Get ready to belt out “Do me a favour, let’s play Holi!” or vibe to Big B’s legendary Holi anthems because the festival of colours is almost here! While the splash of gulal and riot of hues make for unforgettable memories, the real challenge begins when the party’s over. Yep, we’re talking about the dreaded aftermath—stubborn stains on your skin, stained nails, and hair that feels like it’s been through a desert storm.
These consequences can be really off-putting and leave you feeling anxious while the celebrations are going on, taking away all the joy of the festivities. Well, say no more, our fellow readers! We’ve got your back with foolproof ways to tackle these post-Holi woes! With our detailed guide, we’ll answer all your questions related to how to remove Holi color from face and hair.
Understanding Different Holi Colours and Their Impacts on Skin and Hair
Before we dive deeper into the world of how to remove permanent holi colour from face and hair, let’s understand the different types of Holi colours’s effects on your body:
● Organic Colours
Organic colours are derived from natural sources such as turmeric, flowers, and herbs without the use of chemicals or preservatives. They are environmentally friendly and simple to rinse away.
● Synthetic Colours
Synthetic colours are made with the use of chemical dyes and artificial pigments. Often, they also incorporate harmful chemicals such as lead and mercury that cause allergies, rashes and irritation. When left unwashed for too long, they can cause hair cuticles and skin to dry up.
● Water-Based Colours
While they contain mild chemicals, water-based colours are safer than oil or synthetic colours. They can be washed off easily with water and are a better choice to play Holi with.
● Oil-Based Colours
Oil-based colours stick to your skin and close your skin pores, leading to dry and itchy skin. They cling to the scalp and are hard to remove, weakening hair strands and roots. Plus, they are tough to wash off and may take more than a couple of days to fully wipe off.
Pre-Holi Prep: Skin and Hare Care Tips For Safe Celebrations
We are sure you already know the good ol’ saying: prevention is better than cure. Check out these smart skin and hair care tips that will help you get the answers to your questions how to clean Holi colour from face and hair:
● Coconut and Almond Oil For The Win
Slather your hair with coconut or almond oil to create a protective layer for your hair. Coconut oil is the best for the job as it is a gentle oil that doesn’t trigger any allergies and is thick enough to create a slippery layer from dust and synthetic hair colours. This also locks hair nutrients, stopping them from drying out while playing with colours.
● Moisturise Well
Similar to coconut hair, moisturising using petroleum jelly or any other moisturiser will help prevent colour from sticking to your skin. This will protect your skin from drying out and any harsh skin infections.
● Lather That Sunscreen
Before heading out into the intense sunlight of March or April, it is advisable to apply a generous amount of premium-quality and high-SPF sunscreen on your skin. This will not only shield you from the sun's UV rays but also safeguard your skin against other harmful substances.
● Apply Nailpolish
This is a smart tactic to avoid your nails being stained with Holi colours, which, let’s be honest, is pretty impossible to avoid. You can go with clear or even coloured nail polish.
● Wear a Dummy T-shirt
You can put on a slim t-shirt underneath your outfit to prevent the Holi colours from drying out and sticking to your skin, causing irritation and harmful reactions. Take it off halfway through your event to stay fresh and protected. You can also wear an open shirt rather than a T-shirt for a similar result.
● Tie Your Hair
We know hair is everything; they are the lifeline of every outfit. However, they can get pretty damaged during Holi season, so keep them tied in a braid or a ponytail. You can think of creative ponytail ideas to enjoy the celebration.
● Keep Washing It Off
Rather than waiting and letting the colour dry till the end of the play, take short intervals and use fresh water to wash off the colour before it dries up. This will reduce the accumulation of colours and will be much easier to wipe off later.
Get Your Scrub Ready: How to Remove Holi Color From Face
Are you stuck asking the same question: how to get rid of Holi colours on face, again and again, every year after each Holi celebration? If yes, your prayers have been answered. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to remove pakka holi colour from face safely:
1. Dust Excess Dry Colour
Before getting in the nitty-gritty, we’ll start the how to remove holi color from face process by removing the excess dry colour from your face with a cloth or even a wet wipe to avoid clogging drains later. Do not scrub vigorously. Just wipe as much as you can.
2. Massage With Oil
Oils such as coconut, almond and jojoba can help break down the particles of colours and help dissolve them off your skin. You can start by gently massaging the oil on your skin in a circular motion to disturb the rigid colour accumulation. This will help wash off your colours much more easily and leave your skin with nourishment.
3. Exfoliate Your Skin
While cleansing, use a hydrating face wash or exfoliate using a gentle scrub containing natural ingredients such as neem and aloe vera. This will not only hydrate your skin that is being affected by the colour but also help loosen the grip of colour particles along with other harmful chemicals and dirt.
4. Use Cold or Lukewarm Water
Never use hot water while washing the Holi colour. It can cause rashes and hurt your already dry skin caused by Holi colour. Cold water or lukewarm water will help keep the hydration of your skin while rinsing the colour off.
5. Extra Care For Stubborn Stains
If you are stuck with some rigid stains that just won’t go, you might have to take extra care to remove them. Use a mild cleanser and gently scrub on the stubborn spot to get it removed. Do not be too harsh, as it may be sensitive and cause rashes or redness. This step might take some time and patience as hard colours made of synthetic or oil can be tough to remove.
