Holi-the festival of colors is one of the most favorite festivals among all age groups. The colours have a lasting impact on mind, mood as well as skin and hair. Following rituals and following small steps can help preventing damage to hair and skin, letting you enjoy without being worried about post-Holi rash, dryness, irritation of the skin, dry lusterless hair, acne breakouts, burning, red scaly skin etc. Here’s what will help you prep better:
Pre-Holi preparation:
Avoid bleaching or waxing or doing facial one week before and after Holi
Apply 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 & beard too, liberal use is advised
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
Nail polish is a good idea to protect nails from Holi colors, that stain them Blue and Green
During Holi:
Prefer playing with dry colors and those that are certified ‘safe’, if using wet colours wet colors
Opt for organic colors
Avoid colors which are actually Golden& Silver paints
Wash your skin immediately after you see the 1st sign of irritation or itching
Keep the moisturizer handy, applying moisturizer immediately reduces irritation, and the coat of moisturizer protects topmost layer of the skin from irritants in the colors
Keep yourself hydrated, drinking water ensures that the deeper layers of skin are nourished
Avoid consuming too much alcohol
Post Holi cleaning ritual:
Take a bath while the color 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 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 & lukewarm water must be used on the face, as second wash after using the Ubtan
You can also apply a combination of sea salt, Glycerin, and aromatic oil to remove the color
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
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Shampooing is necessary to clean the scalp and conditioner will help condition and moisten the hair, preventing them from getting frizzy
Post bath:
Liberally apply moisturizer for the skin, and serum for hair
Hand & foot cream should also be used specifically because these areas have maximum contact with color
(Disclaimer: The writer is Dr Smriti Naswa Singh, Consultant Dermatologist, Fortis Hospital, Mulund. Views expressed are a personal opinion.)
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