Holi, the festival of colour, is just around the corner. From dousing friends with coloured water, smearing gulal on their cheeks and lobbing water balloons at the unsuspecting to exchanging gifts and listening to evergreen Holi music, it is a day packed with revelry.
But amidst all the fun, it’s equally important to remember to stay safe. Various studies over the years have found safety issues with all three forms in which the Holi colors are produced: pastes, dry colours and water colours.
The various ingredients found in synthetic colours like lead oxide (black), mercury sulphide (red), aluminium bromide (silver), copper sulphate (green), and Prussian blue (Blue) have been known to cause various health problems from dermatitis (skin becoming red and blotchy) and other skin ailments to eye allergies and – in some cases -- even temporary blindness.
To avoid such hazards and keeping off from skin troubles, this time, GO ECO-FRIENDLY and replace the regular chemical colours with non toxic ones. Not only do they keep the environment clean but also come sans the harmful effect and are skin friendly, too. These colors are easy to wash off and are not harmful if applied on skin without oiling and have delicate fragrance.
Here we bring you a few tips, to ensure you can have an apprehension-free – and most importantly a safe -- Holi filled with lots of color-smearing, rain dancing, pichkari spraying and fun.
Precautionary steps for a safe and colourful Holi:
Celebrate Holi without- damaging the environment, burn scrap instead of wood
Oil your skin and hair well before you start playing. Apply lots of coconut oil or olive oil to protect your hair from harsh color
Alternatively, there are branded colors available in the market that are non toxic colors and conform to European standards. These does not require oiling and are easily washable
Apply some oil behind your ears, ear lobes and nails. You can further protect your nails by covering them with nail polish of any dark color
Put lip balm or lipstick on your lips to protect those as well
Use a toner to close the pores on your face before you head out. This way, you reduce the chances of color going in too deep
Don’t forget to wear waterproof sunscreen 30 minutes prior to playing followed by a moisturizer before you step out for a day in the sun!
Wear clothes that cover most of your body. These clothes should be made of a lightweight, easy-to-dry material. Avoid heavy fabrics like denim that don’t dry easily.
It’s a good idea to wear a thick scarf or bandana to cover your hair
Don’t wear lenses when you go out to play!
Dust off the dry color before you hit the shower
Clean your face using cotton dabbed in moisturizing cream or oil/milk followed by a cleanser or scrub. Avoid excessive scrubbing or rubbing as they damage your skin and cause irritation
Wash your hair using a mild shampoo, but don’t overuse the shampoo. If the color doesn’t come off your scalp in one try, just let it stay on and shampoo again in a day or two. Non-toxic colours such as Rangeela does not harm the hair in any way
All that color and shampoo will tend to dry out your scalp. Definitely use a conditioner after shampooing
So, here’s wishing you all a happy and safe holi.
(Inputs by Rangeela Holi Ke Rang, Pidilite Industries.)