How to celebrate a chemical-free Holi

A. HOLI SKIN CARE

         Holi is one of the Indian’s most awaited festivals. It celebrates the arrival of spring, and it signifies the triumph of good over evil. Indians and some of Asian countries people celebrate Holi by throwing colourful powders (gulaal) or drenching everyone with colored or plain water which is the most fun activity, loaded with laughter and shrieks. While it can be a lot of fun to play with colour and water, it is important to take precautions because holi fun can often have harmful effects on the skin, hair or eyes.

Here are some tips and precautions for playing with colour but without letting your skin and hair getting damaged by harmful colors.

9 Pre-Holi skin care tips:

1. Tuck loads of oil on your body – Apply a layer of moisturizer on your skin, but the best and most protective ones are oils. Choose Coconut, Sesame or Almond oils on your body before heading out for a Holi celebration. 
2. Shield your skin - Apply sunscreen for at least 20 minutes before going out in the sun to play. If you want to avoid chemicals, then instead of sunscreen, use turmeric oil with turmeric and sesame oil which have natural mild sun-screening and sun-protection properties
3. Layer yourself up – Wear full sleeved tops, kurta and pants, churidar to cover up as much as skin as possible.
4. Under eye protection – Apply Coconut oil or Almond oil beneath your eyes and try to protect them with sun glasses.
5. Never forgot your lips – Lips need special care. Apply thick layer of lip balm on your lips.
6. Prime your hair – Coat your hair well using coconut based oil. You can use other oils like castor oil, sesame oil, olive oil. Choose the best suits you.
7. Braid your hair.
8. Nowadays so many organic colors are available in market, have a try. Or try making some at home with natural or simple kitchen ingredients.
9. Increase fluid intake – Keep yourself hydrated by drinking lots of liquids, like juices, glucose or plain water, to prevent yourself getting hit by the sun when you play outdoors

5 Post-Holi skin care tips:

1. Cleanse your skin with gentle cleansers like chemical-free cleansers like scrubs and cold-processed soaps
2. Deep cleanse with natural vegetable oils like sesame, coconut, almond or olive oils
3. Restore skin hydration with post shower oils
4. Moisturize and condition those tresses
5. Say no to make up

B. HOW TO MAKE NATURAL & FOOD-GRADE HOLI COLOURS

Considering how harmful the artificial colors are, it is best to make colors at home with natural food grade ingredients, which are safe.

Here are some simple recipes for homemade colors.

Yellow: You can mix turmeric and rice/ corn flour for yellow colors.

Red: You can mix turmeric, choona (lime-calcium hydroxide) water and rice/ corn flour for red color

Green: Take some hibiscus/ neem leaves and let them dry, later crushes them and add rice/ corn flour for green color.

         Along with them you can get colors from dried and crushed flowers. For color water you can use turmeric water, beetroot water and infusions of Palash (flame of the forest) flowers. Homemade safe colors are the best option to prevent skin damage. Everyone should learn how to be their own skin care export.

         Holi is the day to express love with colors. It’s time to show all of your love and affection to your friends and family. Stop being damaged but never stop celebrating. Have a safe colorful Holi.