Barinder Saluja, Chandigarh,March 16 : As the festival season has started and the most awaited festival, Holi, is round the corner, there are quite misconception in the minds of lots of people that how to prevent themselves from the hazards of the after maths of Holi. Lot of people tend to end up with sour eyes, scared skins & effected hair.
The India Post wishes its readers, HAPPY HOLI, in a unique way by talking to some of the professionals to get the first hand information to play a Safe Holi.
Dr. Maleeka Sachdev, Dermatologist : Dr. Maleeka Sachdev, a very popular dermatologist of the city explained some facts of safe Holi.
Use Herbal Holi Colors : She said, “Use only herbal holi colors. Its true that you can’t tell people coming to your home to bring herbal colors. However, you can buy a lots of herbal holi colors and offer to play holi with them only with your guests. Remember, this may cost you a little more but your skin and hair will be safe. Moreover, the cost of dermatologist and other medical expenses resulting from use of chemical holi colors will be saved. When buying herbal holi colors, feel them. They should be soft and must feel powdery, like talc or refined flour (maida) and not grainy or gritty. For a cheaper option, you can even make natural colors by doing it yourself.” She also further said that, before playing Holi, prepare yourself.
Apply Protective Lotions or Oils Before Playing Holi : “Prepare yourself for the holi colors. Although its good to wear comfortable clothes but ensure that your clothes cover the maximum of your body. Apply some oil (best ones are coconut oil and mustard oil) all over the exposed skin of your body. Paint your nails with nail polish. Apply petroleum jelly under nails, behind ears, on lips- wherever, there is the possibility of colors getting stuck. If possible, use shower cap to cover your hair. Apply some hair oil (olive oil or coconut oil) on the scalp and hair length. Oil forms a layer on your skin and hair and prevents the color from going deep into skin or hair roots. Also the holi colors come off easily when washed later. Also apply sunscreen lotion on skin after letting the oil absorb for 15 minutes. This will prevent UV rays from doing harm to skin by mixing with colors. Remove Holi Colors very gently while bathing. Rub very softly, wash the skin with lots of water before applying soap.”
Punita Singh, Councillor Beauty Pageant : According to Punita Singh, one should keep these points in mind before Holi :
Oiling: Oil your hair with warm coconut oil, Castor oil or in olive oil. If you have dandruff add 8-10 drops of lemon in your oil and liberally apply the mixture in your hair. Apply oil all over your body, including hands, feet, and elbows. If you have normal or dry skin, apply oil on your face as well. If you have acne prone skin or oily skin, stay away from oil on your face, just apply a regular moisturiser and water proof sunscreen. Do the oiling part at least 20-25 minutes before you start. If you want, you may also apply a waterproof foundation on your face, this would act as a barrier between your skin and colour.
Clothing: Wear dark colour-full sleeves cotton clothes. Synthetics would be sticky and denims would be heavy once you have a bucket full of water splashed on you.Nail paints: Paint those nails. if possible, paint them with dark colours. Water: Drink loads of water before you start playing holi. this will keep your skin hydrated. Also keep sipping water carefully while playing holi.Lips and Eyes: Don’t wear lenses. In fact completely avoid wearing lenses or glasses. But if you cannot do without glasses, just be careful while applying colour. Mostly people are interested in applying surprise colours on your face and the edges of your specs might hurt your face. For lips, apply a lip balm generously. Don’t get waxing, threading , facials or skin treatment done at least 3-4 days before holi.Soothing: Use an aloe Vera gel, cucumber juice or at least a rose water bottle handy with you, just in case get some irritation from a colour, these would act as soothing agents.
Hair: Use a mild shampoo to remove colour from your hair and follow up with a conditioner. Don’t use harsh soaps on your hair just because you want to remove every last speck of colour from your hair. If you have acne avoid scrubbing your face past holi. Use a paste of raw milk and besan and gently work on your face to remove the colours.
Use glycerin or aloe vera based soaps. I have seen people using detergent soaps on their body to remove colour. AVOID such desperate attempts. Apply a body lotion on your body generously after taking bath.
