Holi 2023: The ultimate guide to protecting your skin, hair, nails and teeth from colours

Holi, popularly known as the festival of colours around the globe, is among the most widely celebrated festivals in India. While these colours seem vibrant and attractive, they may wreak havoc on you. Many mass-produced colours have chemicals which are harmful to your skin, hair nails, and even teeth. The range of adverse reactions could vary depending on your skin sensitivity, or hair type. If you are afraid of being smeared by colours which can harm you, we've got Dr. Batul Patel, celebrity dermatologist, and founder of The Bombay Skin Clinic, and Dr Diksha Tahilramani Batra, prosthodontist, and implantalogist, to share precautionary tips that will help you celebrate Holi in a carefree way.

Pre-care for skin

>> Check if you have any wounds and make sure to cover each one of them. Ensure that these are cleaned post Holi to avoid infection.

>> Apply a thick repair cream to protect your face as opposed to oils.

>> One must keep the skin covered with physical protectors like full sleeve garments, denims, leggings etc.

>> The exposed area of the skin can be protected by applying petroleum jelly of an occlusive moisturiser to avoid absorption of colours.

>> If possible, it is also advisable to use a good sunscreen generously to protect the exposed skin.

>> For dry skin, it is advisable to use Rosehip oil on the face along with sunscreen which can help the colour come off easily.

>> For oily skin, it's better to use small drops of Argan oil along with sunscreen.

>> For sensitive skin, try to use a barrier repair cream to help to improve the skin barrier before using any colour.

>> For acne prone skin, for some open big acne pustules, there are many acne patches available. It is better to patch these on existing big acne before playing Holi.

Pre-care for hair

>> Apply a thick leave-on serum and tie up your hair to allow less exposure to colors.

>> You can also apply a layer of hydrating oils like walnut oil which seeps into the hair and protects it.

Pre-care for nails

>> A simple way to protect your nails is to apply good nail polish.

>> Avoid getting a manicure just before Holi as this can make the cuticles more prone to infection and allergies from the colours.

>> Due to constant exposure to water, one can develop infection and inflammation of the nail fold. Hence, it's best to keep the nails trimmed short.

>> If there is any fungal infection, treat it before playing Holi.

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Pre-care for teeth

>> Brush with a sensitivity toothpaste a few days before Holi this will give u a good coating of calcium and potassium on your teeth which prevent colours from seeping in.

>> For those of you with front fillings or dental work ensure you make a visit to your dentist to check if you have any broken or porous fillings or crowns which can allow colour to seep in.

>> Ensure you do oil pulling just before you step out to play.

Post-care and how to remove colour

>> It's not just the colour that you need to be worried about, but also sun damage. Use sunscreen generously on all exposed areas of your body to further protect your skin from the damage caused by the colours.

>> You can make a homemade scrub; my favorite being brown sugar, honey and aloe vera. Mix and grind very gently and then it can be used to exfoliate the skin which helps to remove the colour.

>> An alternate scrub can be made by mixing 1 tbsp of regular white sugar, 1 tsp of olive oil, 1 tsp of grated orange peel and 1 tsp of your body wash.

>> Another effective method is to mix 2 tbsp of calamine powder with a few drops of honey and rose water to make a paste. Apply this on your face and once it has dried up, wash it off with water and apply a moisturiser. You can also try using a mixture of besan and milk.

>> Avoid taking a very hot shower because it tends to dry the body further and will leave the skin more itchy and damaged.

>> After washing the hair, pat dry with a towel and avoid rubbing the hair which can cause breakage and weakening of the hair follicle.

>> Examine and check if there are any new wounds as they can get infected quickly.

>> Any reaction on the skin specifically around the eyes should be treated immediately. If the rash doesn't subside, it is best to consult a dermatologist.

>> A simple dental cleaning can help get rid of the stains.

>> If you happen to have played with some non-organic colours and the teeth stains are stubborn then bleaching will definitely help.

Also Read: A guide to bhang, and how to consume it safely this Holi