Holi is a fun festival isn’t it? All the colours, music and dancing make for a wonderful time. Of course, the aftermath of Holi, with colour sticking to your hair and skin, isn’t all that great. But, if you take good care to protect yourself beforehand, with hair oil, body oil and sunblock, you should be able to avoid any major skin or hair damage.

If you play with organic colours then they can be washed off easily. Of course, if you are party hopping, then you can’t expect everyone to have organic colours. Here are some tips for dealing with slightly stubborn Holi colours on your hair, face and body.

Hair –If you have highlights in your hair and might end up playing with wet colours, then unfortunately the stains will not fade for some time, and there is no home remedy for this. You should follow up the Holi festivities with a quick touch up at the parlour. Of course, it is always a good idea to oil your hair before playing Holi, but keep in mind that multiple washes to remove the colour and the oil can also strip your hair of essential moisture. I recommend that you invest in a good hair pack, suited for your scalp type, to use after Holi. It will help restore moisture and add shine to your hair.

Himalaya Herbals-Protein Hair Cream Extra Nourishment is perfect for this requirement. It is 100 percent natural, with amla and chickpeas as the key ingredients, and is suitable for all scalp and hair types. You can use it every day or on alternate days.

Face –For your face, you just have to follow your usual skincare regime, but just add a gentle face scrub that you can use once a day, every day for the next one week. There is nothing better than a homemade walnut and rosewater scrub. It is suitable for all skin types, and is healing and hydrating. It is also very simple to make. Just finely grind 2 cups of walnuts in a food processor. Store it in an air tight jar. To use just mix about a tea spoon of good quality rose water. Feel free to play around with the consistency as long as it is not too runny. Gently exfoliate in circular motion not using too much pressure.

DIY Face Mask

This simple three-ingredient preparation is extremely hydrating for dry skin post Holi celebration. Some people are allergic to honey, and so I suggest you do a patch test.

Mix 1/2 teaspoon matcha green tea with 1 tablespoon organic honey and a few drops of rose water – to form a smooth paste.

Apply this a day after the celebration.

Body- Use a gentle body scrub to take care of the colour on your body. You don’t have to use it every day, once or twice a week is more than enough to get rid of colours and dead skin. I’ve been using Forest Essentials Body Polisher Sandalwood and Turmeric for some time now. I love it because it is rich in sandalwood and I can’t have enough of it. Sandalwood can heal, hydrate, has anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory properties. The benefits are actually endless. This scrub will definitely help to remove colours and dead skin cells. I love the fragrance and all the ingredients of this one.

Holi is a wonderful Indian festival and with just some pre and post festivities care, you can have a blast without worrying about long term impact on you face, body or hair.

Try out some of these post Holi tips and let me know if they are helpful. Write to me below or using #stayrealstayyou on Instagram @shagunkhanna