Holi 2021: How To Keep Your Hair And Skin Safe

HYDERABAD: Holi the festival of colours is one of the most favourite festivals of all age groups. The colours have a lasting impact on the mind, mood as well as skin and hair. Following rituals and taking small precautions can help you prevent damage to hair and skin, letting you enjoy without being worried about post-Holi rashes, dryness, irritation of the skin, dry lusterless hair, acne breakouts, burning, and red scaly skin.

Pre-Holi preparation:  For starters avoid bleaching or waxing or getting a facial done one week before.

On the day of Holi apply a thick coat of oil or petroleum jelly or cold cream on your skin; do not forget the lips, areas behind the ears, and the navel.

Oil your hair and for the guys' oil your beard liberally.

Sunscreen should be applied in generous amounts on all sun-exposed areas, 30 minutes before going out in the sun, and repeat every 3 hours if you are outdoors.

Cover yourself with long sleeve clothes if you can. But we know that's a little difficult as the days are already hot and no one wants to hang out in long and loose clothes! 

Nail polish is a good idea to protect nails from Holi colours, that stain them 

Prefer playing with dry colours and those that are certified 'safe'.

Avoid colours that are actually golden and silver and the dreaded pink gulaal powder which is quite difficult to remove later on.

If you are using wet colours, opt for organic colours which can be made at home.

Wash your skin immediately after you see the first sign of irritation or itching.

Keep the moisturizer handy as applying moisturizer immediately reduces irritation, and the coat of moisturizer protects the topmost layer of the skin from irritants in the colours.

Keep yourself hydrated, drinking water ensures that the deeper layers of skin are nourished Avoid consuming too much alcohol .

Post Holi cleansing ritual: Take a bath while the colour is still wet.

Soaps vs. cleansers vs. ubtan - ubtan-like packs made of earthen clay (Multani Mitti) or a combination of Wheat flour, Curd, Haldi can be applied all over the body to remove the color.

This ensures the skin doesn't get too dry as against using the soap, as its detergent action might dry-out the skin. Lukewarm water always helps. Use cleansing milk and lukewarm water must be used on the face, as second wash after using the Ubtan.

Do not scrub, remove the Ubtan while it is still wet, this is especially important for those with acne-prone facial and truncal (chest and back) skin.

Shampooing is necessary to clean the scalp and conditioner will help condition and moisten the hair, preventing them from getting frizzy.

You can also apply a combination of sea salt, Glycerin and any aromatic oil to remove the colour.

Post bath: Liberally apply moisturizer for the skin, and serum for hair, hand and foot cream should also be used specifically because these areas have maximum contact with the colour.

That's it, folks... You're all ready for the riot of the splash of colours 

And last but not least avoid wastage of water if you can.