6. Face Packs
If your face isn’t clean the first time, which is all of us after a long Holi play, then before going for round two, apply a rejuvenating face pack that will keep your skin smooth and help reduce the harsh effects of colours. While there are a lot of great commercial face packs available, you can try these quick home face pack ingredients for a hydrating and clean face:
● Gram Flour, Honey and Curd: This is great for exfoliating your skin. An equal portion of gram flour, honey and curd and leave the pack for about 10-15 minutes for best results.
● Turmeric and Rice Flour: The anti-inflammation and immense medical benefits of turmeric help reduce the harsh effect of colours, while rice flour adds smoothness to your skin.
● Multani Mitti (Fuller’s Earth): Every Indian household is known for the multi-fold skin benefits of Multani Mitti. Apply it by mixing it with rose water and leave it for 10 minutes. It will leave your skin radiating and reduce the redness caused by scrubbing.
Luscious Locks: Guide On How to Get rid of Holi Colours From Hair
Now that we have covered how to remove Holi color from face, it’s time to get your hair all cleaned up:
1. Quick Cold Water Wash
Begin by having a quick rinse with cold water to remove the excess dry colour from the hair to avoid clumping and easy cleaning later. You can try to dust off the dry particles before washing to avoid overcrowding the drains.
2. Use Hair Oil
Just as it was mentioned in our step-by-step guide on how to remove holi color from face, massage your hair with natural oils like mustard and coconut oil and leave for 15-20 minutes to help dissolve all the colour particles. You can use warm oil to massage to nourish your hair.
3. Hair Mask Galore
There are a range of ingredients you can use from your household to create a quick, home-made effective hair mask:
● Yoghurt and Lemon: By now, it's clear how nourishing yoghurt and lemon are for your skin and hair. The presence of lactic acid and probiotics helps remove dirt while leaving your hair fresh and hydrated. This will also help balance the pH level of the scalp.
● Apple Cider Vinegar: Not a hair mask, but apple cider vinegar can help rinse your hair, freeing it from the rigid colour particles and making your luscious lock shiny and smooth.
4. Use Sulphate-Free Shampoo
Say no to sulphate in your shampoos or conditioners, especially when washing after a Holi session. Your hair cuticles are vulnerable and can be damaged by the harsh cleansing of sulphate shampoo. Use organic shampoos free of preservatives and chemicals to keep your hair moisture locked in. Aloe vera and coconut are great shampoo ingredients. After the rising session, do not forget to apply a conditioner to bring back the smoothness of your hair.
Post-Holi Skin and Hair Care Routine: Essential Tips
Once you have passed the bridge of how to remove holi colour from skin and hair, it’s time to bring your skin back to its best. Even after the removal of all colour particles, your hair and skin are still very sensitive. Follow these tips to keep them safe and healthy for a long time:
● Hydration is Key
Due to the chemicals present in the Holi colours and the rigorous washing process, the hair and skin can become dry and fragile. Apply a good-quality, hydrating and organic lotion to restore moisture to your skin. You can apply a deep-conditioning mask to your hair. Aloe vera is an excellent choice for a natural moisturising component to assist in calming any irritation or redness.
● Avoid Harsh Scrubs
Ladies! After following our detailed how to remove holi color from face and hair guide, use your softest loofah with gentle pressure to prevent rashes or itchiness. Also, avoid any exfoliation or scrubbing of the face washes for a few days, and let the skin heal itself.
● Say No to Heat
Whether you are using hair straighteners or hair-drying tools, keep them in sleep mode for a few days. Keep your fragile hair and skin on a cold wash and air dry routine to stop any further damage. While it’s a tough one on your busy schedule, heat products can cause heavy damage to the dry hair cuticles.
● Chug! Chug! Chug!
Raise your water consumption to rehydrate your body to its normal smooth and nourishing level. Rather than chugging a load of water in a couple of intervals, try regulating it over the entire day. And, No! Your 6 coffee cups aren’t counted as daily water intake in our how to remove holi color from face guide.
● Eat a Balanced Diet
Whether you are searching for how to remove Holi color or not, a balanced diet should be a regular occurrence in your life. However, keep your diet protein-rich to fasten the process of rejuvenation and incorporate dairy products such as milk and the good ol’ trusted partner yoghurt for dense Vitamin D and A, which is great for the skin.
Conclusion
Girls! Do not let your anxieties about fragile hair, dry skin, and heavy-duty scrub stop you from having a blast this Holi. Our guide answers all the questions regarding how to remove holi color from face and hair and will help you tackle this tricky problem with absolute ease. Keep a check on your pre-Holi routine and make sure to be patient, and voila, within a few days, your hair and skin will be as smooth and beautiful as ever. Have a safe and energetic Holi!
FAQs
How can I remove Holi colours from my nails?
While it is hard to remove the colour stains from the nails after the Holi play, you can use lemon to scrub it off a little by little every day. You can also put nail polish before playing Holi to avoid staining at all.
Can I go for a hair spa and or facial after playing Holi?
It is advised to avoid any facial treatment of hair spa for a couple of days after playing Holi as your skin and hair are in healing mode. However, the duration depends on the amount and type of Holi colour used.
How long does it take for the Holi colours to come off?
While it depends on the nature of the colour, organic colours come off within 2-3 days. For synthetic and oil-based Holi colours you need to perform regular oiling to remove it slowly over a few days.