Dengue season is upon us as winters are fast approaching. Dengue fever is a mosquito borne virus which can be deadly if not treated properly and with care. Dengue mosquitos can be distinguished from regular mosquitos as they have a white line in their legs.

Dengue symptoms include:

⁃ High fever

⁃ Abdominal pain

⁃ Severe headache or migraine

⁃ Persistent vomiting over a period of time

⁃ Severe eye pain

⁃ Red spots or rash on skin

⁃ Low white blood cell count

⁃ Drowsiness, nausea, lethargy

⁃ And many others

It is important to get yourself checked asap when you feel any of these symptoms so you can be dengue free. The doctor will run blood tests for a few days to make a sure diagnosis of the disease.

Dengue fever can last upto seven days or more until it starts wearing off.

How to protect oneself against dengue?

⁃ Try and wear long sleeve shirts and long pants so your body is not exposed to mosquitos.

⁃ Treat your clothes with mosquito repellents to keep the insect at bay.

⁃ Consider using mosquito nets especially on babies cots and cribs.

⁃ Try using fans or air conditioning to keep mosquitos away from rooms.

⁃ Make sure windows and doors at kept closed to avoid entrance of mosquitos.

⁃ Keep your surrounding areas clean with little or no still standing water as mosquitos breed on this.

⁃ Using mosquito repellent lotions on yourself before sleeping at night

Can dengue be cured?

Dengue fever does not have a predicted cure or precautionary medicine as it can only be treated after it has been diagnosed. There are a number of ways one can cure dengue fever at home more effectively than being admitted at the hospital

– Dengue fever can be cured by intake of lots of fluids such as juices, soups, etc.

Various fluids include:

Papaya leaf juice

Squeeze papaya leaves and drink the juice four times a day to lower down dengue fever.

Neem leaf tea

Neem leaves has anti bacterial properties which helps in improving white blood cell count, drink neem leaf tea thrice a day to cure the fever.

Giloy juice

Giloy is a herb which contains antioxidants which help maintaining the metabolic rate, protect your body from free radical damage and improve the immune system. Make a giloy juice or tea and drink twice a day to cure dengue fever.

Soups

Chicken broth or stock can help ease the body and work well as it contains a lot of nurtrients that are beneficial to the health. It can help in increasing blood cell count which in turn will break the fever and help in early recovery. Drink soup twice a day.

If you unfortunately have contracted dengue fever, make sure not to consume oily foods as this will slow down the recovery process. Instead opt for a protein rich diet (mostly fluids), and a diet containing fruits, vegetables, coconut water, etc.

Hope you all can be safe from this disease this season and take in account the tips and remedies to cure yourself.

Dandruff probes as a huge problem especially during the winter season when the skin and scalp start to get dry. Here we have a list of home remedies for you to try out to help get rid of flaky, itchy dandruff:

Aloe vera gel

Aloe vera contains anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties to exfoliate the skin and is also cooling to the scalp. Use aloe vera gel from a fresh aloe vera plant onto your scalp, leave it on for half an hour and later wash it off with a mild shampoo.

Orange peel paste

Not only are oranges delicious to eat but they can also prevent flaky dandruff. Orange peels have anti-inflammatory properties which help soothe the scalp while Vitamin C present in them promotes growth and enhancement of healthy hair. To use orange peel on your scalp, tou need to grind the peels to make an orange peel powder. You can mix it along with coconut milk and apply it thoroughly onto your hair. Leave it on for half an hour and wash with shampoo and conditioner. Weekly application of this home remedy can help you get rid of dandruff for good.

Yogurt

Not only is yogurt good for healthy, lustrous locks but can also be used to remove dandruff. Before application of yogurt, dampen your hair thoroughly and generously apply yogurt to the scalp. Leave it on for 15 minutes and later wash off. The anti-bacterial properties in yogurt help fight off dandruff.

Garlic paste

Garlic adds a delicious taste to our food but applying it to the hair and washing it off can be a tedious task but what can one do when they want to get rid of flaky dandruff. Garlic has a medicinal value which can be immensely beneficial as an anti-fungal natural product for removing dandruff. For using garlic, you need to crush cloves of the food item to turn into a paste mixed with water. Later remove it after 20 mins with water and wash off with shampoo.

Tea tree oil

An excellent product which is known to work extremely well for skin diseases such as acne is known to removing dandruff as well. Tea tree oil can fight off anti-bacterial and anti-fungal infections as most medicines are known to contain this oil. Use one or two drops of this product mixed into shampoo for effective results.

Apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is used for various purposes such as in food, it helps with teeth whitening and can also help in removing dandruff without stripping hair of it’s natural oils. The acidic content present in the apple cider vinegar helps retain and restore moisture in the scalp which does not dry up the scalp and keeps dandruff at bay. You can use apple cider vinegar by mixing it with water and spritizing it onto the hair (like a hairspray), remove it after 15 minutes with warm water and see the amazing results.

