Does henna cause hair fall?

I'm a 14-year-old girl. Two months ago, I had applied henna to my hair and blow-dried it at a nearby salon after a bath. But two weeks later, I began to notice severe hair fall. Now, even after several attempts to treat it, my hair won't stop falling. Also, in a previous issue of wknd., I'd read that carrot and beetroot juice can give hair a natural red hue, but I'm afraid to try anything, in case it causes further damage. Please suggest a remedy for my hair fall and also advise if I can safely apply the carrot and beetroot juice treatment to my hair.
- Name withheld
Henna causes dryness to hair and scalp so any time you use it, make sure you moisturise your scalp thoroughly. Avocado is an excellent hair conditioner and moisturiser. The best way to colour and moisturise your hair would be to take 2 tbsp beet juice, 2 tbsp aloe vera gel and 1 tsp avocado oil (or 1 tbsp avocado pulp). Mix well (make sure you wear gloves!) and massage into your hair. Rinse after three hours. Do this three times a week. Your hair fall will stop and its condition will be better.

I am a 12-year-old. I have a sun tan and small pimples on my face. Can you please suggest a remedy? I also want to give my hair a natural light brown colour, which won't damage my hair.
- Name withheld
Treat the tan and pimples by applying a regular mask of rice powder, oats powder and tomato juice. Mix these well and make a smooth paste, after adding 3 drops of lemon juice to it. Apply to your face and leave on for an hour; then rinse and scrub with cold water. To add a hint of brown, give a final rinse to your hair with brewed coffee and leave hair to dry. Done often, hair will start reflecting the coffee brown colour.

What are the benefits of exfoliating the skin on your body (and not just your face)? Also, could you tell me how to make my own natural body scrub? How often should I use it?
- Name withheld
Exfoliating the face and body thrice a week helps to renew the cells, get rid of dry or rough skin, and polishes and smoothens the skin. My favourite exfoliating treatment is to mix oats, almonds and rice powder together, add yoghurt to make into a paste, and apply the mix on the face and body. When semi-dry, you can scrub off and rinse in the shower.

I am a 13-year-old with acne all over my face. I've had this problem for a really long time and the marks refuse to fade. Can you please suggest something?
- Name withheld
Acne is a sign of hormonal imbalance, poor diet, dandruff in the hair and very low intake of water. Start by eating fresh, green vegetables, fruits and drinking at least 10 glasses of water daily. Having aloe vera juice daily will help to calm and cleanse your skin too. Apply aloe vera gel into your scalp and on your face every alternate day to keep scalp and skin cleansed. Rinse after one hour. Apply a paste of tamarind to your acne to reduce the acne and marks.

I am 20 years old and I have short hair. I would love to have you recommend something that will initiate hair growth and minimise hair fall. Also, does henna help the hair? I have tried many hair masks but I haven't seen much change to the health of my hair. Please help!
- Zarniish
Henna calms the body due to its cooling property and also colours hair. If you have an oily scalp, mix the henna with water and apply for 20 minutes. This will help to dry scalp and reduce its oil production. Twice a week, apply 2 tbsp almond oil mixed with 9 drops of rosemary oil and 6 drops of tea tree oil. Massage scalp well. Almond oil is nourishing, rosemary oil activates growth, and tea tree oil arrests dandruff, which may be the cause for your hair fall. Rinse hair after two hours for best results. Eat a healthy low-protein diet, and you will see results soon.

(Got a beauty-related query? Write to Rima Soni at wknd@khaleejtimes.com)