Love playing Holi but afraid of the toll it takes on your hair and skin? Looking for natural ways to ensure your hair and skin remain unaffected? Well, we’ve got you covered.
Holi lovers go all out on the day of Dhuleti. While many have taken the step to use organic and natural colors, there can be a possibility that chemical-laden colors are used too. Sometimes, there is not even enough time to prepare as gatecrashing and impromptu color splashing is common between friends and loved ones.
Vibrant and color-splashed solo, as well as group, pictures are a must for all the social media folks. This celebration in India has a different charm to it. Families, friends and even strangers greet and play with colors. These colors depict the true essence of life. There are many dos and don’ts for Holi skin and hair care, and here are 10 essential tips for taking overall care during Holi.
10 essential Holi tips for pre and post skin and hair care
1. Hydrate well
First and foremost, drink plenty of water. It is the most vital healthcare tip. We have to realize that hydrating well does so much good for the body, skin, and hair. Holi is a festival that drains energy. The colors dry the skin, hair scalp and the body also gets tired. So this year, try drinking a lot of water, and plenty of juices.
Additionally, other than keeping yourself hydrated, water and juice intake will give you an easy detox by cleansing your system too. Holi is a time when scrumptious meals and snacks are served wherever you go. India has several special delicacies for this fest too. So to ensure that the savories and snacks go easy on your stomach, it becomes important to focus on the liquids - water and juices.
2. Oil massage
This is another must-do. Before you step out to play Holi, ensure to give your body a good oil massage. Gently apply any oil - almond, coconut or olive oil on your body just before the Holi celebrations begin. The oil massage will provide the nourishment needed to protect the skin. The oil creates a protective layer between your skin and the colors. It also refrains the colors from sticking or seeping into your skin and body.
Usually, people tend to celebrate and remain immersed in colors until half-day. This gives rise to a high probability of the colors seeping inside the skin. If you have oiled well before then the chances reduce drastically. However, to remove the colors quickly, it is ideal to apply oil again. Make sure to give your body a nice oil massage even after the Holi celebrations. Immediate shower after color play, followed by a thorough oil massage and another round of shower. (Since we are already conscious about saving water, how about taking the bath in a bucket?! Conscious living is a real thing, guys!)
3. Scrub to help skin breathe
Skin is the largest organ in the body, a one-time fix may not save it from chemicals, only regular scrubbing will ensure that it is forever-protected. Scrubbing is a must for skincare post-Holi. Even if you’re not too regular with scrubs, ensure that if you are playing with colors, scrubbing is a must-do postHoli. Scrub gently while bathing, either with your hands, loofah or a washcloth. Ensure that you apply a body lotion to give your skin relief and help it breathe better. But ensure that if you have played with colors for a long time then let the scrubbing be not a reason to give you more rashes. Scrubs must not have intense chemicals or any exfoliators that can harm or cause rashes on the skin. Choose a natural, organic scrub.
4. Herbs, rely on herbs for excellent cleansing
Like we said earlier, make sure your scrub isn’t harsh on the skin. One can use gram flour mixed with water for a good scrub. It is also important to ensure that along with outer cleansing, the inside remains unaffected too. It is usually noticed that post-Holi many complain of rashes, allergies, etc. So it is strongly recommended to include skin and blood cleansing herbs like turmeric, neem, tablet Amrut from Sri Sri Tattva*. These are essential to prevent allergies/rashes caused by colors.
5. Oil your hair, tie them up!
This is another important to-do. All the women who love this festival of colors, ensure that you oil your hair too before stepping out to play Holi. It is important if you want the colors to leave your scalp easily post-Holi. Colors, dry or wet, are made of harmful toxins. It is of course best if you use natural colors, but in case you come in contact with chemical ones then it is important to be careful. These colors can make your hair dry and frizzy.
Coconut oil is recommended as it will provide a protective layer through your scalp to your tresses and disallow your scalp from absorbing the colors. Do not forget to tie your hair up. It is a good way to reduce any excess percolation or spreading of the color on the scalp. If you already have a healthy scalp, it is a good idea to not let colors damage it. (For that awesome picture for social media, you can open them after playing! Well, these tips should anyway help you reduce the damage, but in case you’d like tying up a bun, it is quite a fashion statement these days!)
6. Cleanse well post-Holi with these important things
Not only you must wash your hair after playing with colors, but also before. Yes, since a lot of dust and other pollutants are settled in your scalp, the possibility of the color adding to the dirt up there is high. So it is strongly recommended to wash your hair immediately after playing Holi. It is preferable to use mild shampoo and conditioners, both before and after.
