That right festive look

For the occasion

Garba’ dances, office events and parties — this festival and wedding season is brimming with activity. And what better way to groove in style than with a fresh face, stylish hair and makeup to match, even when on the go.

There are many times when one comes to know about a get-together and is not prepared. Paulomi Keertana Reddy, a young professional, says that while the season calls for a lot of makeup, going with neat light tones is perfect.

“Traditional jewellery and attire demand a lot of makeup, but when one is headed for casual get-togethers or out with friends, keeping it light is the way to go. Also,
one could apply papaya face pack, leaving it on only for a few minutes, before washing it off. This gives a fresh feel,” she says.

A quick fix for the hair, could include running a little hair mousse with the fingertips into the hair and styling accordingly. “Avoid blow drying a lot as the hair goes brittle when overexposed to heat.

To make the hair look voluminous, just comb it back and set it,” says Paulomi.
Even celebrities get caught in the humdrum and prefer quick home options for a clean look. Actor Sanchita Shetty says that there are many times when she had to head to a get-together before which she couldn’t rush to the salon. “I often use a paste made of ‘besan powder’ with turmeric, lemon and curd to cleanse my face and remove tan. Also, when in a hurry, I crush a tomato and apply it directly. The seeds and pulp give the face a healthy shine,” says Sanchita. She believes in light makeup, which includes basic foundation, kajal and a light lip colour as it leaves one’s face looking fresh.

Many like Chandana, a model-turned-actress, follow the thumb-rule of drinking plenty of water for good looking skin. “I drink around five to six litres of water. Apart from this, I also apply a ‘honey, sugar and curd pack’ on the face, which gives your skin a great glow.”

If one has only a few minutes to step out and wants a clean look, grate a potato, add turmeric and lemon to it and apply it to the face, says Vydurya Lokesh, a celebrity makeup artist.

“One could also massage tender coconut with a tinge of cucumber juice (which acts as an astringent on the skin). This can be used after washing the face, which leaves the skin looking soft and healthy,” says Vydurya.

One could also use apple cider vinegar in the hair conditioner to make the hair soft and easy to handle. “Since it’s very windy nowadays, hair becomes manageable after this,” she says. Another quick fix for people who have an oily scalp is to dust talcum powder onto it and use a dry towel to wipe it off. “This will make the hair look fresh and voluminous,” she adds.

When confused about what to do with the hair, just fold it into an inside bun and clip it, so that it stays intact for a while. “When you unfold it, the hair will look bouncy and full,” says T Suneetha, a hair dresser and makeup artist.

For the face, one could use a ‘multani mitti’ pack, mixed with milk, turmeric, lemon and a few drops of honey for a non-greasy fresh look. “The proportions are changed according to the skin type. For dry skin, one could add more honey and for an oily face, just add more lemon juice,” says Suneetha.