The Me Too Movement gained immense speed in Pakistan last year when Meesha Shafi accused Ali Zafar of sexually harassing her during a gig at his place. This movement gave, not only women, but also men the power to speak out against acts of sexual harassment which they have suffered through the hands of disgusting,filthy individuals. So how did the Me Too movement start?

MeToo Movement

The Me Too movement actually started way back in 2006, when Tarana Burke, a social activist and community organizer, began using the phrase on Myspace. The movement later began gaining momentum with women coming out with their stories of sexual harassment and abuse. It should be noted that the movement is not gender specific and involves men as well, which makes it equally horrific.

In 2017 and 2018, as many as 80 women came out with sexual harassment and misconduct accusations against American actor, Bill Cosby and American producer, Harvey Weinstein. That is when the movement actually spread more like wildfire with actress Alyssa Milano encouraging the use of the hashtag Me Too.

Me Too in Pakistan

As I mentioned earlier, The Me Too movement gained momentum in Pakistan when Meesha Shafi accused her friend Ali Zafar of sexual harassment. One year on, Ali being a powerful figure has not yet been convicted due to lack of “proofs”. But in all honesty, how can an individual provide proof for such heinous crime?

A guy suddenly gropes you or caresses your back, will you in the heat of the moment grab your phone and start recording? No, I don’t think so.

There is really no way to prove being sexually harassed. Harassment on the other hand comes in various forms. While physical sexual harassment is hard to prove, verbal harassment in which men tend to send lewd or crude messages to women on social media is much easier to prove.

Victim shaming and blame game

In this day and age, when the world has advanced so much, the victim of such a filthy crime still gets blamed.

“Its because of your clothes”

“You should have known better”

“Keep quiet for the sake of our reputation”

I really want to ask how can a person’s clothes be the root cause of harassment. Even women in burqas get raped, little babies get raped…and the most shocking of them all animals get raped!!

Men and #MeToo

The Me Too movement is not gender specific with even men being subjucated to this heart wrenching crime. Recently, Pakistani director Jami Mehmood had the courage to speak out of being a victim of Me Too. It was a brave act on his part to call out the predator and speak up against men.

Importance of Sex Education

With the Me Too movement on the rise and sadly showing no signs stopping as the victims are mostly shamed and perpetrators are left free to roam about. With the rise in sexual assaults especially against minors, children need to know what is right and what is wrong, and the difference between good touch and bad touch. They need to be aware of what will happen to their bodies and how to protect themselves.

English is a really hard language to learn as one word can have different meanings, can be pronounced differently and even spelled different. For example, bear and bare sound the same but have entirely different means and necessarily used in the same context. Most people can’t speak English fluently but learning the language perfectly can help secure good jobs all around the world. Once you’re dedicated to learning the language, you’ll pick it up in no time at all.

Let’s look at ways which will help you get proficient and fluent in the language:

Take out time to read

Take out time to read, whether it is novels or the daily newspaper, reading can enhance your vocabulary by a considerable amount. You can read any kind of novel, whether it is sci-fi, romance, etc. Novels are not only interesting but the way they portray a story can help you into creatively writing English as well. On the other hand, experienced journalists and writers contribute to the daily newspaper which means we can pick up everyday sentences and learn the gist of grammar, punctuation, etc.

Look up meanings of new words in the dictionary

When you hear or read a new word, look up the meaning in the dictionary and try incorporating it in your everyday sentences. Many words have synonyms which can easily be used interchangeably and make one sound way more smarter.

Use apps or stream YouTube to learn new words

Apps like Duolingo, a free app which uses a game to teach you seven new words per session, can help you learn English more faster than self study. You can also stream YouTube and find channels by various users who teach pronunciations and give courses on English learning.

Trick by testing your knowledge

An efficient and fun way to learn the language is to trick yourself by listening to the language and thinking about what the words mean, you can further fit them into sentences and than search them up to see whether you were right or wrong with the meaning.

Take online courses

Enroll yourself into online courses for better understanding on the language. Taking an online course will mean the same as being in a classroom, you’ll have material to study, tests to give and so on. This will keep you motivated and passionate to get a fine grip on the language.

Make it a routine to speak in English everyday

To get fluent in the language, make it a routine to speak in English everyday preferably to people who can’t speak Urdu so you don’t switch between languages. This way you’ll be talking continuously in a flow which will improve your speed alongside making you fluent in English.

Play English word games

Playing word games such as Scrabble or completing crossword puzzles will get you thinking about English words and their meanings. Playing games is a fun activity to boost your confidence in the language and you’re much likely to learn English faster.

