Tips to protect your hair from Holi colours

Holi is all about colours - some use safe herbal options, but some go wild with eggs, grease and 'pucca' colours. Be wary against the use of synthetic colours that may be laced with industrial dyes, and protect your hair and scalp by having a pre-holi massage with warm coconut oil and tie them up to play with colours, an expert says. Celebrity hairstylist Asgar Saboo has a few simple precautionary steps to suggest so that you can enjoy the festivity to the hilt - and keep your locks damage-free.

Pre-Holi Haircare

• Before you spray on any colours, ensure that you have oiled your hair well. A head massage with warm coconut oil, or a mixture of jojoba and castor oil the night before Holi is typically recommended. The oil provides hair with the nutrition it requires when it gets dry due to the colours. This also causes the colour to come off the hair more easily after you have finished festival celebrations.

• Another tip is to use the 'Hot Towel Treatment' just a night before you plan your big Holi party. Simply soak a towel in hot water and wrap it around your head. Leaving this on for about 30 minutes to an hour will let the steam open up the pores in the scalp, hence allowing the colours to come off easily the next day.

• If you have a sensitive scalp, add a few drops of lemon juice to avoid any infection triggered by the chemicals in colours. The lemon juice acts as a protective shield against the harsh colours on the scalp.

Post-Holi Haircare Tips

• After celebrating Holi, first rinse your hair with plenty of plain water to wash away the dry colours and tiny particles of mica. You can use a mild shampoo, working it into the hair with the fingers followed by a conditioner. If the colour still remains in your hair, do not wash it again on the same day as it will make your locks dry.

• Alternatively, you can apply olive oil to your hair and wash it the next day.

• Soak a few fenugreek (methi) seeds in water overnight. Next morning crush them to make a paste. Apply this on your hair and keep it for at least 15 minutes. Wash your hair with a mild shampoo. If used twice a week, the mask will help reduce hair loss. The mask also controls dandruff.

Recommended Hair-Styles For Holi
The biggest no-no on Holi is to leave your hair open. To be comfortable, yet stylish and still guaranteed to have fun, you can try the following tips:

• Try out a French Braid and wear a thick hair band with a bow on your head for a quirky-festival look. This will not only keep your hair tied back but the band will also protect your hair from the colour.

• A high bun is not only trendy, but you can also put a thick bun cover of the same colour as your hair on your bun. This will help protect your hair to a great extent from the chemicals and you will still be looking style savvy.

• If you want to protect your hair from every bit of colour, wearing a bandana would be a great option. Hold your hair together and make a low bun. Then, tie a bandana, covering your complete head. This way your hair will be safe from any colour damage.