Prepare to step into a world filled with colourful powders, water balloons, delicious food and rocking music that sets your soul ablaze! Yes, folks, it's time for the festival of colours - Holi. It is undoubtedly one of the most awaited celebrations in India. With water balloons, pichkari shots, and loads of gulal around the corner, we can't wait to celebrate. The joyous occasion brings people together to soak up each other's vibe with dance and laughter. The excitement and enthusiasm in the air are contagious, but amidst all this merriment, your skin and hair become vulnerable to damage.
Before you jump onto a blissful ride of colours and festivity with your friends and family, it's important to
prep your skin and hair for the fun. From harsh
chemicals to added colours, it can take a toll on your beauty game if proper precautions aren't taken. While the festival brings a lot of excitement and good food vibes, nobody wants rashes or hair damage to spoil their festive
mood.
So should you stop enjoying and just celebrate the festival of colours with Holi wishes? Naah, why compromise when you can have both – enjoy the festivities without compromising on your skin or hair health? In this blog, we’ll
share top tips on how to prep your skin and hair for a safe & happy Holi celebration that will keep you looking vibrant throughout the celebrations.
The Holi special care begins before the day of the celebration. Here are some Before-holi skin care tips that will help you enjoy the festival without any worries:
Applying oil liberally on the hair and body creates a protective layer that doesn’t allow toxic colours to penetrate the skin. Oil can also help in the easy removal of colours.
The oil keeps the scalp & skin hydrated and keeps dryness at bay. Dry skin is more prone to damage caused by toxic chemicals. And also, it becomes difficult to wash off colours from the dry skin.
The best oils recommended for pre-Holi application are almond oil and coconut oil.
You shouldn’t opt for any skincare treatment like facial, clean-up, laser hair removal and others at least a week before. Exfoliating treatments should especially be avoided. After these treatments, the skin becomes sensitive for a few days and can easily get infections, itchiness and allergies from synthetic colours.
Cover up as much as possible when playing with colours. Wear loose, comfortable clothing that hides your maximum body. Wear long sleeves and pants made from natural fabrics like cotton. This will help protect your skin from direct contact with colour powders and water.
Apply light sunscreen before going out to play with colours. This will help to protect your skin from the harmful UV rays of the sun.
Your lips are very sensitive and can get easily sunburned or chapped during Holi festivities. Apply a layer of petroleum jelly or beeswax before stepping out to protect your lips from harmful UV rays. If you don’t have either of these two, then oil will also do the task. Reapply often to keep them moisturised.
Pack your hair in a bun or a nice braid. This will prevent your hair from soaking up too much colour and becoming dry and brittle.
Holi colours, filled with chemicals can settle in every corner and cuticle surrounding your nail. This could be very dangerous as they can enter your body through food. To remove it, paint your nails beforehand with clear polish so they can be easily removed with nail paint remover.
You can also choose darker shades like red, black or blue to protect nails from colour staining.
Just because the festival of colours is over, doesn’t mean your skin and hair care regimen should be put on the back burner. In fact, After-holi skin and hair care are just as important as pre-holi prep! Here are a few tips to help you get your glow back after a fun-filled day of celebrating.
After you have had fun, your skin and hair need to breathe. So the first thing you should do immediately right after your holi party is completed is to cleanse your body. Use a gentle body wash or bathing bar and shampoo to remove all the colours, dirt and oil from your skin. Do not rub harshly as that can strip away the natural oils from your skin, leaving it drier and irritated.
Your hair must be experiencing immense dryness and damage after the colour party. As soon as you wash off colours from the scalp and hair, follow up with a deep conditioning treatment to rehydrate and repair damage. Use a hydrating hair conditioner to replenish lost moisture and nutrients in your hair.
You should also apply a hair mask on the next day or after a few days to get back the old health.
Skin will be feeling dry and sensitive after a long day of being covered in colour and water. After cleansing immediately apply a generous amount of moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated and soft. If you have dry skin, opt for a thicker cream moisturizer. A hydrating formula will help replenish the lost moisture from your skin. In case of oily or normal skin, be sure to apply a rich body butter or lotion all over your skin, paying extra attention to any areas that feel especially dry or tight.
After your skin has undergone immense chemicals and cleaning, it might have developed some dead skin cells. To get rid of dead skin, exfoliate with a nourishing scrub within a week. You can try fruit-based scrubs for fruity and fragrant exfoliation.
Holi is a colourful occasion celebrated by people from all walks of life in India. To ensure that your skin and hair remain safe and happy during the festival, it's important to prepare yourself before applying gulaal or colours. Whether or not you plan on celebrating the festival of colours, knowing how to protect yourself from potential damage can always come in handy. So get ready for Holi with these tips in mind - wishing everyone a safe & happy Holi celebration! Have fun and stay safe!
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