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7. Holi Skin & Hair Care hacks you should know

Here is a list of  quick tips to keep in mind for Holi Celebration The festival of colours is finally here and amidst the Holi prep going on everywhere I hope none of you have forgotten about the most important thing to gear up.  Yes, I’m talking about hair and skin tender loving caring (TLC) over here. Holi might be the most fun festival of the year, nevertheless, one cannot forget the ruckus we face once the festival is over. Personally, I've seen so many people around me who avoid celebrating the festival all together to protect their hair and skin from any chemical damage. Now I understand that not indulging in the favourite festival of the year might seem like a far-fetched sacrifice not everyone can make and that is why I'm here to help you out. Today we are going to discuss some really easy tips that one must follow before and after Holi in order to save your skin and hair from any melancholy. Chill it- The first and the foremost thing on your list should be a good ice massage. Rubbing ice all over your face is going to help you in closing your pores which would further ensure that the colours do not penetrate deep in the layers of your skin. Hello SPF- A most common mistake that one commits is not applying sunscreen. One should never forget applying heaps and heaps of sunscreen before stepping out of the house. Now make sure you apply a good quantity of sunscreen on all the exposed areas in order to create an extra layer of protection and to prevent tanning. High on the water- Another easy tip for you is drinking a lot of water before going out. The more water you’ll drink, the more hydrated your skin is going to be which as a result is going to reduce the chances of the chemical colours drying up your skin. Petroleum jelly- Applying a generous amount of petroleum jelly on all the exposed areas is going to help you in removing the colours. Make sure your skin becomes very slippery; this way the colours won’t stick long on your skin. Oil it up- In case you don’t have oily skin you can definitely opt for applying coconut or olive oil on your face and body before Holi. Oil would help in clogging up your pores and won’t let colours pass through them. Lip tip- Before you step out don't forget applying a lip balm with SPF in it. Try avoiding getting colours on your lips or near them all together. Pro tip- Avoid waxing or threading your face or your body 2-3 before and after Holi in order to eliminate any possibility of a chemical reaction on your skin. Haircare Oiling- Applying mustard or coconut oil on your scalp is the best and the easiest way to protect your scalp from drying up or absorbing chemicals. Lime and lemon- Another easy tip could be rubbing a few drops of lemon on your scalp (diluted with some oil). This would prevent an oily scalp from absorbing the colours. No hair flip- Now I know most of you might want to look the best on Holi, and there is a huge possibility that you were planning to keep your hair open, flipping in the air. But you should definitely braid your hair in order to protect your roots as well as the tips. When you braid your hair, only a limited section of your hair is exposed which stops colours from getting in. Say no to colours- Before you get me wrong, let me tell you I’m talking about hair colours. Avoid getting your hair coloured or highlighted before Holi. Even after Holi do not go to the salon immediately and take a break for at least a couple of days. Pro tip- Don't forget to cover your nails with petroleum jelly and clear nail polish. Many times, we forget that our nails also are getting all the residue stuck in them. Avoid touching your face or hair with dirty nails since it could make the matter worse and cause irritation and itching. After Holi TLC Now that the festival of colours is finally over, the harsh realities of your skin and hair may dawn upon you. Nevertheless, we’ve got you covered. This part requires a bit more of efforts since you are in your damage control mode now. Start with water- Be it any type of skin, one should always start with cleaning the face with water. Water will help you in getting off most of the colours and you’ll be done with as good as half the amount of colour. Say no to soaps- Avoid using soaps or face wash on your skin since the alkaline base can make your skin drier and cause an immediate breakout or rough patches on them. Say no to hot water- There is a very common myth that hot water helps in removing colours easily. One should always go for cold water since it helps in removing the impurities from your body, unlike hot water which makes it stubborn on the skin. Go Desi with Ubtans- There is no remedy like a home remedy, and thus be prepared to stack most of the stuff from your kitchen for this DIY ubtan for different skin types. Oily skin- Mix besan with Multani mitti (fuller’s earth) with some water and apply it thoroughly on your face and body. Massage it for at least 5 minutes on each area and wash it off with cold water. You can even use a mixture of sea salt with glycerine on your face and body to get rid of the colours. Dry skin-Use besan (chickpea powder) with some milk and turmeric in it. Make it a thick paste from it and apply it evenly on your face and body. Wash it off with cold water after 5-10 minutes. Follow the pack with applying some olive oil or almond oil your face. Normal skin-2 tablespoons of masoor dal powder along with rice flour mixed evenly with rose water will do wonders for your skin. Massage not rub-There is a thin line between massaging your skin with the packs and rubbing your skin with them. Make sure you avoid the latter one since you don't want your skin to become drier and flaky. Sprits with rose water-once you are done with your face packs make sure you top off your skin with some rose water to keep it hydrated. Haircare Use a sulphate free shampoo- Since sulphate free shampoos are gentle on your scalp try using them after your Holi bash. There are a couple of packs that you could go for in order to get rid of all the colours from your scalp. Lime and honey pack- one of the easiest and most effective packs to get rid of the colours on your scalp. Ingredients: 2 tbsp. honey 4 tbsp. olive oil A couple of drops of lemon juice Mix all the ingredients evenly and apply it nicely on your hair. Keep it for at least 25 minutes before washing it off with cold water. Coco yogurt pack-another easy pack with limited ingredients. Ingredients: 2 tbsp. yogurt 2 tbsp. honey 1 tbsp. olive oil (optional) 2 tbsp. coconut oil Just mix all the ingredients in a bowl and apply them evenly. Keep it for at least 25 minutes before washing it off with cold water.   Author: Dr. Nirupama Parwanda, Dermatologist, Founder - Zolie Skin Clinic