Could your hair be any silkier, stronger and voluminous? All of this without having to spend thousands of rupees are your next-door salon? Yes, absolutely! I come across hundreds of young women looking for desperate solutions to their skin and hair problems and expecting me to wave my magic wand and tackle their issues overnight and transform them. I would love to oblige but the truth is that nature doesn’t bloom overnight. The smallest seed of a plant also needs to be planted, nurtured and cared for before it can blossom and show its magnificence.
So wake up and imbibe these spells into your festive look.
1. For dull, oily and combination skin
Massage the skin with iced yoghurt and sprinkle some sugar along with it. Now take orange halves and scrub gently until the granules melt. Wash the face with iced water and see the difference.
2. For dull, tired and dry skin
Massage the skin with papaya. Then make a scrub by mixing oats and honey along with a little cold milk and scrub the skin. Wash off with ice cold milk and water and pat dry.
3. Suffering from frizzy hair?
Try this simple, quick and easy-to-make spray. Take slices of two lemon and simmer in two cups of water until it reduces to half the amount. Pour the liquid into a spritz bottle and spray on your hair. Not only will there be a wonderful natural sheen but static and fly away hair will be gone!
4. For natural hair colour
If you have a brownish tinge in your hair and don’t have the time to henna or colour it, then take a few sprigs of rosemary from the kitchen shelf and simmer them in 2 cups of water along with 2 tsp black tea until it reduces to half the quantity. Mix with 1/4cup of shampoo and every time you shampoo, use this mixture. Leave the shampoo in your hair for about 15 minutes and see the difference it makes.
5. For a smooth back
Planning to wear a low back blouse, backless dress or choli, but have no time to go in for a body scrub to show off a smooth back? Here’s a quick home remedy. Take 1 cup of sea salt and mix it with half a cup of olive oil. Add 5 drops of sandalwood oil and mix well. Store in a jar and scrub the areas of your body you want to flaunt. Wipe off with a wet towel.
6. Dealing with under eye bags and dark circles
Take used chamomile tea bags and store them in the freezer. Grate half a cucumber and massage around eye area and then lie down with the tea bags on your eyes for 10 minutes.You will find an instant difference in the way your eyes look and feel.
7. Instant face lift
Wash your face with ice water or simply rub and ice cube with a tsp of honey on the face. Beat an egg white until it peaks and brush onto your skin and let dry. You will feel the stretch in the skin. wash face with icy cold water.
8. Tired eyes?
Long hours at work, then shopping and getting things organized for the festive season can be tiring. I would suggest you make this wonderful eye wash which will make you feel refreshed instantly. Take iced spring water in a bowl and add a few drops of rose water, 2-3 drops of honey and immerse one eye into it. You can also open your eye a little and then close it. Throw away the liquid and make the same water for the other eye and repeat the process. After this, splash the eyes with cold mineral water. There maybe slight redness for some time but it will go away soon and your eyes will feel refreshed in minutes.
9. Quick Hair Care
Don’t have the time to shampoo and blow dry your hair even though it is oily? Well, sweat not. Sprinkle talcum and amla powder onto your hair brush and overturn the hair over your head and brush from the nape of the neck to the tips .Now throw your hair back and voila you have bouncy oil free hair in minutes

Most people across today have hair-related issues. Be it hair fall, dandruff, frizzy hair, lifeless hair, limp hair, lusterless hair, or damaged hair, split ends, scanty hair, and thin hair, the list is endless! Our skin as well as hair require extra time and care as both of these are subjected to harsh chemicals through cleansing agents, pollution, chemically-grown fruits and vegetables, harsh water, stress and tension, improper nutrition, lack of proper sleep, exercise and inadequate intake of water.
Thick healthy hair is possible and there are certain super foods, which, if included in your diet can help you have better health and better hair too!
Try these super foods and see a marked difference in the quality of your hair
Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkin seeds are rich in zinc and this helps cellular production, cell division and growth to form keratin, a protein that makes up hair. Zinc is known to preserve the hair colour and can also be found in lentils, sesame seeds, lamb, chickpeas and oysters. Zinc also prevents dandruff, further keeping hair fall at bay.