We all love experimenting with skin products and makeup. But how many of us are aware of the components inside them or the different uses of various products? Not many, I’m sure. Here’s a list of skin and makeup facts and hacks you should know about:

Lead is a dangerous chemical element which can cause a lot of health problems and even death. Lead can be found in most cosmetics such as lipstick, foundation, etc. Popular makeup companies such as Maybelline, Revlon, etc have been exposed to having lead in their products.

The USA has no laws regarding safety of cosmetic products such as labeling them “cruelty free” or “not tested” on animals which means a lot of products maybe incorrectly labeled. You never know what you’re putting onto your skin.

Coconut oil is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and contains Vitamin E along with healthy fats which help to make skin smooth. Coconut oil helps remove makeup faster than micellar water, which is a makeup removing cleanser.

Oil based creams and foundations contain a large number of components that clog pores and take a longer while to penetrate into the skin thus making skin feel heavier and greasier. Oil based products are mostly recommended to individuals with dry skin and not oily skin. Silicone based foundations act as a built in primer which control shiny skin and give one a mattifying look. You can achieve a smooth finish with this type of foundation. Water based foundations are perfect for oily skin as they control oils, do not clog pores and allows the skin to breathe. They also give a very natural finish to your skin.

Olive oil contains useful vitamins A,D, E and K which penetrate deeply into the skin and cleanse it. Olive oil mixed with lemon juice and applied to the face for half an hour can also help in achieving fresh, glowing skin.

If you have run out of eye primer, applying white pencil as a base for your eyeshadow can enhance the color and make it pop. White pencil can also be used in the inner corners of the eyes, on the brow bone and inside the waterline for bigger, fuller eyes.

When applied to the skin, vaseline forms a thin, impermeable film. Thanks to this, the dermis does not lose it’s moisture. Some people even use vaseline as a moisturizer when they have dry skin. It also protects broken and injured skin against bacteria and other germs.

Eyeshadow shields are a gamechanger in the beauty world. Eyeshadow shields can help achieve the perfect winged eyeliner, prevent eyeshadow fallout from ruining your foundation and give you crisp application of your eye look.

The color of lipsticks vary person to person because we all have different colored lips. To achieve the exact color of the shade of the lipstick, apply concealer to your lips to make the color stand out and pop and give it the exact color it is.

Store your creams and lipsticks in the fridge to make them last longer when it’s warm outside.

Weddings can be hectic, stressful and what not especially for the bride to be. She is beginning her new life and there’s a hell lot of chores that need to be done way, way in advance before the big day. Here’s a guide to help you get you get your wedding preparations in order:

Finalize dates well in advance

Once the rishta has been done, ask your parents to finalize the marriage dates well in advance (atleast six months before). This is because you’ll have a plethora of tasks you need to complete before the wedding. Also, if you have guests coming in from abroad, you’ll need to let them know so they can get their holidays and tickets sorted.

Get your venues booked asap

Venues get booked up really fast especially if your wedding is being held in the ‘shadi season’. Get a quick look at venues which will accommodate all your needs such as space, convenience, and the most important good food.

Make a to do list

Being the bride, you absolutely need to have your to do list in check. Write down everything you need before the big day, on the actual day and after the days of the wedding. This way you won’t be forgetting anything. Keep updating things as you keep remembering them. Also cross out all tasks you have completed which will help you relieve the stress off your shoulders.

Do a market research of clothing

Doing a market research of the clothes you’re deciding to get made for the actual wedding and the days after that will immensely help you lower down your expenses. Say if you see a design somewhere and it costs a lot of money, try finding a similar design elsewhere at a different price. You can also get replicas made from Liberty Market or Anarkali. Also, don’t get a lot of fancy clothes made for your bari, it will only be a waste of money. Instead buy semi formal or casual outfits which you will be able to wear again and again.

Swap gold for artificial jewellery

Ditch the gold or diamond jewellery for artificial jewellery instead. Trust me, no one can tell the difference if you’re smart enough to know the right place to get your artificial stuff from. They look as good as real stuff.

Relax at your favorite spa

Weddings can be hectic especially for the bride. Many salons and spas offer a variety of bridal services which can help you relax and unwind before your big day. Choose one which fits your budget and makes you feel like the queen you are!

Host family get togethers especially for dance practices

After you’re married, you won’t get to spend the same amount of time with your family like before. Host family get togethers and get your cousins, phupos, chachas, tayas, khalas and all to have fun filled dholaks. Get your playlist ready as well and coordinate dances so you don’t have to worry about the perfect performance on the main day.

