Colour up, with care

The festival of colours is almost upon us. In between throwing gulal on each other, tucking into various delicacies, and grooving to filmi numbers there’s also the downside of having to clean up after. Most colours and dyes contain harsh chemicals that wreak havoc on the skin and dry up the hair. Here’s how to avoid the skin breakouts and damaged locks...

HAIR CARE

“Prep your hair with a good anti frizz leave-in cream or moisturising serum from mid-lengths to the ends of your hair. This helps serve as a protective shield from harmful chemicals. Look for products that are enriched with SPF properties that safeguard you from UV rays,” advises Adhuna Bhabani, founder and creative director, BBLUNT. “While a leave-in conditioner and serum washes out easily, oil tends to be slightly more stubborn as there is a higher possibility of the powdered colour mixing with the oil and getting matted as well as blocking the pores on your scalp. Post playing, opt for cold water to rinse the colour off. Make sure not to use hot water as it will only end up solidifying it. Immediately shampoo your hair and follow up with a deep conditioner. Avoid washing repeatedly as this will strip off the moisture from the hair leaving it dry and brittle,” she adds.

BODY CARE

It is important to prep your skin before playing, in order to protect yourself from the various chemicals present in the colours. “As Holi is played in open areas, sun exposure cannot be avoided. Apply a gel-based sunscreen. It will help to prevent skin tanning and drying. Coat your lips with a petroleum jelly so that it has a protective layer on it. Nails are porous in nature and hence absorb colour. Apply a transparent coat of nail paint to protect them. Also, don’t forget to apply oil to areas like the ears and around the eyes, sunglasses help too,” says Rashi Bahel Mehra, founder of Alanna.

To protect your skin, cover your body with oil. Shubhika Jain from RAS luxury oils explains, “You can apply pomegranate or jojoba oil, which is safe to use on the face, and is also recommended for babies and pregnant women. Oiling your body not only protects your pores, but also gives it a healthy shine. Later, use a body polish to gently scrub away the colours and impurities. Take a warm water bath and moisturise your skin well with a hydrating body oil.”

Do not rub your skin vigorously with soap to get rid of the colours, advises Amit Sarda, managing director, Soulflower. “Use a mild papaya cucumber soap or sandalwood soap which has moisturising and cleansing properties. Follow by applying two tbsp of olive oil mixed with 10 drops of turmeric essential oil on your skin. Being lightweight, olive oil will easily get absorbed and the richness of vitamin E and antioxidants will protect your skin from drying out,” he adds.