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Steam your hair... without a steamer!

I've been hearing a lot about the benefits of steaming your hair and I want to try it. Is there any way to do it without buying a professional hair steamer?
- Name withheld
Steaming the hair before and after oiling it helps to nourish the hair follicles and activate healthy hair growth. If you don't have a professional steamer, take a large towel and hold both ends. Gently dip the centre in a bucket of very hot water and wring off the excess. Then wrap the warm wet towel around your head like a towel. When the towel gets cold, your hair is steamed.

I suffer from a lot of split ends. I have very thick hair growth but this looks terribly unhealthy. Is there anything I can do?
- Sandra
Split ends are caused due to overexposure to strong sunshine, which destroys healthy hair. Poor intake of water, a sickness or a poor diet can also lead to split ends. I would suggest you cover hair with a scarf when out in the sun. Trim your hair once or twice a month and, finally, massage avocado purée or oil to the hair and leave overnight. The split ends will be gone in no time.

If one does not like the taste of drinking water, could you tell me what the best alternative is? Also, are your books available in Muscat, and, if so, where?
- Name withheld
There is no substitute for water, so consuming eight to 10 glasses a day is very important. What you could do if you don't like the taste of water is add cut slices of cucumber to one glass, orange to another and experiment with mint and lemon, and strawberries. These will infuse the water with their own taste. I will be happy to courier my books to you. Just send me an email on www.rimasoni.com.

My skin is extremely dry. What would you recommend I do?
- Jackie, Dubai
Massaging your skin helps circulation and thus activates the natural oils of the body. Avocado is extremely moisturising and nourishing for dry skin so take a ripe one and mash into a purée. Massage your dry skin with this. Leave on for about an hour and rinse, first with warm water, and then with cold. It will nourish and add a natural glow to your skin.

I'm a 12-year-old girl, and have had really dark elbows and knees since the age of six. Both my knees and elbows also have a stubble-like texture to them, even though I don't shave these areas. They are also very dry. Whenever I apply moisturisers, the skin there seems to soak it all up and turn dry within the hour. Can you give me a remedy for this?
- Mariah
The first thing you need to do is stimulate your skin's natural oils by brushing your body daily before a shower. Then, take 1 tbsp oats powder and add enough tomato juice to make a paste. Apply this onto your arms and knees and, when dry, scrub well. After your shower, while the body is still wet, massage a few drops of coconut oil onto your knees and elbows. Dab your skin dry. Follow this routine every day and you will see a remarkable improvement in the skin.

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

• Beauty Basics