Magic Of bottle gourd

For shiny long healthy and black hair, you can apply bottle gourd (lauki) juice to the roots and keep it for an hour or two and wash it with water.
The lauki pieces , added to coconut oil and boil it, apply this oil to the roots of the hair. This would do the same benefit.

Skin Care

Cleansing

Cleansing is the first essential step in your daily skin care routine.

Cleansing the face 2-3 times a day; is adequate for normal skin. If your skin is oily a more frequent cleansing i.e. 4-5 times a day is necessary. If your skin is dry it is best to avoid frequent washing and you may have to use a suitable oil-based cosmetic cleanser instead of soap, which has a dry effect.

There are several alternatives to soap and water cleansing. Cleansers can be in the form of creams, milks, lotions, gels and liquids. All are, a mixture of oil, wax and water which have been formulated to suit different skin types. A cotton -pad dipped in fresh milk available at home, is an equally effective cleanser.

The right way to apply cleansers and creams on your face is in an upward and outward movement. The skin should not be stretched, dragged or pulled. Leave the cleanser on for a minute or two so as to loosen the dirt and make up. Remove it either using a cotton wool or with a tissue paper, again using an upward and out ward movement. Finally rinse with water.

Masks

Basically all face masks have some sort of a cleansing action. Various ingredients are used in the masks, depending on the skin type. Clay, form an important constituent of many face masks. They help to remove dirt, sebum, and dead skin so that the skin looks clean, soft and youthful.

Fullers earth is a special type of clay often used in face packs. It contains aluminium silicate. As it dries on the skin, it absorbs the superficial dead cells and blots up any excessive oil on the skin. It is therefore excellent for an oily skin but should not be used on dry skin. Kaolin is also a fine clay which has been used for tummy upsets because it absorbs toxins from the system. It removes grime, oils and dead cells. Kaolin is also best for oily skin and best avoided for dry skin.

Another ingredient of some of the masks is the peeling or the exfoliating agent-these remove the top layer of dead cells from the skin, leaving behind fresh youthful skin. Oatmeal and bran are the commonly used peelers. Oatmeal is obtained from oats which is rich in Vitamin B and Vitamin E

Also added to many masks are natural ingredients -cucumbers, curds, lemon juice and Brewer's Yeast. It restores the acid / alkali balance of the skin.

Toning

The skin care products include cosmetics like skin fresheners, toners and astringents which basically contains alcohol and water. These products are used after cleansing the skin to freshen and tone up the skin, they also restore the acid/ alkali balance of the skin. Having cleansed, wipe away any last traces of dirt or oil with a skin freshener or toner (cleansing milk) which suits your skin type. Non alcoholic freshener are for dry and sensitive skin. Those with alcohol (astringent) are for oily skin. People with combination skin should use toner and astringent.

Mosturising

Regular use of a suitable moisturiser benefits your skin. The moisturiser not only replaces the water lost from the skin but also prevents its loss to the surroundings. It protects the skin against the drying influences of the environment such as the effects of the sun, cold and heat. Tinted moisturiser are very helpful under foundation. It always keep the make up moist.

A moisturiser is particularly helpful for dry skins. Oil free moisturisers can be used for oily skins.

There are two types of moisturisers: Oil - in water emulsions and water -in -oil emulsions. The moisturiser you select should suit your skin type. For normal skins, a water based moisturiser containing a little oil is suitable. Sensitive skins and dry skins need moisturisers having a high oil content.

Protecting

The sun, is the environmental factor that is most harmful to the health and appearance of the skin. Ultraviolet radiation from sunlight can cause permanent damage to the skin. It can cause the skin to sag, lose elasticity and form wrinkles. Severe sunburn can even cause skin cancer.

Sunscreen and foundation protects the skin against the damaging ultraviolet rays. It also shields your face from direct contact with dirt or pollutants in the air and helps the skin against loosing its necessary moisture.

Sunscreen's come in lotions and creams. A sunscreen with the sun protection factor (SPF) of number 15 can block most of the sun's ultraviolet radiations before it can damage the skin. The SPF number indicates the length of time, the product will protect the skin. Sunscreen's should be applied at least 10 minutes before you go out in the sun.

Hair Care Tips

Brush your hair regularly before going to bed each night.

• Wash your hair with a mild shampoo. Use very little but enough to cover hair completely with lather. Use a conditioner to keep hair manageable.

• Avoid brushing wet hair. This will cause the hair to stretch and finally break. Finger-dry, or use a wide-toothed comb instead of a brush to gently remove the knots.

• Restrict blow-drying your hair. The process of blow-drying is harsh on hair as it robs it of moisture.

• Avoid dyes. Use mehandi (henna) instead as a conditioner and colouring agent.

• Take a calcium supplement or drink two glasses of milk a day.

• Always hold hair dryer away from your hair. Direct air from the hair dryer down hair shaft and not directly into the roots and keep it moving.

• After a perm, never brush your hair. Instead comb hair gently.

• Trim your hair once in 7 weeks to avoid split ends.

• Avoid pulling back your hair tightly.

• Never use a rubber band on your hair as it can pull and damage hair considerably.

• Never go out in the sun without having your head covered.

• Stimulate circulation by massaging your head with oil to which some vitamin E has been added. This will make hair soft and silky.