Avocado
This fruit is excellent for hair growth and thickness as it contains high amounts of copper that builds up collagen and elastin of the skin that holds the hair follicles. The copper content in shell fish, whole grains, dark leafy vegetables like spinach and methi (fenugreek),beans and legumes also helps balance the hormones so the hair grows strong and aids other reactions in the scalp that strengthen lipids in the hair.
Eggs
Eggs promote hair growth and not only make them thicker but stronger as well. Eggs also come loaded with a combination of protein and biotin, both of which are super nutrients for healthy hair.
Fatty Fish
Fish like mackerel, salmon and herring are super foods for the hair as they are abundantly rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Salmon is loaded with vitamin D and protein, which supports strong hair and a healthy scalp.
Berries
High in antioxidants, berries are a superfood for hair. The high antioxidant content helps protect hair follicles from damaging. Strawberries, blueberries, and cranberries; these robust juicy fruits are rich in vitamin C, which aids in collagen production and iron absorption, two factors that promote hair growth.
Sweet Potatoes
A medium-sized sweet potato contains enough beta-carotene to provide more than four times your daily vitamin A needs. Include this easily available vegetable in your daily diet and see the improvement in your hair.
Spinach
It is one of my all time personal favourites and is full of nutrients like vitamin A and C, iron and folate. Being a great plant-based source of iron, it helps red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body and fuels the metabolism to aid growth and repair hair damage. Vitamin A found in these dark leaves helps the skin glands produce sebum, which in turn keeps the hair and scalp moisturised and healthy.
Soybean
The presence of spermidine, a compound that promotes hair growth, makes soybean an absolute essential as a nutritional supplement for active hair growth. Include this in recipes with stews, soups, salads, etc. on a regular basis in your diet to see a marked improvement in hair growth.
Copper Water
Metals and minerals have always had an effect on the body, which is why in olden days people used to eat from utensils made of silver, gold, copper and brass. I have researched and found that water kept in a copper glass overnight and consumed first thing in the morning has benefits on the hair growth and body as it provides the necessary copper content to promote hair growth and strengthen the follicles.
Meat
This is a great source of protein absolutely essential for hair growth. Red meat in particular is a rich source of iron, which helps promote hair growth and should be included in your diet 3-4 times a week.

To condition or not to condition, to oil or not to oil – when it comes to your hair you’ll find all kinds of advice. Mothers’ will tell you to “oil your hair” while your hair dresser will recommend the new IT thing “hair spa, Moroccan oil, strengthening not rebonding and all.” Before you pick your choice of treatment, here are a few things you must know.
The first step in hair-care is your diet and the two most important things in your diet are iron and protein. The hair cells are the fastest growing cells in the body but they are also the first ones to be affected you don’t eat right or suffer with deficiencies because they are not required for survival.
Try and include iron-rich foods like leafy vegetables, fish, pumpkin seeds, beans, chickpea, soybeans and cereals in your diet. Doctors suggest that you consume around 12 mg of iron daily. You also need protein because that’s what strengthens your hair. Include complete proteins which are also rich in amino acids: like cheese, milk, soy, lentils, peas, quinoa and yogurt.
How to Maintain Healthy Hair: A Few Basic Tips
1. It’s normal to lose 100 to 150 strands of hair a day so don’t panic when you see a small bunch crawling across your tiled floor.
2. Comb wet hair with extreme care because they’re fragile and prone to breakage. Take a broad toothed comb and run it from the roots to the ends of your hair as gently as possible.
3. Trim your hair every few weeks to get rid of those brown and rough split ends. Cut about 1/4th an inch of your hair every 6 to 8 weeks to avoid the split ends to grow out again.
4. Don’t wash your hair everyday and whenever you do, apply some conditioner on the ends. Try and use the same brand of shampoo and conditioner.
