Get softer hair with yoghurt, honey & olive oil

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My hair is curly and gets really messed up when the weather becomes hot. I want to avoid heat styling products, but don't know of an alternate way to manage my hair so that it remains light and bouncy. Can you help me with a natural treatment?
- Ambika
Take half a cup of yoghurt; add 1 tablespoon honey and 1 teaspoon olive oil to it. Beat well, and then massage the mix into your hair. Rinse after 1 hour; do this twice a week Hair will turn soft and manageable.

The circles under my eyes are quite dark and noticeable. Please give me a natural remedy to remove them completely - and quickly!
- Vani
Using potato juice pads is a tried-and-tested method. They help lighten dark circles and also reduce puffiness. Simply grate raw potato, and squeeze the juice out; dip cotton eye pads in the juice, and lay them on your eyes for at least 20 minutes everyday.

My face has a lot of old marks on it, and looks dull and tired. I have cut back on all makeup. Now I wish to get clear, glowing skin naturally. Please advise.
- Ramzeena
Mash ripe papaya into a very smooth pulp, add half-a-teaspoon lemon juice to it, and mix well with wheat flour. Apply a thick layer of this paste on your face, and rinse off after an hour; follow with a cold rinse. Do this everyday for a month; your skin will glow and have a natural, healthy sheen.

I love reading your column every week - it's so informative! I need some advice from you. I am a 30-year-old woman, having stretch marks on my lower back for a long time now. Someone told me that applying Vitamin E oil on affected areas is a good way of getting rid of the marks. Is that true? Is Vitamin E oil really effective? I would be grateful for your comments.
- Parvathy
Vitamin E is an excellent antidote for stretch marks. Prepare a spray bottle with 2 teaspoons of Vitamin E oil (you can pierce Vitamin E capsules to get the oil) and 1 teaspoon of rosewater. Always shake the bottle before use; spray and apply twice or thrice a day on the stretch marks, and leave on for it to get absorbed by your skin. Gradually, your skin will become smooth.

I am a 19-year-old male. I have a lot of hair on my back and neck, and that makes me very conscious. Can you give me a remedy to get rid of this problem?
- Name withheld
Make a paste using the following ingredients: 1 teaspoon lentil flour, half-a-teaspoon turmeric powder, and enough yoghurt to hold it all together. Apply a thick layer of this on the hairy areas. When dry, scrub against hair growth. Do this thrice a week for good results - but do be careful while scrubbing: be gentle!