Holi is around the corner, which means we are all prepping up to enjoy one of the most cheerful and fun occasions in our calendar, the festival of colours. Whether you play Holi on the big day itself, or don’t mind several splashes of colour in its run-up, your hair should not suffer in the festivities.
Expert tips to take care of your hair before and after the festival of colours
We spoke to experts from Advanced Hair Studio, Garima Singh, Research and Development Manager at Organic Harvest, and Blossom Kochhar, Chairperson, Blossom Kochhar Group of Companies on how to look after your hair during Holi. Before you jump into the pond of colours, here are the pre-Holi hair care tips everyone should follow to avoid the after-effects of the harmful colours.
Pre-Holi hair care regime
There are several ways to protect your hair from the onslaught of harsh Holi colours.
Shampoo your hair with nourishing shampoo to hydrate and moisturise the hair, apply a nourishing and hydrating conditioner and leave the conditioner in the hair. Now, tie it up to your hair in a bun and go out to enjoy Holi. The conditioner acts as a barrier and protects the hair.
Holi colours that are chemical-free and organic washes off easily and does not need to be removed forcefully and therefore, should be preferred. Harmful toxins present in both dry and wet colours can easily take away the sheen off your hair, making it dry and frizzy. So, don’t forget to massage your scalp, get rid of the split ends and apply root mask to protect your hair.
Massaging works wonders on your hair. It is very important to massage your scalp thoroughly with coconut-based oil before you step into the Holi celebrations. Coconut-based hair oil gives the protective covering layer to your hair, which then helps you to wash off the colours from your hair with ease. Another nourishing hair oil to try is two tablespoon almond oil, two drops of lavender essential oil, a drop of rose essential oil and two or three drops of lemon and apply.
Adding few drops of lemon to the oil and applying it on your hair helps in keeping the toxins found in colours at bay. This is really helpful for those who have a sensitive scalp.
It is advisable to apply root mask to your hair which will help your hair and scalp from dryness. The mask helps in regaining the texture and shines to your hair post the Holi party ends.
Always remember to braid your hair before playing with colours as it reduces the chances of colour seeping in your scalp.
For men also, it is really important to take care of their beard. Apply coconut oil/mustard oil/almond oil before playing Holi.
Removing Holi colours
It is strongly recommended to thoroughly rinse your hair with plain water to get rid of dirt, dry colours and chemicals in the colours, but it is essential to remove Holi colours without going harsh with your scalp and hair. Apply a mild shampoo, gently massage your hair and scalp, leave it for about 10 minutes and then rinse out the shampoo completely. Now, apply a rich conditioner that will help replenish the oil and moisture that are taken away by the chemicals. For further effect, you can oil your hair and leave it overnight after Holi.
You can also opt for hair mask for next 2-3 days to get rid of the damage done by the chemicals.
Care for chemically treated hair
If the hair is very dry and chemically treated, you need to be even more careful during and after Holi. You must use a hair spa mask and leave it in the hair while you play Holi. Traditionally a good hair oil like coconut oil or olive can be massaged on the scalp and hair from roots to ends. Tie your hair up in a tight braid before stepping out to play colours. The oil hydrates and keeps the hair nourished while acting as a wall against Holi colours.
“Celebrating the festival with dry and organic colours is always advisable as dry colour can be
easily dusted off. If the Holi colour is not organic or chemical-free, then it can make the hair more delicate and cause the texture of the hair to go dry and rough. This is because when the original hair is being chemically treated, they are sensitive and when the cuticles are damaged due to chemicals, the hair bonds are broken,” Chen said.
If the unwanted Holi colour persists on your coloured hair, you can also opt for hair colour techniques so that other vibrant colours can be camouflaged by using an ammonia-free base shade on a level 3 or 4. In any other extreme cases, you can go in for a layered and textured haircut to remove the coloured bits.
Holi is the festival of fun and frolic with friends and family. So, don’t let the fear of hair damage keep you away from the festive revelry. Just follow these little tips and enjoy carefree Holi.
AFTER
To avoid dealing with damaged hair after the festival, invest on good organic hair oil for protection.
Scan for oils with ingredients like clary sage and essential oils juniper berry that are known for strengthening hair and leaving behind a calming effect.
Elements like rosemary and essential oil basil are also great picks to avoid hair fall. Make sure you massage the chosen oil on the scalp and along the length of the hair to avoid the colour staying behind and making it brittle.
You can also braid your hair or roll them into a bun right after oiling to ensure minimal damage by reducing the area exposed to colours.
Men should remember to apply two or three drops of ylang ylang oil on their beard after they are done with all the bathing and getting rid of the colours.
IANS