How To Take Care Of My Hair & Skin During Holi?

Introduction

Holi is unequivocally the most colourful, vibrant and cheerful festival not just in India but around the globe. Traditionally Holi was celebrated with dry gulal and buckets of water. Unfortunately, today it comes with splashes of synthetic pigments, the after-effects of which not only causes discomfort to our skin, hair, eyes but also can be hazardous to our health. Hence, being a little precautious goes a long way. Along with all the Holi party fun, it’s also important to care for your skin during the celebration. So, before you step out for Holi this year, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Pre-Holi Skin & Hair Care Tips

Oil is your best friend. Apply oil on your face and the exposed parts of the skin or areas of your body that would come in contact with the colour. You can use coconut oil or almond oil, which will help protect your skin from colours. A day before Holi, apply body oil all over your body and massage it into the skin. This not only hydrates your skin but also ensures that less colour is absorbed the next day. In addition, you can also oil your hair to form a protective shield on the strands. Apply oil generously all over the body. Do not forget the smaller areas like the earlobes, nail crevices and skin behind the ears.

Don’ts:

• It’s advisable to avoid any therapies like facials, bleaching, waxing, threading, peels or laser treatment, the week before.
• Avoid saunas or being out in the sun for long durations or exfoliating treatment up to two days before.
• Do not keep your hair open while playing Holi you can rather go for a braided ponytail, wear head bandanas to protect your hair.
• Do not shampoo your hair a day prior as it may strip off the natural oils and leave your hair drier after playing Holi.
• Don’t forget to apply sunscreen (gel-based, waterproof and SPF 25) after oiling your body. If you’re in the sun for more than 4 hours, remember to re-apply the sunscreen.
• Don’t stay longer in ‘Wet Clothes’ – Make sure you don’t stay in wet clothes for too long.

Try to avoid shampooing your hair right after playing Holi. Instead, apply a hair mask and leave it for 45 minutes before shampooing. This will help remove the colours and reduce any damage. Hair oil like almond or coconut is helpful to apply before going out to play.

Dr. Ashish Bajaj, M.B.B.S., M.D. in Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology

Do’s:

• Hydrate the skin well. Chemicals used in Holi colours tend to dehydrate the skin. Use a hydrating overnight sleeping mask the night before.
• Oil your hair as it creates a protective layer. Dry hair can absorb more colours.
• You can also use a leave-in serum or conditioner on the hair ends.
• To prevent staining your skin, coat your hands and nails with petroleum jelly.
• Do put in barriers like using long-sleeved tees, floor-length dresses, sunglasses to protect colour from going into the eyes.
• If you have a sensitive scalp, apply a few drops of lemon juice. The citrus fruit will help to protect your scalp from any infection triggered by the toxic colors.
• Beware of Cuts and wounds – If you hurt yourself while playing Holi, wash the area immediately and apply ice on it. Clean with antibacterial lotion to avoid absorption of chemicals.

Use of Natural Colours and PROPER GENTLE TIMELY CLEANSING is very important. Post cleansing adequate moisturization is very important as well.

Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD(Pediatrics)

Post Holi Skin & Hair Care Tips:

It’s best to remove colours when it’s wet, as it is difficult to remove them once they’ve dried. Take a shower as soon as you reach home.  Use a gentle face wash and body wash and gently scrub the skin with a loofah to get rid of the color. Use a clarifying shampoo to rinse color from hair. After the shampoo, apply conditioner along with the length of hair. Leave it on for a couple of minutes and rinse with cold water. Use colour protect conditioner for color-treated hair. While removing colors, don’t rub your skin vigorously, this can cause more damage to your skin. Instead, use oil to remove colors gently. After you shower, don’t forget to apply nourishing body lotion and face moisturizer as the skin tends to become dry due to excess colour and sun exposure. If you find your skin breaking out mildly, apply Aloe-Vera gel or Lacto-Calamine lotion which have anti-inflammatory properties that help soothe the skin. Take an anti-allergy medicine, but if the rash doesn’t subside in a day, visit a dermatologist without further delay. Get a facial done only a week after, provided you don’t have any skin trouble or issues.

Protecting your skin and hair during Holi requires you to follow all the pre and post-care tips as well as the do’s and don’ts mentioned above. It’s always a good idea to use more water and flower petals and less colour. If you have to use colour, go organic or use natural colours like haldi, beetroot juice and organic gulal.

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

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