It’s the peak of summer and bad hair days are quite common. Here are some styling tips for this season. What one needs in summer is either short and spiky cuts or long slick plaits, braids or rolls. So get yourself one of the above options to stay stylish rather than being caught with messy hair. Comfort and style go hand in hand. First let me take you through a few tips on summer hair care.

For normal to dry scalp, shampoo and condition your hair every alternate day and in case of oily scalp. Use mild daily wash shampoos and make sure to condition after every wash with aqua based or light weight conditioners. Avoid coating hair with too many products as they make it limp and sticky. You need to be comfortable with your hair style, so keep it simple.

Short hair can be sporty, trendy, chic, funky, formal etc. Fringes of different lengths can make it look feminine. Choose cuts from classic bobs, asymmetric bobs, graduated bobs, razor cut bobs or pixies, textured and choppy layers, head hugging and urchin cuts. Cuts can express different moods. Sample these: roller set with volume mousse — drama and glamour; scrunch curls with curl enhancers — fun and natural; pushed back look with gel —formal and slick; messed up with matte gums — attitude and energy; anti-frizz with light weight serums — super stylish!

Moving on to long hair, do you want that hair off your face and nape? Here’s what to do:

* Gel the hair around the scalp and bunch it up into a mid height sleek ponytail — it’s a fab formal/evening look.

* A French braid worn high is a fresh casual look. Add a fringe or a flick.

* For curly or wavy hair, scrunch some curl cream or sculpting foam to create a wind tossed beach look.

* Top knots and French knots with an extreme side parting will definitely make heads turn.

* Fun or elegant hair bands or crystal studded clips can be very handy.

* A ponytail styler can transform a simple ponytail into a fancy put up.

(The author is a stylist and owner of Peaches Salon & Spa, Bangalore.)

Q My hair is wavy so I have been straightening it since a year-and-a-half. I use a straightening iron at least thrice a week. Now, I find that when I apply oil or shampoo my hair, there is a lot of hair fall. Kindly suggest a remedy.

Rhea Desai

I assume you are using a dry heat iron. Straightening is harmful to the hair, causing it to become dry and brittle. And you are doing it too often. If you’re going for permanent straightening, do it once a month. If you are using a home iron, don’t use it more than once a week. You need to frequently trim your hair to reduce the damage. Go for a deep conditioning treatment to make the hair soft. I suggest you switch to a ceramic iron which is less harmful. To treat hair fall, you can take vitamins containing Biotin, zinc, iron and amino acids. Always condition your hair after a shampoo.

Q I started smoking when I was in class 8. Now after five years, I have kicked the habit but my lips appear dark. I am very fair and this contrast looks ugly. Please tell me how to get back the original colour.

Shridhar

There is no permanent remedy for dark lips caused by smoking. This is due to the effect of tar and nicotine present in cigarettes.

Q I am a 25-year-old woman. I have very tiny pimples only on the forehead. They diminish sometimes but do not completely disappear. Please help.

Humera Sultana

Pimples which appear only on the forehead may be caused by dandruff. If you are using hair oil or going for a head massage using oil, don’t leave it on overnight. Apply oil only 15-20 minutes before shampooing your hair. You can treat the acne with an application of  2.5 per cent Benzoyl peroxide gel. Apply it at night for at least one month continuously, keep the scalp clean and use a shampoo containing ketoconazole zinc.

Got any beauty queries? Email dermatologist Dr Malavika Kohli at beauty@deccanmail.com

Back pain is one of the most common problems faced by many of us. Well, most often, the cause is poor posture and body mechanics at the workplace. A supervised programme of back protection and exercise may alleviate and even prevent such problems.

Correct posture and body mechanics play a very important role in preventing back pain because pressure on the discs and strain of the muscles, ligaments and spine is aggravated by incorrect posture and body mechanics. At the same time, when your posture is good and you move your body correctly, you reduce the strain on your back.

Sitting down
Sitting is often the greatest cause of back pain. When sitting either in a relaxed position, driving or while at work, support your lower back. Use a rolled towel, small pillow or a specially designed seat support. Remove this low-back support every half hour for five minutes to give your lower back a change of position. Your head should be positioned so that your ear is in line with your shoulder and your chin parallel to the floor. Avoid leaning to one side while sitting and avoid over-stuffed furniture, as it does not offer adequate support.

When working at a desk, your chair should be pulled close to the desk. An office chair with short armrests will allow this. Office chairs should also have adjustable height, backrests and seats. The backrest spring should be adjusted so that the backrest moves with you. A seat that tilts forward is a particularly useful feature.

Use a swivel chair to enable you to work without twisting your back. Place objects such as computers as close to you as possible to minimise the amount of twisting and turning you need to do. When you lean forward at your desk, bend forward at the hips instead of hunching your lower back. This will allow you to keep your back straight and in good alignment.

Talking on the phone
Holding the phone between your ear and shoulder is a common cause of neck pain. Special phone adapters and earplugs are also available to keep your hands free. After sitting for a prolonged period, it’s helpful to straighten your back to an upright position and, if possible, stand and walk for a while.

Must exercise
Appropriate exercise, done regularly, will provide the strength and flexibility of the muscles of your legs and back that you need to help avoid excessive strain and possible injury. Some forms of exercise, such as yoga (naukasana, bhujangasana, shalabhasana, setubandhasana) and tai chi, may help relieve backache or prevent back pain by increasing flexibility and reducing tension. However, these exercises should not be done if they are uncomfortable or place a strain on the back.

Dumbbell exercises for the forearm and wrist rotation are also beneficial if you have pain in the arms and wrists. So, don’t neglect strength training. Strong abdominal, back and leg muscles play a vital role in helping you maintain a good posture and body mechanics.

(The writer is a Mumbai-based fitness instructor).

It’s not uncommon to hear people, especially the young, say they didn’t have time and so skipped breakfast or dinner. Most youngsters are either into diet fads or casual dieting.
Adult or adolescent, skipping any meal is a firm no-no, for it can have disastrous effects on your health. Experts say that it is not a good idea since your energy levels dip and foregoing a meal can actually go against your weight loss programme.

According to Tara Muralidharan, chief nutritionist at Mallya Hospital, Bangalore, “People usually tend to skip either breakfast or dinner and have a heavy meal at lunch to compensate for it. Even when you have a brunch, it’s a good idea to have a cup of oats or a bowl of fruit around regular breakfast time.”

Everyone has a basal metabolism rate (BMR), which helps in giving us the energy we need. When you deprive your body of food, this results in weariness and lower concentration levels. “Women, especially working women, don’t have time for themselves so end up foregoing breakfast. In the bargain their BMR dips. So a healthy breakfast is important,” says Tara. Skipping meals also adds to weight gain. Stumped by that? Well, get the lowdown. “Any meal you skip adds to weight gain because the body conserves energy from the previous meal. Another mistake is having a bigger meal after they’ve skipped one. Again, the body gets confusing signals about the timing and quantity of food. It conserves energy and converts it into fat,” she says.

Tara is of the opinion that you must never go to bed on an empty stomach. “Have a low-calorie bite like an apple or a bowl of soup or a glass of milk or buttermilk before going to bed. An average person needs 1,600-1,800 calories a day. So moderation is the key,” she adds. Ideally, have breakfast by 8:30 am, lunch by 1:30 pm, a snack by 4:30 pm and dinner by 8:30 pm, she advises.