Holi is a festival of fun and mirth with plenty of colors and zeal. The tradition is to wish a Happy Holi by smearing colors at each other. Few decades ago, the colors used in Holi were derived from dry flowers and leaves. Even sandalwood paste, saffron, turmeric, henna and fuller’s earth were used to play Holi.

However, with rapid change in times and instant solutions, came cheaper, easily available industrial colors that replaced the natural ones. These industrial colors contain a variety of harmful compounds like malachite green, auramine, methyl violet, copper sulphate, aluminium bromide, prussian blue and cobalt nitrate. They are often mixed with starch, wheat flour and micadust.

The colors are disastrous for the skin as they increase the chances of allergies and infections. The most commonly affected areas include the face, scalp, forearms, neck and hands. So, how exactly do you avoid being affected by these harmful chemicals? The answer is quite simple!

Pre-Holi Hair and Skincare Tips

• Use Organic Colors: You can make skin-friendly, natural colors at home. For instance, you can use roasted chick peas powder to make gulal. If you have hypersensitive skin, it is best to avoid chemical colors
• Oil Your Way to Safety: Apply coconut oil, mustard oil, or olive oil on your hair and scalp before playing Holi to prevent the color from blocking the pores
• Apply Aloe Vera gel and oil on your body to create a layer of protection on the skin. Don’t forget to cover the ear area
• Blend Castor Oil with Coconut Carrier Oil and apply it half an hour before playing Holi. This will protect your skin from chemicals. It also helps the colors come off easily during bath
• Use Vaseline on Your Lips to keep them moisturized. You can even apply it to your ears
• Use Sunscreen on your exposed skin to avoid skin damage. Try keeping yourself as covered as possible
• Apply Transparent Nail Paint on your nails to prevent the color from getting inside the skin
• Stay Hydrated all the time by drinking water and juices regularly