Excitement for the colorful celebration that lies ahead permeates the air as the vivid holiday of Holi draws near. But even with all the festive planning, it’s important to remember health and safety first, so that the celebrations are fun without sacrificing wellbeing. However, some hues are quite dangerous and can even cause cancer. Individuals who participate in Holi or work with colours often experience allergic responses, asthma attacks, conjunctivitis, and visual impairment.
How to prepare your skin and hair for holi?
Here are few tips so that you can enjoy this vibrant festival without much hassle
1.First of all stay hydrated. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day to keep your skin hydrated from the inside out. Cocount water, lemon water are ideal for the day.
2.Apply a generous dose of SPF before heading outside. Wear sunscreen daily to protect your skin from harmful UV rays that can cause premature aging and damage. On the day of Holi, make sure you only use products with high levels of SPF and Vitamin E. They’ll erect a shield to block UV radiation.
3.Before you begin playing, make sure your hair is well oiled. Olive and coconut oils are good choices for shielding your hair from strong colouring.
4.Use a lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated without clogging pores.
5.Use oil on your nails, ear lobes, and behind your ears as well, as these are areas where the colour tends to settle more easily.
6.After playing Holi, especially if you used chemical colours, stay out of the scorching sun while the colours are still on your body or face. As a result, the colours are more vibrant and challenging to remove. If you are outside, choose a shaded spot to sit.
7.Make greater use of colours that are easily removed, such as red and pink. Vibrant colours like orange, yellow, green, and purple contain more dangerous compounds and therefore to be avoided.
8.Remember to apply waterproof sunscreen with at least SPF 30 or higher before spending a day in the sun.
9.Dress mostly in coverings for your body. Avoid bulky, difficult-to-dry materials like denim.
10.Use a bandana or thick scarf to cover your head.
11.Avoid wearing lenses when playing outside. Although the colours of Holi are irritating, lenses tend to absorb the colour, making the situation worse. Put on spectacles and make sure you clean them occasionally.
12. Get a quality sleep before holi. Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleepprevious night to allow your skin time to repair and regenerate.
13.Consult a skin care expert if you’re struggling with persistent acne or skin issues.
How to remove color afterwards:
1.After washing, hair needs to be deeply conditioned in order to remove colour. Ensure that your hair is tidy. After two to three days, use a hair mask to repair the damage.
2.It’s crucial to wash your face and hair after experimenting with colour. Use a cleanser rather than roughly rubbing the skin with soaps to wipe the face of gulal. Apply a tonne of moisturiser after this, paying special attention to products designed for sensitive skin.
3.Refrain from using your fingernails to remove colour since they will leave ugly stains. To remove the colours, gently scrub the face and body with granulated sugar.
4.The week after, refrain from bleaching, shaving, waxing, and getting a facial or clean-up. Allow your body and skin some time to heal from the injury.
5.To remove stains, stay away from using kerosene, petrol and spirits as they will cause your skin to become dry.
6. Use a solution of sea salt, glycerine, and a few drops of fragrance oil to rejuvenate your skin. This mixture has antibacterial and antifungal properties and can also remove artificial colouring.
The author is a Cosmetologist, Skin Expert and Co-Founder at Abhivrit Aesthetics.