7. These are your go-to herbs for hair
Pre or post-Holi, you can rely on these herbs for your hair. Depending on the availability of time, you can wash your hair with these herbs both pre and post the celebrations. But if you have less time to prepare these masks before Holi, then ensure you wash your hair with these after Holi at least. It will be very helpful.
Aloe:
Aloe vera contains certain elements that help repair the scalp’s dead skin cells. It also acts as a great conditioner, making your hair smooth and frizz-free.
Methi:
Methi or fenugreek helps in containing hair fall. Holi colors tend to damage hair and also result in excessive hair fall in some cases. If you are prone to such side-effects then opt for methi for hair care. Soak some fenugreek seeds for the whole night, mix it with water and lemon juice. Apply this hair mask and then rinse off for a frizz-free and also color-free hair scalp.
Amla hair mask:
For both pre and post-Holi, one thing that you can also do is use an Amla hair mask. Amla powder available in the market can help ensure you are free of hair problems like hair fall, dryness, brittle hair, hair damage, and dandruff. You can add yogurt to it and mix it till a smooth paste is formed. Apply the paste on your scalp and rinse it off after 1 hour with a mild shampoo.
Pro tip: You can use a mask made of all three herbs as it will provide the best care. However, depending on their availability, any of the three masks will give adequate protection.
Pro tip:
- Use Sri Sri Tattva Sukesha hair Vitalizer Cream for the scalp. It is a blend of traditional Ayurvedic herbs which prevent hair fall, reduce itching, relieve stress and calm the mind. The essential oils in the cream impart a natural pleasant aroma, prevent lice, improve circulation of blood and add luster to the hair.
- For hair oil, you can choose Sri Sri Tattva’s Bhringamalakadi or Brahmibhringaraj. Bhringaraj protects the natural color of the hair and does not harm the hair or scalp. It also reduces burning, heating up of scalp, and reduces hair damage.
8. Cover yourself up!
One thing that will help you a great deal with protecting your skin is full-length clothes. Holi is a fun festival, yes, but it is also a good idea to not let fun ruin your skin or hair in the long run! Think about it.
9. Respect yourself and others, and the environment
Having fun is essential. Having fun at the cost of others or the environment is a big no-no. So if you are attending Holi parties or a get-together, ensure you tip the organizer to opt for plastic-free things, plates, spoons, glasses, etc. Also do spread a word on your social media wall encouraging people to opt for natural colors, colors made of chandan (sandalwood), roses, hibiscus, etc. Do ensure water is not wasted.
(If the change has to come through you, then be the messenger of all the dos this Holi and be the savior of environment, while having fun too!)
10. Celebrate 100%
Festivals are not just for our outer enjoyment, but they carry a deeper meaning and significance. That’s the beauty of Indian festivals and culture.
So, here’s how we’d like to wish you and your family a very Happy Holi:
“There are different colors associated with our feelings and emotions. Anger is associated with red, jealousy with green, vibrancy and happiness with yellow, love with pink, vastness with blue, peace with white, sacrifice with saffron, and knowledge with violet. Each person is a fountain of colors that keep changing its hue. If your life is like Holi, where each color is seen clearly, then that adds charm to your life. Harmony in diversity makes life vibrant, joyful, and more colorful.
Like Holi, life should be colorful, not boring. When each color is seen clearly, it is vibrant. When all the colors get mixed, you end up with black. Similarly, in our day-to-day lives, we play different roles. Each role and emotion needs to be clearly defined. Emotional confusion creates problems.
When you are a father, you have to play the part of a father. You can't be a father at the workplace. When you mix roles in your life, you start making mistakes. Whatever role you play in life, give yourself fully to it.
In ignorance, emotions are a bother; in knowledge, the same emotions add color. Tell yourself that you will do justice to all the roles you play. You can play all the roles: a good spouse, a good child, a good parent, and a good citizen. Assume that you have all these qualities in you. Just let them blossom.”
Excerpts from Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s talk on Significance of Holi. Gurudev is a global humanitarian and founder of The Art of Living Foundation.
All products of Sri Sri Tattva are delivered via online ordering. Explore the product range for Holi hair and skincare: Sri Sri Tattva Online Store
Based on the inputs from Dr. Sharika Menon, Ayurvaidya, Sri Sri Tattva.
Based on wisdom talks by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
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