PROTECT YOUR SKIN & HAIR FROM THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF HOLI COLOURS

Holi is one of the most popular festivals in India. It's an ancient Hindu festival celebrated in almost every region in the country. It is also known as the ‘festival of spring’ or the ‘festival of love. The most fun part of the festival is, of course, the colours. Holi colours were made using natural dyes from plants and flowers in olden times, providing beneficial effects.

Damage caused by Holi colours

Nowadays, the Holi colours contain several artificial chemicals and harmful substances like lead, asbestosis, silica, powdered glass, toxic engine oils, etc. The longer the colours stay on the skin and hair or the greater the amount used, the more extensive the damage.

Synthetic Holi colours are commonly made using industrial dyes that are often cheaper. These dyes are not developed for use in humans. These Holi colours are made of using cheap, toxic substances which can be dangerous to our health. They can result from the mildest to very severe health conditions. 

The mildest forms of side effects that can occur after using Holi colours are

• Itching
• Irritation
• Redness
• Puffiness
• Hair roughness
• Eye conditions
• Other skin and scalp allergies

They can also cause some serious conditions as a result of using high quantities of synthetic Holi colours such as poisoning, impaired vision, breathing problems, cancer, damage to the kidneys, liver, lungs, etc. Rarely, they may cause temporary blindness or even skin cancer. These risks increase when the Holi colours are mixed with toxic oils and fluids and applied to the skin.

How to protect your hair and skin from Holi colours

First, it is essential to have more information on the kind of Holi colours being used. If there is no way of knowing how they were made, it is always better to be prepared with a good Holi skincare to protect your skin from the potentially harmful ingredients. Haircare in Holi is just as important.

What to apply on skin before playing Holi

Pre-holi skincare tips

Most of the immediate effects of Holi colours are seen on the skin. It is common to experience itching, puffiness, burning sensation, dryness, flakiness, etc., especially if you have sensitive skin.

Pre-Holi skincare is important. A few things you can do to protect your skin before playing with Holi colours are given below:

• Apply oil to your entire body the night before Holi. The skin soaks in all the oil and remains hydrated the next day. Consequently, it absorbs less dye. Any oil available in your home—coconut oil, olive oil, or almond oil—serves the purpose.
• If you forget to apply oil the day before, using it half an hour before you start playing with the colours does the trick as well. Alternatively, you can apply a good body lotion. 
• It is also imperative to use a sunscreen lotion with high SPF. Apply it 15 to 30 minutes before going out to ensure maximum protection from sunlight.
• Apply Vaseline on lips, eyes, fingers, and nails for protection from chemicals.

Post-Holi Skin Care Tips

After you are done playing with Holi colours, try to remove them from your skin as soon as possible. Post Holi skincare routine includes the following tips.

• Use a mild soap. Soaps high in pH can be rough on the skin, causing damage and dryness, especially since you may need soap multiple times.
• Use lukewarm water. It helps dissolve the dyes quicker than cold water. 
• Soaps with soothing ingredients like aloe vera or green tea can prevent any skin irritation, rashes, itching, etc.
• Homemade or store-bought face packs can help moisturise, soothe, and restore natural balance to your facial skin.

How to protect your hair from Holi colours

Pre-Holi Hair Care Tips

Taking measures to have hair care in Holi is equally important. It is even more critical if you have sensitive/problematic scalp, damaged hair, or had issues with hair and scalp earlier. Here are a few things you can do to protect your hair:

• When applying oil to the skin the night before or the morning of Holi, oil the scalp and hair as well. Oils moisturise the hair and prevent dryness. They also make it easy to wash off the Holi colours. The same oil can be used for hair and skin.
• Serums and leave-in conditioners also work well to protect the hair from damage.
• If you have long hair, it is recommended to tie it up. Leaving it loose exposes it to more colours and more damage.

Post-Holi Hair Care Tips

As done for the skin, the sooner you clean your hair, the better. Here are a few things you can do post-Holi haircare for your hair.

• If your hair has any remnants of the Holi colours or is dry, use fingers or a comb to remove all residue.
• Use a nourishing shampoo that is also good at cleaning the scalp. You may need to shampoo a couple of times to completely rinse off the Holi colours. 
• If your hair feels damaged, use hair packs that contain moisturising and strengthening ingredients. They also make cleaning your hair easy afterwards. 
• Check the overall condition of the hair after shampooing. If it continues to feel dry, apply hair oil to the entire length and wash it off in the next couple of days.