Holi celebrations have undergone a sea change over the years. The easygoing masti and fun have given way to revelry as organic gulal has been replaced by harsh colours that can play havoc with the skin, paint, eggs and what not.
Now, if Holi is your favourite festival and play you must, what can you do? There is your skin to be taken care of and the hair. Take the colours out, then what is Holi? So what does one do? It’s a proverbial case of “I want to have my cake and eat it too”. For every problem there is a solution. Here are 15 ways in which you can play Holi and safeguard your skin too.
Fashion wali Holi!
Some of the most beautiful and of course colourful pictures in family albums are of Holi. How can you make sure that yours is one of them? Traditionally, Holi is played in white clothes, so pick a loose salwar-kurta, preferably of a light colour, like white or beige. Go in for a full-sleeved on to cover your body from head to toe. This will prevent any direct contact with chemically laden colours. Another way to protect the neck area and the whole body is to tie a smart scarf that absorbs water around the neck.
Pamper your skin
Give your body a nice oil massage a day before Holi or early in the morning. It is better to do it a day before. The skin will get hydrated and absorb less colour the next day. It is also a good idea to rub your face with ice cubes for 10-15 minutes to close all your open pores. Then you can apply a sunscreen lotion or any organic oil on your face. This will prevent you from getting acne. It is laborious, but if you want to have your share of the fun while protecting your skin, start the day by applying olive or coconut oil to your body apart from sunscreen. Don’t forget to apply moisturiser on your face, hands and feet.
You probably have to go to office the next day and don’t want to end up looking funny with colourful ears. So apply some castor or coconut oil on the earlobes.
Ah! Those Claws!
Sporting colourful nails each of different colour days after Holi can be quite embarrassing. Now is the time to apply the brightest nail polish in your collection. Drench your cuticles in olive oil so that your nails do not soak up any colour and then apply a thick coat of nail paint. Put Vaseline under the nail edges.
Hair, Your Crowning Glory!
Make a fashion statement to protect your hair. Cover it completely with a scarf or bandana. Don’t take any chances with your hair because the fun will last for a few hours but the aftermath will remain for days. You have already oiled your hair from the root till the end, now tie it up neatly whatever the length.
The Day After
The fun over, now try to find your original self. First things first, please be gentle with your skin and hair. Too much scrubbing of the skin and too many rounds of shampoo will only be damaging. Go in for everything that is mild and soft i.e. baby products – oil, shampoo, cotton pads and soap. Take a soft loofah and use a gentle body wash for the skin and a gentle face wash for the face. Use a clarifying shampoo to rinse colour from hair. It is a good idea to use a conditioner for the lengths of your hair even if you normally don’t use one. After everything is done, don’t forget to apply dollops of moisturiser on your body to prevent the skin from getting harsh and dry.
Who says you should stop playing Holi?
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