A day in the sun with your loved ones and a whole lot of colour sounds fun. But gulal and other colours — unless you're using the eco-friendly ones — are not derived from natural sources.
They contain chemicals, particles of mica and even lead, which harm your skin and accumulate on your scalp. Moreover, exposure to sun tans the skin and makes it dry due to depletion of moisture. So, don't let this Holi end on a sour note with skin and hair woes. We give you a checklist of things to do before and after rang barse... to keep your skin and hair looking clean and fresh.
POST-HOLI ROUTINE After-care post your Holi celebrations is important. Keep away from any harsh treatments for your skin and hair.
SKIN
Do not wash your face with soap immediately, because soap is alkaline and causes further dryness. Scrubbing is a strict no-no too, as your skin isn't ready for exfoliation at this stage; it needs to be treated gently. So, use a cleansing cream or lotion. Apply and massage it on the face. Then wipe off with a moist cotton ball. Also, gently cleanse the area around the eyes with a cleansing gel or a make-up remover. This will dissolve the colours and facilitate their removal. It will help seal in moisture too. If you're experiencing any kind of redness, rashes or irritation, an ice pack will take care of it. After icing, apply a gentle moistur iser - a must-do for dry skin.
Tip: If you have sesame seed (til) oil in your kitchen, you can use it to remove colours from the body and counteract sun damage.
HAIR Rinse your hair with plenty of plain water to wash away the dry colours and tiny particles of mica. Then, apply a mild herbal shampoo, specially made for dry hair. Massage the scalp gently and rinse thoroughly with water again. In a mug, add lemon juice and water and use this as the last rinse. This will help to restore the acid-alkaline balance of the scalp. Follow up with a regular conditioner.
Beer can also be used as the last rinse. In fact, it will soften and condition your hair. Add lemon juice to beer and pour the mixture all over your hair after shampooing. Leave on for a few minutes and rinse off with plain water.
If you're experiencing an itchy scalp, add two tbsp of vinegar to a mug with little water and use it as the last rinse. This will reduce the itching. However, if the itching continues and causes redness, it may be a sign of allergy. Consult a doctor at the earliest.
GIVE YOUR HAIR A NOURISHING TREATMENT
What you'll need: Pure coconut oil: 1 tbsp and Castor oil: 1 tsp
Method: Mix the above mentioned oils. Heat and apply on the hair. Dip a towel in hot water, squeeze out the water and wrap the hot towel around the head, like a turban. Leave it on for five minutes. Repeat the hot towel wrap procedure three or four times. This will help the hair and scalp absorb the oil better. Wash your hair after an hour.
TO MAKE YOUR OWN HAIR MASK What you'll need: Henna powder: (depending on the length of your hair), Lemon juice: 4 tsp, Coffee: 4 tsp, Egg yolks: 2 eggs, Olive oil: 2 tsp and Curd: enough to mix into a paste.
Method: Apply on the hair and wash your hair after an hour.
Inputs by beauty expert Shahnaz Hussain
MAKE YOUR OWN SKIN CLEANSER What you'll need: Cold milk: ½ cup, Til/Olive/Sunflower oil: 1 tsp
Method: Mix the above ingredients. Dip cotton wool into this mixture and use it to cleanse the skin.
MAKE YOUR OWN FACE MASK
The day after Holi, you may have to deal with the effects of sun exposure, like dryness or tanned skin. Applying a homemade face mask will work wonders on your skin.
What you'll need: Honey: 2 tbsp, Curd: ½ cup, Turmeric: ½ pinch
Method: Mix the above ingredients in a bowl. Blend the mixture well. Apply this on the face, neck and arms. Leave it on for 20 minutes and wash off with water. Honey will soften the skin, while curd will nourish and restore the normal acidalkaline balance. It will also remove tan.
PRE-HOLI ROUTINE Add a protective layer on your skin and hair to keep the colour from seeping in. For the same, go for simple ingredients that are gentle and effective.
SKIN
Don't allow the colours to touch your bare skin. A thick layer of sunscreen on your body, as well as face, will help you do this. Use a sunscreen of SPF 20 or more. If your skin is prone to pigmented patches, select one with a higher SPF. Most sunscreens have built-in moisturisers. If your skin is very dry, first slather the sunblock, wait for a few minutes and then apply a moisturiser. Apply the sunblock at least 15-20 minutes before you head out. The SPF keeps the sun from harming you and the moisturiser protects your skin from drying chemicals in the colours.
HAIR
Coat your hair with a generous amount of nourishing oil. You can choose between almond oil and olive oil. Or apply a protective, leave-in conditioner or hair serum. They form a layer over your hair and protect it from chemicals in colours, pollutants and sunlight. They also add shine to your mane.
NAILS
To avoid your manicured nails from getting ruined, coat them with a vitamin E-enriched base coat. Also, drench your cuticles in cuticle oil to avoid them from soaking up the colours. You can also paint your nails with multiple coats of nail polish.
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