Dear DOLLY, I take care of my skin, but I seem to get a lot of blackheads on the sides of my nose. Can you please help!
A: Firstly, some skin types are prone to open pores which is what makes them more susceptible to black heads. It's important that you maintain a skin care regime - cleansing and moisturising morning and night to remove the excess dirt and oil. There are also loads of "pore refining" products, which you can use as part of your normal skincare regime, to help minimise the visibility of your pores - too easy! And what ever you do, don't try and squeeze them excessively, 'cos it will cause scarring. If you can, save up for a facial and allow the skin experts to extract them for you!
Dear DOLLY, I have really, really thick hair and it only looks good when I straighten it. I'm looking to buy a hair straightener, so can you suggest any that work?
A: There are so many hair straighteners to choose from now, it's great! When buying a hair iron, you really need to consider how often you will be using it and whether you would like ceramic or metal iron plates. Your hairdresser will know which type will suit your hair best, so it's worth paying him/her a visit to ask. Once you've snared your straightener, you should consider stocking up on heat protection products. They'll help protect your hair from heat damage which is just as important, especially if you plan on straightening your hair regularly.
Dear DOLLY, I like to wash my hair everyday, but my friends keep telling me that it is bad for your hair. Is this true?
A: No, washing your hair daily isn't a bad thing, but there are a few things that you should be aware of. Firstly, people with fine or oily hair, often tend to wash their hair daily to stop it from looking greasy. If you're hair fits this description, then you should look out for shampoos and conditioners that are designed to target fine or oily hair. If this isn't the case and you just like shampooing daily, then it's important that you use a good quality shampoo and conditioner to prevent your hair from drying out, especially if you are blow drying it after every wash.
Handy Hint: Experiment with dry shampoo. It's a hassle free way to get squeaky-clean looking hair - without water! Great to use in between washes!
Words by Eliza Ashe
