People in Fashion | Ambika Pillai's exclusive tips for amazing hair and skin

To stay beautiful is every girl's dream. But what does it take to transform yourself? Listen to tips from a master, the ace makeup artist Ambika Pillai herself.

Excerpts from Onmanorama's interview with Ambika Pillai.

A few basic tips for transforming yourself:

Drink 8-10 glasses of water

Stay hydrated. Photo: Istock

Water flushes out toxic wastes from the body, keeping your system clean. Drinking plenty of water makes your skin supple and glowing.

Stop washing your hair!

Washing hair. Photo: Istock

Wondering why? Washing your hair 3 times a week is all that you need. But the common practice in Kerala is washing hair everyday. This only damages your strands, ruining the natural oil balance of your hair.

 Proper oiling

Oil your hair. Photo: Istock

Application of oil on your strands daily won't do you any good. But ensure that whenever you oil hair, massage well near the hair roots.This stimulates hair follicles, increase blood circulation, and enhances hair growth. After applying oil, dip a towel in steaming water and and wrap around the hair. This ensures proper absorption of oil into the scalp.

Detox your body

It is important to detox. Photo: Istock

Detoxing or flushing out toxic accumulations from the body is essential. An easy way to do this would be trying natural detox drinks along with consuming water.

Use Nature's goodness

Natural products. Photo: Istock

Opt for beauty products containing natural ingredients. Doing away completely with cosmetics containing chemicals can be tough, but resort to natural products whenever possible.

Use the right shampoo and conditioner

Right Hair care. Photo: Istock

The common notion is that using a popular brand's quality shampoo or conditioner will solve all hair problems. But it is essential to use a shampoo that suites your hair type. For instance, people with colored or treated hair must use a shampoo for treated hair.

Food

Eat healthy. Photo: Istock

Consume food rich in nutrients and proteins. The Kerala diet is rich in proteins as people here consume a lot of fish. Add nuts, almonds, legumes, fruits and vegetables to your daily portion of rice.

Sleep

Catch up on sleep. Photo: Istock

Adequate sleep is essential to relax your body as well as mind. Eight hours of sleep is essential to the body.