Manpreet Kaur, Dietitian : Make your own natural herbal holi colors! Though i am dietitian but keeping in mind, the impurities in the market, i learnt how to make colors on my own during my M.Sc Home science. And this can be done with the help of flowers, herbs, leaves and other household ingredients found in the kitchen. Here are some tips on how to make herbal holi colors?
Yellow Color- In ancient India, Palaash or tesu flowers were used for making bright yellow color. The Vedas say, “”If clothes soaked in this color are worn, then that color will have its effect on our bodies by entering through the pores of the skin, and will save us from contagious diseases.” Soak these flowers overnight and boil to get natural rich yellow holi color. More easily available Marigold flowers can also be dried and their paste can be used for yellow color. Turmeric powder or raw turmeric can also be soaked in water to get yellow color. To make light yellow color mix it with gram flour.
Green Color- Take Henna leaves, dry and powder them to get dry holi color. For wet color, soak it in water. For lighter and darker shades, mix it with wheat flour or refined flour. Leafy vegetables like
spinach and coriander can also be used after grinding them with water. This green color paste is a natural wet holi color.
Red Color- Use red sandalwood powder or vermilion for red color. Dried rose petals can be used for making gulal or dry color. Soak red hibiscus flowers or grated beetroot in water overnight for getting wet red color.
Blue Color- Dry Jacaranda flowers in shade and ground them to get a beautiful blue holi color. The blue Hibiscus can also be dried and powdered. For wet color, crush berries of Indigo tree and add them to water for desired shade of the color blue. Leaves of some species of Indigo tree give rich blue color when boiled in water.
Mrs. Surinder kaur, Senior citizen : Here are some daddi maa ke nuskhe, first hand information from Mrs. Surinder Kaur… Face and Body: 1. Mix two teaspoon of besan+ 1 tea spoon of mustard oil + a pinch of turmeric+5-7 drops of gulab jal (rose water) in a bowl and apply the paste on your face. leave it for 5-4 minutes and rinse it with water. Follow up with your moisturizer.This is a good scrub for removing colours post holi. You may increase the quantity as per your requirement and apply the paste all over your body as well.
2. Mix a 2 tablespoon of multani mitti (fuller’s earth) + 1 tablespoon of glycerin + 1 table spoon of curd. Apply the paste on your face for 7-8 minutes and wash it off with regular water. Follow up with rose water or any facial spray. If you want you may also apply moisturiser.
Lips: Mix equal amount of glycerin and lemon in a bowl and apply it liberally on your lips. This works great for chapped lips.
Teeth: Teeth especially look scary post holi. Try this : Take 1 tea spoon of slat+ 3-4 drops of lemon+3-4 drops of mustard oil and rub it on your teeth. The taste sucks but it will bring back your teeth to a decent condition.
Ishitaa, Student : “I am a hard core Holi celebrator. Its fun going out with friends & all that mast shashti and applying colors to all. But i am quite careful while playing Holi. Yes, i do prepare myself before hand so as to avoid any harm to my hair & skin after Holi. Just applying some coconut oil on hair and skin, wearing light color clothes, thats it..!!” said ishitaa, a 4th year student of P.E.C Chandigarh.
Neha, Student : Neha, another student of engineering, said, “though i am not a big celebrator of this festival but i do prepare myself for that very day as one does not know when you have to face an unguided missile which comes calling you & next moment you find yourself colored from head to toes. Ya, i am talking about that very friend who suddenly appears to shower you with “Gulal”. Even i apply some oil on my hair, face & other parts of the body to avoid any harm, as the color used is generally not herbal.”
Gurpreet K Nain, Teacher : ” Every body loves Holi, even I do. But these days the adulteration factor is of big concern; I do keep on briefing my students about the hazards of holi & do aware them of spurious colors and other material being sold in the market. We educate them to use herbal colors and of good brand so that they might not harm themselves. Kids have got very sensitive skin, and getting harmed at this age may bring their morals down. Spurious colors sometimes even damage your eyes. So, one has to be very careful while playing holi.”