Khussas are the most comfortable shoes to have ever existed. They are the desi version of pumps and look oh so chic when worn with eastern wear and even western wear. You can wear khussas to work, to lunches and of course to weddings. They’re the ultimate footwear out there for every occassion! Here’s a list of Pakistani khussa brands you can shop from:

Khussa Mahal

Khussa Mahal have been the pioneers of selling khussa since a long, long time. The place is located in the heart of Lahore, Liberty market in Gulberg. Ask anyone and they would know this shop exists. The place sells various varities of khussas and kolhapuri chapals which you can buy.

From plain khussas to wear everyday to formal embellished ones to wear at shadis, this place is a must to shop from to fulfill your khussa needs.

Red Shoes

Another recent discovery of khussa shops we stumbled upon in Liberty Market just near Khussa Mahal is Red Shoes. Red Shoes has a vast variety of embellished khussas, sling back shoes, kolhapuri chapals and even khussas for little babies and children both girls and boys. Here you can find sequined khussas, khussas with stonework, plain khussas and many other types.

Chapter 13

Chapter 13 is yet another brand which sells it’s stock in Milli shoes, Liberty Market and on it’s online store. Their khussas are designed for the modern woman as they amalgamate chic and trendy patterns on their shoes. They also sell embellished loafers, peshawari chappals, slingback shoes and jewellery. Their shoes are perfect to wear out on casual days, to work and definitely to any shadi.

Jooti Shooti

Possibly one of the most trendiest and colorful khussa retailers out there, Jooti Shooti sells it’s products online through Facebook, Instagram and their website. Their product range includes handpainted khussas, embellished khussas (in sequins, stones, etc), embroidered khussasa wide range of kolhapuri chappals and loafers.

Soma International

Soma International is a Karachi based shoe brand. They sell many unique styles of khussas which include stonework, plain khussas, sequined khussas and many others. You can easily order from them as they follow international standards of shoe sizes so no need to worry about getting the wrong size. The brand delivers all over Pakistan and the best part is you can pay cash on delivery so the hassle of paying beforehand is eased.

Mochari

Mochari sells a mix of traditional and contemporary footwear all of which is handcrafted and made in Pakistan. The designs use stunning pieces of motifs, stones and other various embellishments to adorn the khussas. The brand has really caught the attention of our celebrities with almost everyone owning a unique pair of shoes by them. Mochari stocks at Xinhua Mall in Lahore and Centaurus Mall in Islamabad. You can also order online from their website.

So which local shoe brand are you going to be buying from? Let us know in the comments below.

In this day and age, Pakistanis are still obsessed with looking fair. This obsession stems from a result of post colonialism. Being fair and white automatically meant being priveleged, rich and wealthier than others. Whitening creams and soaps promote the idea of being beautiful and at par with superiorty.

This internalized form of racism is known as Colourism. Colourism is a prejudice or discrimation against individuals with a dark skin tone, typically among people of the same ethnicity. How shocking is that!

Although many believe the quest for looking white, fair and “beautiful” came from the post colonial era, the roots can be traced even earlier to the Hindu Caste system where the upper class, Brahmin enjoyed the luxuries of life while staying indoors and thus were fair; on the other hand, the lowest class Shutras worked hard outdoors thus getting dark skinned.

Priveleges are mostly prefered and are awarded to members of society with lighter skin, while dark-skinned individuals lack privilege.

While colourism made people dislike and develop a hatred to themselves, skin lightening compaines immediately took advantage of this while reaching new heights of success with various creams, soaps and treatments.

But it is extremely sad how many people are unaware of the hazardous effects of these creams. Such products contain chemicals which contribute to epidermal thinning (thinning of the skin), contribute to pigmentation in the long run, skin swelling, hypopigmentation, itchy skin.

The most dangerous ingredient in the creams is that of mercury. Mercury can damage a person’s nerves, reduce brain activity, damage your liver and kidneys. Also anyone who comes in contact with you while you use skin creams which contain mercury can get mercury poisoning through you.

If you’re dusky, you’ll instantly be frowned upon and told to get some whitening treatments done else you won’t find a good rishta or a good job. But if you’re fair skinned and white, you’d be promoted more in a well reputed job or be eligible for good rishtas. It is the case where the color of your skin is an indicator of what you can and should be able to achieve in life.

Although Pakistanis have a sheer hatred towards the West, it is upsetting to see how they are inspired to be more and more like them especially in the choice of skin color.

These same myths about beauty are mirrored in whitening cream ads as well, and contribute to the oppression of women since women cannot reach their full potential when they are busy striving towards impossible, and even unhealthy standards of beauty.

It is indeed upsetting to see even celebrities from our own entertainment industry endorse such products which promote fair and white skin. In the recent past, Sajal Aly, Mawra Hocane, Bilal Ashraf and the likes have been promoters of a fairer and clearer skin.

It is pertinent for us as individuals to love ourselves, no matter what our skin color is. If we do not start doing that today, we would not be accepted by others as well.