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 tricks so that you can enjoy playing Holi, with colour, powder or even plain water, but without letting your skin and hair getting damaged. Girls and brides-to-be should take added precautions to protect their skin.

9 Tips for Skincare & Haircare before you start playing Holi

Here are some do's and dont's to prime your skin, hair and body so that you can enjoy playing Holi while preventing yourself from getting damaged by the chemicals in most commercially available colours or the effect of water play in the bright sunlight or the drying effect of even natural powders.

• Oil your body before play – Apply a layer of moisturizer, preferably oils, on your face and body. Make sure you apply liberally in the sensitive under-eye area. Choose Coconut, Sesame or Almond oils on your body before heading out for a Holi celebration. This will help create a barrier between the skin and colours, it will prevent the skin from getting "dyed" by the colours and it will also make it easier to wash off the colours later.                     
• Shield your skin from the sun - Holi is celebrated during the daytime, which means constant exposure to the sun and colors can harm 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. This will be a 2-in-1 benefit. 

• Cover yourself up – Despite all the coats of of sunscreen or oil, exposure to the sun and colors can be minimised if you wear clothing with long sleeves, full-sleeved tops, kurtas, and pants or churidars to cover your arms and legs so as to protect your skin from direct contact with the colours as much as possible.                                                                                                         
• Eye protection – Try to protect your eyes with specs or sunglasses. Eyes are extremely sensitive and can get injured if the colours are chemical or are likely to sting.                                                                                        
• Never forgot your lips – Lips need special care. Apply a thick layer of lip balm on your lips.             

                                                                             

• Prime your hair and scalp – Coat your hair well using oils like coconut, castor oil, sesame oil, olive oil. Choose the one that best suits you. For extra dry of frizzy hair, apply a thick layer of the Parama Naturals' Multipurpose Butter for Lips and Hair  or the Parama Naturals’ Nourishing Hair Oil on the scalp and hair shafts. This will also keep the head cool while playing in the hot Sun.

                       

• Braid your hair - if you have long hair, you will be least harmed if you braid your hair. This will reduce the surface area of the hair getting affected, and prevent too much colour from getting lodged into the hair.       

                         

• Avoid using harsh or synthetic colours, which can cause harm to your skin. Instead use natural or organic colours made from flowers, flours and herbs. Luckily, nowadays there are several trusted brands in the market-place. You can even try making some at home with natural or simple kitchen ingredients. (See quick recipes below)   

                                              

• 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 Tips after you finish playing:

After a bout of colour play, it is essential to follow these tips to cleanse, soothe and nourish the skin, to counter the drying effect of powders or the damaging effect of any chemical traces which may exist. 

1. Wash off the colours immediately - Cleanse your skin with gentle chemical-free cleansers like scrubs and cold-processed soaps using lukewarm water. Don't scrub the skin too hard while washing off the colours, as this can cause irritation and damage the skin                                       
2. Deep cleanse - If the colours are stubborn, use natural vegetable oils like sesame, coconut, almond or olive oils to remove the colours that get deposited in the pores since most colours and grime are oil soluble and are best removed with vegetable oil, which is chemical-free and pH balanced                                                                                                                
3. Restore skin hydration post wash - Apply a soothing moisturizing oil or aloe vera gel. This will help soothe your skin and keep it hydrated                  
4. Wash your hair and condition them, preferably with oil, since colours can have a drying effect on the hair.                                                                                  
5. Say no to make up                                                                                            

 

 

Additional Post-play Tips for Nails, Neck & Ears during Holi Festival

Playing Holi can leave stubborn stains on your scalp and nails.

• The colorants used in Holi, especially the organic ones, can be tough to remove and harmful to your skin and hair if left unattended.
• To avoid staining, apply a layer of oil or butter, preferably, or even petroleum jelly before playing Holi.
• If you do get stained, here are some tips to remove them: use a toothbrush dipped in toothpaste to scrub off stains from nails and ears, use a shampoo with bleach to lighten stains on the neck, and try using club soda or white vinegar to remove stains from clothes.
• Be gentle while removing stains and avoid scrubbing too hard. This will prevent further damage to your skin and hair.

Additional Tips for Skin-care for All Skin Types

When it comes to dry skin, taking extra care is crucial. We reached out to experts who shared their tips for nourishing dry skin

• For dry skin, apply a thick layer of oil (ideally the Parama Naturals' Turmeric Face & Body Oil  or the Parama Naturals' Multipurpose Butter for Lips and Hair) as a protective shield before stepping out to celebrate to avoid the sun damage.
• After returning, take a shower in cold water to remove the color from your skin. Double cleanse your face thoroughly and use a clay mask or deep cleanse with the non-comedogenic Parama Naturals' Turmeric Face & Body Oil to draw out impurities and maintain the natural glow.
• Post-play use a gentle, moisturizing soap or body wash during bathing.
• Avoid harsh detergents or soaps that can strip natural oils, leaving the skin feeling dry and irritated.
• Next, apply a thick organic skincare product like Parama Naturals' Turmeric Face & Body Oil  or the Parama Naturals' Multipurpose Butter for Lips and Hair in a circular motion moisturizer immediately after bathing while the skin is still damp. This helps seal in moisture, remove dead skin cells, and keep the skin hydrated

By following these tips, you can give your dry skin the extra care and attention it deserves.

Additional Tips for Skin-care for Oily Skin

 

• For oily or acne-prone skin and combination skin, apply a thick layer of oil (ideally the Parama Naturals' Turmeric Face & Body Oil  or the Parama Naturals' Multipurpose Butter for Lips and Hair) as a protective shield before stepping out to celebrate to avoid the sun damage.
• After returning, take a shower in cold water to remove the color from your skin. Double cleanse your face thoroughly and use a clay mask or deep cleanse with the non-comedogenic Parama Naturals' Turmeric Face & Body Oil to draw out impurities and maintain the natural glow.
• Finally, post wash, re-apply an oil control moisturizer like Parama Naturals' Turmeric Face & Body Oil on your face and a light, nourishing body cream all over your body to complete the routine for maintaining the healthy skin.

By following these steps, you can protect your skin and keep it healthy during the festive season.

 

Sensitive Skin Care Tips for a Safe Holi Celebration

• To take care of sensitive skin conditions, it is important to be mindful of the products you use, especially when it comes to cleansers.
• Avoid harsh chemical exfoliants and detergents that can strip your skin of natural oils, dull skin and irritated skin.
• Instead, opt for a soap-free cleanser specifically designed for sensitive skin health. Warm water baths can also be detrimental to sensitive skin, as they can dry out your skin.
• Consider taking short, lukewarm water showers instead.
• To combat dryness and itchiness after playing Holi, make sure to have moisturizer on hand at all times.
• Applying moisturizer can help hydrate your skin and restore its natural barrier.

 

QUICK TIPS FOR MAKING NATURAL, SAFE HOLI COLOURS AT HOME

Everyone should learn how to be their own skin care expert. Considering how harmful the artificial colors are, it is best to use only natural colours. One can easily make colors at home with natural food grade ingredients, which are safe. They are the best option to prevent skin damage. 

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.

You can also get colors from dried and crushed flowers. For colored water, you can use turmeric water, beetroot water and infusions of Palash (flame of the forest) flowers. 

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 your skin from getting damaged but never stop celebrating.

Have a safe colorful Holi!

Read: 9 Days of Navratri Devi Names