POST-HOLI BEAUTY WOES

Be it dryness of skin or breaking of hair strands, experts share kitchen-shelf remedies to tackle beauty problems

Holi’s over, and we’re all recovering from the aftermath. If you played, and got drenched in colours, you might be facing some setbacks. Often, our hair and skin bear the brunt of the festivities. But, with the help of natural remedies, such damages can be repaired. Experts share their tips to restore the skin and hair’s health after playing Holi.

SKIN

“Castor oil is a perfect skincare product. It is naturally rich in antioxidants, and works as a deep conditioner to heal your skin. It reduces dry patches, thereby keeping your skin hydrated post Holi. The protective coat of castor oil also soothes irritation or itching caused by chemicals and toxins post Holi,” says Amit Sarda, dermatologist. DIY skin cleanser

Make your own cleanser with half cup of cold coconut milk and add one teaspoon of castor oil. Mix well. Dip a cotton ball into this blend, and use it on your face and body to cleanse the skin. Let the oil seep in for around 15-20 minutes. Use lukewarm water to wash it off. If the colour persists, don’t try to forcibly remove it. It will peel off, over the next two to three days as your skin cells are shed.

Applying oil while the skin is still damp, helps to seal in moisture. Massage your face and body with olive oil soon after taking a bath.

Mix two to three drops of lavender essential oil to get rid of itching and irritation.

HAIR

“You can use herbal shampoos to rid yourself of post-Holi hair problems. These shampoos should be paraben and SLS free. First, you have to wash your hair with warm water. Apply a deep conditioner mask prior to washing your hair,” says Dr Vandana Punjabi, dermatologist, cosmetologist and trichologist. DIY hair mask Take a ripe banana, castor oil, coconut milk and mix them well. Apply on your hair and scalp, and leave on for 30 minutes. Wash off with lukewarm water to get softer and smoother hair strands

Soak fenugreek (methi) seeds in water overnight.

Next morning, grind them to make a paste and add one to two teaspoons of castor oil. Now, apply the paste on your scalp and hair. Leave it on for at least an hour.

Later, wash your hair with lukewarm water.

Massage your damp hair and scalp with olive oil to restore the moisture and prevent further dryness

And if still there’s any colour remaining, don’t over wash it, as this can dry out your scalp and hair. You can apply olive oil to your hair at night and wash it the next day.

You can use herbal shampoos to rid yourself of post-Holi hair problems. These shampoos should be paraben and SLS free DR VANDANA PUNJABI, DERMATOLOGIST, AND COSMETOLOGIST, TRICHOLOGIST

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