Holi- the festival of colour is a time for everyone to enjoy, however, the colour can be damaging for the skin and hair. To avoid any kind of skin emergency later, it is best to take some precautionary measures to enjoy the festival to the fullest. Renowned aesthetic physician, author, and founder of SkinLab, Dr. Jamuna Pai, has addressed these commonly faced problems with simple solutions to help enjoy the festivities.
PRIOR TO HOLI:
- Avoid facials, waxing or threading or laser treatments in the week preceding Holi. Do not undergo any skin peeling treatment.
- We all know that colours, dry as well as wet, can harm the skin and can cause skin allergies, rashes, redness due to the toxic content in them. They can also flare up existing allergies.
- Even dandruff and acne can worsen and cause chronic itching for days after Holi. If you have an existing skin condition like a rash or acne, for instance, it is better to visit a dermatologist in advance to control the symptoms.
ON HOLI:
- Hair exposed to colour can become dull, dry and brittle due to the presence of synthetic dyes in the colours.
- Apply a good amount of oil/conditioner on your hair. Make a small bun of your hair once you are done with oiling.
- You can cover your hair with a dupatta/bandana which will not just offer protection but add a style quotient too.
- To protect your body skin from colour, wear clothes that cover most body parts. Apply oil liberally all over your body prior to exposure to the colours as it will form a protective barrier between the skin and the colour. You can use almond or coconut oil as they are thick in texture. Thus the damage will be lessened.
- Use sunscreen generously on all exposed areas of your body to further protect your skin from the damage caused by the colours.
- People with sensitive skin and acne prone skin should ideally not be playing with colour. If you do want to revel in the festivities, then I would advise to opt for natural non-toxic colour.
- Apply an oil-free moisturising cream on the face before playing with the colour.
- People with normal or combination skin can apply a waterproof sunscreen on their face along with a drop of baby oil mixed in it. This will act as a barrier and protect the skin.
AFTER HOLI
- Remove the holi colours from skin and hair as soon as possible. It is advisable to remove them off whilst they are still wet.
- Dry colours are tough to come off. If these colours do not come off in the first wash, rub warm olive oil and lemon juice generously over skin, leave for an hour and bathe again.
- Do not use kerosene, petrol or spirit to remove stains as this will further dry the skin.
- Do not rub harshly to take off the stain left behind by the colour. You will damage your skin further. The stains will eventually get lighter with every wash.
- For people with a sensitive skin, it is best to use a cleansing milk to gently take off the colour rather than using soap as the latter will further dry the skin.
- For the body, you can use a gentle body wash with a loofah. After bath apply moisturiser as that will help soothe the skin and further lighten the colour too.
- How you take care of skin and hair before they come in contact with the colour, likewise take care of your hands and feet too. A coat of paint applied on your nails before Holi, both on fingers and toes, will help prevent the colour from staining your nails. Pay extra attention to the cuticles as that is where the stains stay for the longest period.
- After you have washed the colour off, apply hand and feet lotion. You can treat yourself to a manicure and pedicure the following day to exfoliate the skin and moisturise it as well.
- Rinse the hair with plenty of water to remove the excess colour. Follow it up with mild shampoo to remove the colour. Avoid using very hot water.
- To ensure that the hair is not left dry and damaged, apply a soothing hair mask on towel dried hair for 10 minutes. Rinse it off with cold water and rub in hair serum on the hair shafts.
- In case of any minor rash apply Lacto calamine lotion to soothe the skin. Avoid sunlight in case the skin is seriously affected as it will increase the irritation. You can take an anti-allergic tablet to calm the skin irritation. If it does not settle within 24 hours, it is best to visit a dermatologist.
A WEEK AFTER HOLI
- Once the colour has faded a little, you should get a facial done to hydrate and moisturise the skin. It will help undo the damage done and help you get back the non-Holi look.
- Use natural hair masks once a week before washing your hair. Aloe vera gel, curd or olive oil with an egg can be used for the same. A hair spa will also help you tame the dry rough and frizzy hair.
