Emma Balter lists the most common beauty problems, and the best ways to fix them

Breaking nails

If you wear a lot of nail varnish the secret is the take breaks between two colours, as applying it too regularly can weaken the nail. While they take this break, rub cream from the good old blue Nivea pot on them a few times a day, as much as needed. If you do this religiously for two days your nails will be regenerated. It is a good idea to cut them short once in a while as they will grow back nicer and stronger.

Ingrown hairs

One word: exfoliate. You’ll find though that most body scrubs aren’t strong enough to comfortably get rid of ingrown hairs, and the ones that are are ridiculously expensive. So if you don’t want to break the bank, make your own effective body scrub. Mix together olive oil and sugar (use caster sugar if you have sensitive skin, granulated if you can hack it). The sugar should be fully covered but your mixture shouldn’t have any excess oil. Add essential oils of your choice to make your scrub smell a little nicer. Rub on affected areas once a day whilst you have your shower.

Greasy hair

Unfortunately if you are born with greasy hair it will forever be greasy hair. However there are ways to minimize the symptoms. Use clear shampoos rather than creamy ones, don’t apply too much conditioner to your roots (focus on the ends), try not to constantly run your fingers through your hair, and apply talcum powder to your roots in extreme cases of greasiness.

Spots

Once adolescence has gone by and your spots are still persisting, there is no secret to why. A healthy diet is crucial to your complexion: as soon as you eat too many fats and sugars the effects can instantly be seen on your skin. Eat healthier, remember to always take your make-up off before going to sleep as the skin regenerates mostly during the night and needs the space to breath. If all else fails: Lush’s miracle face mask Cosmetic Warrior, applied once a week, can do wonders for your skin. Yes, it smells like garlic, but it will clear your skin of any imperfections from the first use.

Stained teeth

Coffee, tea and cigarettes are the main causes of stained, yellowy teeth. So imagine if you’re addicted to all three! If you cannot cut down on these products, it is a good idea to go to your dentist regularly for a descaling. A very effective homemade solution to stained teeth, funnily enough, is sodium bicarbonate. Sprinkle a little on your toothpaste when you’re brushing, and within or week or so you will definitely see the difference. It is important though to not use this too much, a week here or there in extreme circumstances is enough.

Flat hair

A good shampoo to use for voluminous hair is Pantene’s Volume and Body. Other tips include blow drying your hair with your head upside down, and if your flat hair is also greasy, do not use styling mousses!

Patchy complexion

Again, a healthy diet is a must for a nice complexion. For your make-up, combine a good foundation (Clinique, although expensive is worth every penny) with a mineral powder to finish.