Holi, the festival we all have been waiting for is just round the corner. We are set to get smeared in rich and vibrant hues. But keeping aside all the fun, it can really take a toll on your skin. Here are a few tips than can really help you to protect your hair and skin from the chemicals present in colours.

∙ Most importantly before getting all stained in colour make sure you are applying lots of sunscreen which is SPF 20 and above. If your skin is prone to pigmented patches, select one with a higher SPF. For dry skin, first apply a sunscreen, wait for a few minutes and then apply a moisturizer or oil.

∙ Washing off the dry colour from the skin is very important. In doing so, you have to get rid of the colours by dusting them off, followed by wiping the colour off with a wet tissue or face wipes. Later, apply cream or oil and then wash it off with mild face wash and again apply good amount of cream or baby oil because dry colours tend to make our skin really dry so the baby oil and cream helps in keeping the skin hydrated.

∙ Post Holi we often are in a hurry to get the colours removed and we end up torturing our hair and skin causing more damage. To clean our hair post Holi, we should use a natural cleansing shampoo without Paraben and SLS or a baby shampoo because they are completely free of these harmful chemicals.

∙ Say Yes to makeup this Holi. A layer of waterproof makeup on skin will always protect your skin from the harsh colours and it will also make sure that the colour doesn’t stick to your skin. For your lips, slather on a good quality long stay lipstick or a balm. If you do not like dark shades, go for a natural shade lip colour.

∙ Try to remember how ugly your nails looked last year post Holi, so make sure you dip your nails in olive oil and paint them with a double coat so that your beautiful nails are stain free.

∙ Try to wear covered clothes to protect more skin from being exposed and damaged.

∙ Time to chop off the spilt ends as the colours make our hair really dry. This in turn will make the hair split more.

∙ To discourage hair fall due to harsh chemicals in colours, nourish your hair with almond oil and olive oil every night. You can also soak fenugreek seeds in 2-4 tsp of curd and apply it like a mask on your scalp. Keep for 30 minutes and then wash off with a Paraben& SLS free shampoo. Lastly apply oil mixed with a few drops for vinegar to your hair.

Never treat your stained skin like your stained clothes: After the fun-filled Holi, you have to be calm to make your skin retain its original flair.

Happy Holi!

About the author- Dr. Amitava Sarkar
President – Gourmet Services
Happymate Foods Limited