Aloe Vera to cleanse the skin

In your remedy for removing tans, you mentioned aloe vera gel with lemon juice. Could you please tell me how I can get aloe vera gel?
- Santosh
Aloe vera is a plant with thick, green leaves that can be grown inside your house. It is available at all plant nurseries. Slit a leaf in the centre and scoop out the gel from inside. Mix a few drops of lemon juice with it and massage it into the skin. Leave on overnight and apply daily for best results. Aloe vera and lemon juice are both excellent skin cleansers.
You had mentioned bone marrow as an effective hair loss remedy in one of your previous columns. Where can I get this in Dubai?
- Anvar Sadath
The fat inside a mutton bone, when cracked, is extremely nourishing. Warm some up and massage it into the scalp and leave it on for at least two hours (if not overnight) to help thicken hair and arrest hair fall. Done five times a week, it will bring results in less than three months. 
I am 18 years old and have dark circles around my eyes. Can you please suggest a home remedy for this?
- Maha
Lighten dark circles by using a regular mask of coconut milk or full cream milk. Pat the milk on the dark circles and leave on for an hour everyday. The milk helps exfoliate and brighten the skin around the eyes, so you don't have to deal with dark circles anymore.
I am a 17-year-old, and have recently noticed a few grey hairs on my head. I don't want to pull them out, but neither do I want to leave them as they are. Is there any homemade remedy I can use to get my natural colour back? Also, is coffee a good remedy for hair fall and, if so, how should I use it?
- Khadija
I am glad that you asked for advice before using chemical dyes. Vegetal hair colour is a natural, non-chemical dye, using ayurvedic herbs, that not only covers grey hair but also nourishes and strengthens it to boot. It is available in the UAE and in India. Do not pluck out grey hairs. Coffee dries the scalp. I would also recommend chamomile tea or cinnamon as natural hair colourants, but these are not effective on grey hair. 
I used to read your column everyday when I lived in Dubai. But now, I've moved to Chennai for my education. After a year here, I got tanned due to the Chennai sun - this, despite using a lotion (SPF 50) regularly. I've recently also started applying a powder (SPF 45) every two hours. I tried all your methods to get back my fair complexion and get rid of the tan, but in vain. I leave for Dubai in a month. Please suggest a remedy that I can use during my time there.
- Name withheld
Thanks for being a regular reader of my column. You have not mentioned which treatments of mine you used that did not work. However, try this: mix together one tablespoon of tomato juice, a teaspoon of honey and a teaspoon of lime juice together. Dip a cotton ball into this solution and apply across the tanned areas. Rinse after 30 minutes. Do this everyday. Always apply a sun protection cream at least 20 minutes before stepping out into the sun.  
(Got a beauty-related query? Write to Rima Soni at wknd@khaleejtimes.com)