• Never wash your hair with very hot or very cold water.

• Learn to relax. Hair loss can happen because of stress. Eat foods that are rich in vitamin B, C and E.

• Add iron and minerals in the natural form in your diet.

• If your hair is oily, cut down on fried food and fat. Drink plenty of water.

Hot Oil Treatment

This treatment is used for dull, dry falling hair. There is no harmful side effect in this treatment. It can be considered as a dandruff treatment also.

Equipments, Implements and Materials

1. Any bowl for heating oil

2. Vibrating massager

3. Tail comb

4. Oil

5. Camphor

6. Cotton

7. Shampoo

   • Warm some oil with camphor

   • Using Vibratory massager, remove the flakes of dandruff present in the scalp

   • Using cotton, apply the warm oil to the scalp taking sections of hair

   • Massages the head for 10 minutes.

   • Steam the hair for 5 minutes massaging simultaneously

   • Wash the hair using shampoo and dry the hair

8. 
   

   Henna

   It is a Herbal treatment for the hair which has been followed for centuries. It has curative as well as conditioning abilities. Specially prepared henna is used in the treatment of falling hair and dandruff.

   Ingredients

   Henna powder	-	1 1/2 cup
   Amla (goose berry) powder	-	1 tsp
   Egg	-	1
   Coffee powder	-	1 1/2 tsp
   Tea leaf	-	1 1/2 tsp
   Lemon	-	1
   Curd	-	1/2 cup
   Oil	-	10 drops

   Procedure

   Mix the ingredients well, except egg. Keep the mixture for at least 12 hours. Then add one egg and apply on the hair using hair brush taking sections from the top of the head. Wash the hair after one hour. Clean the hair well using shampoo and then dry hair.

   Advantages of henna

   • Removes and prevents Dandruff

   • Promotes hair growth and prevents hair loss

   • Conditions the hair

   • Promotes the health of the hair by keeping the scalp healthy

   • Adds luster to the hair

   • Has a cooling and soothing effect on the scalp

For Dandruff

• Massage the Scalp with pure coconut oil. This will also help growth of hair.

• Apply coconut oil which has been boiled with small onions for about 20 minutes. Wash it off with a mixture of green gram powder and water drained from cooked (boiled) rice.

• Apply a mixture of almond oil and gooseberry juice with finger tips on the scalp.

• Apply the warm mixture of olive oil, lemon juice and coconut oil. Do a steam -towel- wrap for 15 minutes and wash the hair with a mild shampoo.

• Apply a paste of fenugreek and mustard to the scalp.

• Mix Shikakai powder with the water drained from the cooked rice and wash the hair with it.

• Crush the leaves of five petal hibiscus flower and take the juice. Wash the hair with this juice.

• Heat oil with a little camphor. Apply the oil in the scalp and massage for 10 minutes. After 30 minutes wash the hair with a herbal shampoo. Do the steam -towel- wrap for 15 minutes.

  • It is better to apply castor oil for a healthy growth of hair.

  • Wash hair with tea once in a week.

  • Apply besan in the hair and wash it with water drained from the cooked rice.

  • Soak a handful of gooseberries in a cup of milk for two hours. Make a paste and apply on the hair.

  • Apply the mixture of an egg white, 2 spoons of castor oil, 1 spoon glycerin, in the scalp and hair. Wash it after some time.

  • Massage hair with warm coconut oil an hour before washing. Let it soak. Cover your head with a hot towel and wash your hair after an hour or so.

  • Boil a few hibiscus flowers in coconut oil. Filter and use this hair oil to control hair loss and thinning.

  • Do a 'steam-towel-wrap' once in a while, if your cuticles are damaged, as this steaming opens out the pores and absorbs the oil.

  • Soak 1 teaspoon fenugreek in curd and keep it for a night. Apply it in the next morning.

  • Boil coconut oil with the juices of curry leaves, basil, hibiscus flower and gooseberry. Apply on hair, keep it for sometime and rinse.

  • Take a cup each coconut and mustard oil. Soak half a cup of curry leaves in the oil mixture and keep it for a night. Next morning, heat on a slow fire till the curry leaves turn crisp. Remove from heat and add two to three camphor balls. Allow oil to cool and then strain. Apply oil to hair roots using cotton wool along the parting and massage in circular movements. Leave the oil overnight and shampoo the next morning. Repeat twice a week.

  • Add a lemon peel to a 'shikakai' and 'amla' mixture while washing your hair.

  
  

Natural Conditioners

• Henna is a herbal treatment with good conditioning abilities.

• Egg white is a good conditioner for hair.

• Deep condition with curd, beer and egg.

• Mix a little vinegar in warm water and rinse your hair with this solution. This will add bounce to dull and lifeless hair.

For Graying Hair

• Take a little Mehandi , an egg, juice of half a lemon, one table spoon of instant coffee powder. Mix it together and apply on the hair. Wash it after 45 minutes.

• Boil one cup of dried gooseberry with 4 cups of water. Add a pinch of sugar in it. Keep boiling till the quantity of the liquid reduces to one cup. Mix 2 cups of Mehendi, an egg, juice of a lemon and the gooseberry solution and apply on hair. Wash the hair after two hours.