Hibiscus Hair Conditioner

When we were very young, every sunday used to be the day for traditional oil bath, which included, an oil massage with Til oil, followed by being bathed with shikhakai and powder made of dry flowers and herbs (called vasanai podi). My mother never used soap after this bath coz, she always maintained that mild fragrance of shikhakai and kastoori manjal was more than enough.

But once in a while, my mother also used the following mixture as a natural conditioner for the hair.

1. Soak some leaves (5-6) of the hibiscus plant in a cup of curd for half hour.

2. Grind it into a fine mixture like a cream

3. Apply it on the scalp and hair generously and leave it on for say a hour.

Wash it off with water and follow it with shampoo if you desire, though if you can avoid it, nothing like it.

This leaves your hair soft and conditioned naturally.

Blushy Tom - Tom

I don't wait for a special occasion to pamper myself. Just as I am cooking, I love to churn out ingredients from what I am using for the meal and treat myself with an economical face pack/massage/scrub. Here is Just one of them.

1. Take half a Juicy tomato, just rub it all over your face and elbow and hands and neck.
2. Leave it on to dry and wahs it off with cold water.

This leaves your face fresh and bright. Dont forget to wear your smile though :)

Caff-fine Kiss - Body Scrub

Hey you all Girls.... I HAVE TO SHARE WHAT I JUST DID. I have come right out of the shower and immediately typing this amazing experience :)

Today I took a cup full of coffee powder (filter coffee used from filter) when i went for my bath. After applying the body wash and working up lather, I used up the entire coffee powder as a body scrub. It WAS AMAAAAZING. I FEEL LIKE A MILLION BUCKS NOW. Don't use instant coffee powder as you will not get the desired results . If u dont have coffee power, you can substitute it with SOOJI. But be gentle on scrubbing.

Wash of again with water and soap if desired. TRY this all of u, who havent taken a bath today and those who have, try tomorrow.

P.S - Bathroom is a mess :)

Dont want that Sun Tan

We have a lot of beach parties in our circle very often and I get a good tan most of the times despite the sunscreens. But over these years the response of people to my look because of the tan has been breathtaking(literally). So I make sure that I keep the following ready to use as soon as I return. Its completely worth the effort. SO here you go.




1. Papaya Pulp.

Just keep some mashed in a bowl. If you can stand the smell (like some people do), add some rose water and keep. Rub the pulp of papaya as soon as you come home

2. Raw Milk

If its not the season for papaya or you are not the type who would want to buy one just for the sake of a silly tan simply take some cold raw milk (the one which u haven't boiled. I don't know if it works with tetra packs, never tried) . Just dip a cotton ball in it and rub it all over the face. rest of the body u can even apply n massage with your hands. leave it on for 5 minutes and wash it off. If its stronger repeat over and over for the next 2 - days atleast twice a day. U can even rub ice the first day, it helps. But remember to do all this as soon as u get home. Like i do it the moment I get back.

3. Lemon

The subsequent days u can also rub half an orange or lemon on the tanned areas.


All this for a tan, I don't know about sunburn. Once I get one I shall discover that too.

Crowning Glory

Oiling the hair is a must. But that really does not mean emptying bottles of oil everyday on your crowning glory.

One important thing about hair oil is that never leave it on for hours or days. The essence of any oil is until it is absorbed onto the scalp say within an hour maximum. After which it only gives a greasy look. The problem with greasy look is that it will retain more dirt and leads to more loss of hair. so its good to wash it regularly. Oil your hair just enough and that too say an hour before a wash. That should keep it looking good. A good diet is just going to make it look better. Indulge on curry leaves. :)

Night Treament - Lighten up that face

There are many days when you are say at work or even at home, you are washing your hands and suddenly when you look up briefly at the mirror and you wonder why you face looks so dull. I looks like you havent even showered for the day. I have faced this many times..the bright face after a face wash or bath, seems to just disappear. I wondered what I could do to retain that fresh look.

There no instant remedy which will work in a day. But yes, a little time and this works wonders.

Take a bottle and mix the follwoing in equal quantities

1. Glycerine

2. Rose water (I use the dabur one)

3. Juice of 2 lemons (assuming that u have mixed say 30 ml of the above two)

Mix all the three and store it in the fridge. Just before bed, First wash your face with normal soap and then apply a little bit of this solution all over your face. Over a week's time your face starts lightening up and so will your marks.

Isnt it an economical solution against an expensive night cream? Sweet Dreams

Tip for Great feet

I have had the worst bad feet days EVER. There was no reason why my feet decided to look like they have nothing to do with moisture.

This was told to be by a pedicurist. In the night just before u hit the bed do the following and instantly bright looking feet

1. Scrub your feet well with a pumice stone.

2. If you dont have a brush for your feet, use an old toothbrush (or your hubby's current brush if you want to take revenge) and squeeze some shampoo on it like a paste and brush your nails like you brush your teeth.

3. Dry your feet

4. Take a teaspoonful glycerine and with your finger tips dot your nails with it. Apply the remaining on the sole and rest of the feet. Now massage the nails with the glycerine that you had dotted.

Next day morning when u get off your bed and slip ur feet into ur sandals u r going to feel like a million bucks. It will look very hydrated.

Flavour of the week : Green gram flour face scrub

I just discovered the refreshing goodness of green gram flour. Though my mom used to bath my baby when she was a new born, i had discontinued it after some time. But recently I read in a magazine about the benefits of green gram flour and decided to make a face/Body scrub myself. Green Gram is the green moong daal the whole one not the broken one.

1. Powder a handful of green gram daal in ur small mixer and powder as finely as u can.

2. Add a pinch of Kastoori Manjal powder. This is a variety of turmeric powder available in most south indian grocery store.

3. Add rosewater/curd to it and make it into a paste.

Use it either during ur shower as a body scrub or just a face scrub. The Kastoor manjal is supposed to give ur face a nice golden glow and it also is an antiseptic so its good for the acne, if any.

Quickie Facial

At the time of recession, even a facial takes a hit. Well, here is what you can do when you are running late for a party and you need to have that polishing effect.



1. Mask:

Wear your face mask (any mask which you regularly use), not a peel off one though


2. Massage :

After its dry, spray ur face with water, squeeze a little bit of any face cream you use, some face scrub (u can even use filter coffee powder) and mix the two and massage it on your faced with the mask.


3. Rinse :

Massage for 5 minutes and wash off your face with soap or face wash.

This will give you a polished effect. Just what you want before a party or something.