New Delhi/Ghaziabad: The festival of colors is just a few days away! While we are all set for the fun, there is always a lingering fear of skin allergies, damage, and hair fall caused by harsh chemical colors. This Holi, instead of expensive products, try these ancient and effective home remedies to keep yourself safe.
At least 20 minutes before heading out to play Holi, massage your entire body and hair thoroughly with coconut or mustard oil.
The Benefit: The oil creates a transparent protective layer on the skin, preventing colors from penetrating deep into the pores and making it much easier to wash them off later.
Apply a little oil before playing, but use yogurt to wash your hair after the celebrations.
The Remedy: After rinsing the colors with plain water, apply a mixture of yogurt and one teaspoon of honey to your hair. Leave it on for 15 minutes before washing. This will eliminate the dryness caused by harsh chemicals.
If stubborn colors have stained your skin, avoid scrubbing harshly with soap. Instead, use a traditional Ubtan made of gram flour (Besan) and milk.
The Remedy: Mix 2 tablespoons of gram flour, a pinch of turmeric, and a little raw milk to form a paste. Apply it to the colored areas and rub gently. This cleanses the skin effectively without causing damage.
Apply Petroleum Jelly (Vaseline) or fresh cream (Malai) around your eyes and on your lips.
The Benefit: The skin on the lips is very delicate; petroleum jelly prevents the skin from absorbing chemicals and protects it from chapping or cracking.
To clean colors stuck in the corners of your nails, rub a slice of lemon over them. The citric acid in lemon acts as a natural cleanser and helps break down the pigment.