7 Tips to Remove Harmful Colors and Protect Your Skin/Hair

Holi, is a festival of fun, dance, sweets and a whiff of Holi colours. Whether you joyfully take part in the celebrations and get bathed in an amalgamation of colours or wait till friends and family members find and drench you, there is no escaping colours during Holi. After all, in India, it’s Bura na maano holi hai.”

Traditionally, Holi was celebrated with dry gulal, organic colours made using flowers, and buckets of water. Unfortunately, the natural colours have now been replaced with splashes of synthetic colour. The after-effects of which can take a toll on your skin and hair.

That is why a little precaution goes a long way. #TheCoconutPeople brings few skin and hair care tips you need to follow before you bring the house down –

1. Dress for the Occasion


Holi is the only occasion where you dig out the oldest of Tees from your store room. There is no pressure of looking good and you can experiment with all the weird looks you have always wanted to.

While all this is great, it is also important to don clothes that cover most parts of your body. For women, a full-sleeve salwar-kameez in light colour is the perfect pick. For men, a full-sleeved shirt (T-shirt) with a pair of old denim can be the best. The clothes will prevent any direct contact of colours from the body preventing them from chemicals.

Tip – Ensure that the clothes you are wearing do not get translucent after getting wet. 

2. Apply Coconut Oil to Your Exposed Body Parts 

Apply coconut oil to your exposed body parts like your face, hands and hair before you venture out to play with colours. The natural moisturizing properties of coconut oil will keep your skin hydrated while the greasiness of the oil will prevent the harsh colours from settling down deep into your skin or hair. 

3. Cover Your Hair

After you have thoroughly applied coconut oil to the roots and length of your hair, tie it in a bun and cover it with a cap, hat or a bandana. This will minimize the absorption of colours by the scalp and hair. Also, coconut oil helps in easy removal of colours from the hair.

If you have short hair, even then it is a good idea to cover it up. 

4. Wear a Pair of Chic Sunglasses

Sunglasses make you look fashionable, are perfect for a sunny day, and go a long way in protecting your eyes from colours. They prevent powder colours from flying into your eyes as well as protect the sensitive skin under your eyes.

Select a comparatively larger size of sunglasses which can protect your facial skin as well. 

5. Avoid Beauty Treatments Before Holi

I know it is difficult not to, but make sure you do not get any beauty treatments like facial, bleach, waxing, or shaving in the week (or the week before) of Holi. These beauty treatments remove dead skin and make the skin extra sensitive to the chemicals present in synthetic colours.

Best is to wait for a week after the colour festival to go for a cleansing facial and waxing. 

6. Do Not Rub Your Face To Remove Colours

Once the excitement of the festival subsides, you can’t wait to get rid of colours from your hair and skin. The best way to remove colours is to wash them off when they are wet.

Also, do not rub your face wanting to get rid of all the colours at once. This may harm your skin and can even cause rashes and irritation.

Tip –  Dip cotton in milk and use it to wipe off remaining colours the next morning.

7. Apply Oil or Aloe Vera Gel After Bath

Colours can leave your skin dry and exposed. You can use coconut oil or aloe vera gel to hydrate the skin and soothe any skin irritation caused by the chemicals present in colours.

And Finally,

Be a Part of Celebration

Holi is about laughter, dance, fun and colours. And to enjoy it, just drop your guard and be a part of the celebration as much as you can. Of course, it is essential to be careful about your skin and hair. However, with the above mentioned tips, your hair and skin too will fall in love with the festival of colours.

Happy Holi! 

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