How to remove facial hair naturally

I'm a 14-year-old girl and have been a great fan of your column. I have facial hair from which I'm developing dark patches. It would be great if you would suggest natural remedies to remove facial hair, mainly on the upper lip.
- Name withheld
I'm happy to hear you are enjoying my work. Make a paste of sticky cooked rice, add a few drops of lemon juice and honey, and apply a thick layer on dry skin. When it dries, gently scrub against hair growth. Do this every day for a month and you will see your skin improve and facial hair reduce gradually.
I'm a 40-year-old woman and have been finding a lot of dark marks near my jawline. I don't know if they are pimple marks or acne marks. Please suggest remedies to cure them.
- Name withheld
Sprinkle a few drops of lemon juice on a piece of banana, and rub this all over your face every day. Pay extra attention to the jaw area. Your skin will look moisturised, lighter and youthful. Rinse off after an hour (30 minutes will do too).
I am a high school student. I have dark underarms and I was wondering how I could lighten them quickly, as we have a performance in two weeks and I am not confident to wear a sleeveless dress.
- Name withheld
Tomato is a skin lightener. Cut a slice and sprinkle a little turmeric powder over it. Rub several times on the underarm. Leave on overnight for quick and effective skin lightening.

I recently observed that my five-year-old daughter has a flaky scalp. Her hair is also falling a lot these days. Please suggest a good home remedy to cure this problem. She loves her hair and wants to grow it long. Your prompt response is highly appreciated.
- Shweta
First, rub aloe vera gel into the scalp in order to cleanse it. After 20 minutes, massage coconut milk into the hair (on top of the gel). This is very nourishing and promotes healthy hair growth. She must do this treatment thrice a week for best results.

I am writing to find a solution for my daughter's hair issues. She is 11 years old and has dry and brittle hair that gets tangled up very quickly. The oil in her hair disappears so quickly and her locks become dry within 2-3 days of applying any. I have to apply either oil or cream on a daily basis in order to plait her hair before school and that causes dandruff. Please help!
- Manju
I would suggest a mask of 1 tablespoon yoghurt and 1 tablespoon honey three times a week. Rinse off with a mild shampoo. When done, towel-dry the hair, then take 1 teaspoon of aloe vera gel and apply to the hair. Comb hair immediately. I trust you will find these treatments helpful.
(Got a beauty-related query? Write to Rima Soni at wknd@khaleejtimes.com)

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