Holi- the festival of colours, is a lovely festival we all look forward to. The delicious gujiyas, beautiful colours, pichkaris & water balloons along with lot of fun and playful excitement is what Holi is all about.

But this lovely festival brings with it danger & harmful effects of colours laced with dyes, chemicals, heavy metals etc. as usage of herbal & organic colours is decreasing. These may cause allergies, skin irritation and breakouts. This does not mean that you should not enjoy this festival full of colours. Just follow these simple precautions and hurray! You are ready for this colour riot.

Start preparing for Holi about 2-3 days in advance:

  • If you have a dry skin, start moisturising and oiling your skin. This will help in reducing the impact of colours on the skin.
  • Avoid any skin related procedures such as threading, waxing, facials etc as these damage the natural barriers in our skin and leave the skin pores open. The colours or the chemicals in these colours can easily seep into these pores and reach inner layers of skin.
  • If you suffer from any skin allergy, acne, eczema, psoriasis etc consult your dermatologist beforehand.

On the day of Holi do not forget your skin and hair in the excitement. Start preparing a night before, by applying a thick layer of moisturiser or oil on the body. Also oil your hair and scalp to prevent the damage from colours. Follow these simple steps for the minimum harm while you have a blast:

  • Use only organic and herbal colours only to avoid any harm to your skin.
  • Oil your body and hair. The oil forms a protective layer around your hair & skin and prevents from the colour seeping into the skin. You may also use a lotion in place of oil for the skin.
  • Wear cotton clothes covering as much as possible. This will result in minimum exposure of skin to the colours.
  • Trim your nails and apply nail polish to protect them. Apply petroleum jelly under the nails.
  • Harmful colours in the sun is a perfect recipe for skin damage. So apply a high factor (SPF) waterproof sunscreen. This will protect your skin from sun and colours as the skin becomes photosensitive.
  • Drink plenty of water and juices as the colours may cause dryness. Also, avoid alcohol as it dehydrates the skin.
  • Apply lip balm on lips and apply oil/lotion behind your ears.
  • Do not wear lenses in your eyes.

If there is irritation on the skin because of the colours, use a dry cloth to remove the colour from your skin and then wash with plain water. You can also use aloe vera gel, cucumber juice or rose water as soothing agents for your skin. Do not use any detergents or harsh soap to remove the colour from your skin. If the irritation persists, consult a dermatologist.

Use only natural ingredients based moisturiser or lotion for your skin. You may also use coconut oil which is good for your skin and also give a protective coat to your skin and hair.

Wishing you a colourful Holi with lots of fun!