5. Rinse the conditioner off with cold water as it is good for both strength and shine.
6. Unlike the labels on the back of our food items, the labels on the back of our shampoos are mostly left unread. In the last few years, there has been a lot of focus on sulfate in shampoos. What are sulfates? They’re the reason your shampoo lathers the way it does. They clean your scalp and hair, departing the dirt from it. But some researchers also suggest that they strip your hair of essential oils. They’re also why your eye stings when shampoo runs down the side of your face. If you feel any kind of irritation on the scalp or find your hair drying up over time then try and buy a shampoo that’s sulfate-free.
7. If you’ve got dry hair then it’s best to avoid colouring. However, if you can’t resist that gorgeous shade of brown, especially under the winter sun then follow this clever advise shared on the blog. Use lemon, chamomile tea or honey as they work as great hair lighteners. You can add lemon juice to water and spray it over your hair when you’re heading out. You can rinse your hair with brewed chamomile tea after you wash them with shampoo or add honey to the water you use to wash your hair.

Dry, frizzled and rough hair calls for taking proper care; which includes oiling, shampooing and conditioning them until they are good to go. Using a good conditioner is a priority for people who have an uncontrollable frizz, unneeded texture and split ends. Conditioning is a process that helps keep your hair hydrated, making it smooth, soft and frizz-free. However, loading your tresses with chemical-laden conditioners can be unhealthy in the longer run. What if we tell you there are natural ingredients that act as amazing conditioners, such that you wouldn’t have to turn to synthetic ones anymore?
Here are some of the best natural hair conditioners you can make at home.
1. Vinegar and egg conditioner
To make this hair conditioner, you just need to have eggs, olive oil, honey, vinegar and lemon juice by your side. Whisk two-three eggs and add a tablespoon of vinegar and two teaspoons of lemon juice in it. Mix well. Add about one and a half teaspoon of olive oil and one tablespoon of honey. Mix it well in a blender and make a thick paste. Apply the paste on your hair tips and leave it for about 10-15 minutes before rinsing it off with water.
Egg acts as an effective conditioner and adds shine to your hair. Olive oil is an amazing elixir for making your hair stronger. Honey helps keep your hair hydrated and vinegar is responsible for treating hair loss. So you can use them regularly to make your locks a lot stronger and healthier.
2. Banana hair mask
Take one banana, three tablespoons of honey, three tablespoons of milk, three tablespoons of olive oil and an egg. Mix all of these ingredients well and make a paste. Apply the paste on hair and leave it for 15-30 minutes and then wash it off.
Banana is one of the best hair conditioners that are beneficial for hair damage and works wonders for people with rough and frizzled hair.
3. Coconut oil and honey conditioner
Take one tablespoon of coconut oil, one tablespoon honey, one tablespoon lemon juice, two tablespoons of curd and one teaspoon of rose water. Mix all of them well and apply them on your shampooed hair. Leave it for about 10-15 minutes and rinse off with running water.
Coconut oil not only helps your hair become smooth and soft, but also helps in making your hair grow longer and thicker. The essential minerals and fatty acids in coconut oil nourish the scalp well.
4. Apple cider vinegar conditioner
Take two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar along with one tablespoon honey and two cups of water in a bowl. Mix all the ingredients well. Once you have shampooed your hair, pour this solution on your hair tips; avoid exposing it to the scalp. Do not rinse it any further.
Adding water is an essential step in order to dilute the vinegar. The acetic acid in ACV helps smoothen your hair.
5. Yogurt hair conditioner
Take a bowl and beat an egg in it. Add about six tablespoons of yogurt and mix the ingredients properly. Massage the mixture onto your hair and keep it covered. Leave it for about 15-30 minutes before you wash it off with normal water.
Yogurt comes to you as an easy solution; thanks to its protein content and lactic acid that helps cleanse your scalp.
6. Aloe Vera hair conditioner
Take one tablespoon lemon juice and at least four tablespoons of aloe vera gel in a bowl and mix them well. Apply it on your shampooed hair and wait for five minutes. Rinse it off with lukewarm water.
Aloe vera is said to stimulate hair growth and bring a shine to them. It helps restore the pH balance of the hair.