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Africa’s most active Googlers look for DIY beauty remedies, asking, for example, what olive oil and honey, applied topically, can do for the skin. Extra-virgin olive oil doubles as a skin-soothing makeup remover and a body moisturizer, while honey, when used as a mask, can have hydrating and antimicrobial benefits.

TOP QUESTION: « How can I make hair feel soft? »

Elle Magazine answers: Parched or broken strands feel less soft to the touch than well-hydrated, nondamaged hair, advises hairstylist Tippi Shorter, Aveda global artistic director for textured hair, who has worked with Beyoncé and Alicia Keys. Straight hair follicles have a round, tubular shape, while textured, curly strands are « kidney shaped, » and therefore « more prone to damage and injury, » requiring more conditioning than other hair types, says hair-growth expert Alan J. Bauman, MD, who recommends using a heavy, lipid-rich conditioner every time you get your hair wet. « If you don’t, you’re putting hair at major risk for breakage, » he says. For ultrasoft hair, Shorter takes it one step further, prescribing regular (daily, if your hair needs extra TLC; weekly, if you’re in good shape) 10-minute deep-conditioning treatments: Massage a rich, shea-butter-based conditioning mask through hair and pop on a shower cap. « Get a hand towel, dampen it, and put it in the microwave for 20 seconds, and then wrap it around your head » over the cap, Shorter says. « The towel produces heat and steam inside of your cap, which helps to open the cuticle, allowing the mask to fully penetrate the hair strand and further soften hair. »

Other question around the world: Elle Magazine