A few beauty tips to look good on Holi

Dry gulal and the wet Holi colours of today contain many harmful chemical substances. Among these are dyes, shiny particles of mica, lead, powdered glass, acids and alkalis. Apart from being a hazard to the environment, they affect the skin and hair adversely. The skin and scalp can get itching and rash.

Holi is played outdoors, so remember to apply sunscreen 20 minutes before going out in the sun on face and exposed areas. Use a sunscreen of SPF 20 and above. If your skin is prone to dark patches, select a higher SPF. For very dry skin, first apply the sunscreen, wait for a few minutes and then apply moisturiser.

For the hair, apply leave on conditioner or hair serum before playing Holi. Hair cream containing sunscreen is also available. Take very little, spread on both palms and massage light in the hair, or smooth palms over the hair. Or, apply pure coconut oil and massage it lightly.

Celebrate a safe Holi with these tips:
The day after Holi, mix two tablespoons honey with half a cup of curd. Add a pinch of turmeric. Apply this on the face, neck and arms. Leave it on for 20 minutes and wash off with water. It helps to remove tan and soften the skin.
Apply aloe vera gel or juice on skin. It moisturises the skin, relieving dryness. It also soothes sunburns. It contains zinc, which is anti-inflammatory. Take one tablespoon gram flour (besan), one teaspoon curd and one tablespoon aloe vera gel. Mix together and apply on the face, washing it off after 20 minutes.
Make your own mild Ayurvedic shampoo. Add a handful each of dry reetha, amla and shikakai to one litre of water and soak overnight. Next day, simmer over a low fire till water reduces to half. Cool and strain. Keep in fridge. The liquid is enough for four hair washes. Make small quantities at a time.
Use neem oil for hair. Heat 250ml pure coconut oil, or sesame seed oil. Take a handful of neem leaves and add it to the oil. Keep in the sun during the day for four or five days. Strain the leaves and keep the oil for use to relieve itching and scalp eruptions.
Within the next few days give your hair a nourishing treatment. Mix one tablespoon pure coconut oil with one teaspoon castor oil. Heat and apply on hair. Then dip a towel in hot water, squeeze out the water and wrap the hot towel around the head, like a turban. Keep it on for five minutes. Repeat the hot towel wrap three to four times. This helps the hair and scalp absorb the oil better. Wash your hair after an hour.
For oily hair, add a handful of fresh marigold flowers to three cups of hot water. Allow it to stand for an hour. Strain and cool the water and use it to rinse the hair after shampoo.

The writer is the CEO of Shahnaz Herbals Inc. She is a prominent woman entrepreneur, who is best known for her herbal cosmetics.