Diwali is a festival that is all about fun and fanfare, meeting friends and family and just having a good time. The festival, however, also brings with it, its share of issues for the health of your skin and hair, especially because of all the pollution caused by firecrackers and binge eating fried and sugary foods. With everyone around looking their festive best, there’s also a lot of pressure on looking your finest, whether it is related to your apparel, ornaments or even your makeup. All that makeup that you apply or all those styling products that you use on your hair can, however, take their toll on the health of your skin and hair, causing considerable and at times, even irreversible damage.
So what is it that can be done in order to protect your skin and hair from the ill-effects of our indulgence? Does it mean that we cannot get dolled up on one of the most celebrated festivals in the country? Certainly not! All you need to do is take just a little extra care by prepping your skin and hair for the upcoming Diwali festivities. For instance, following a proper skin and hair care routine can go a long way in ensuring that they stay healthy and protected.
Starting off with skincare 101, a good CTM (cleansing, toning and moisturizing) routine will always make sure that your skin stays soft, supple and well-hydrated. You could even exfoliate your skin using a good scrub, either one bought from the market or even one made at home using the ingredients available in your kitchen. Scrub your skin at least two times in a week to remove all the dirt and impurities that might have settled on it. Having a good sunscreen at hand with at least 30 SPF rating and applying it on your exposed skin is a must, even if it’s winter and even if you’re celebrating indoors. All this prepping before applying makeup on your skin will ensure that your skin stays fresh-looking, healthy and hydrated throughout Diwali season.
As for your bedtime routine, never, and we really do mean never sleep with your makeup on. You might be feeling dead tired by the time you’re done celebrating for the day, but sleeping with your makeup on is a sin that not even the most elaborate offering to the Gods can wash off. Makeup does not allow your skin any room to breathe through the night, leading to dull and tired-looking skin that is prone to acne and spot pimples as well. Micellar water, a combination of pure water and hydrating ingredients such as glycerin, and low concentrations of mild surfactants, is an excellent solution for getting rid of your makeup since it not only clears your skin of product but also moisturizes it deeply. And it is so gentle on your skin that you do not need to rinse it off either. You could even treat your skin to certain masks made from ingredients such as aloe vera or Multani mitti (Fuller’s earth) to ensure that your skin glows as bright as the festivities around.
No look on Diwali, or even otherwise, can be perfect unless you’ve got your hair on point as well. However, getting your hair to act the way you want it to, isn’t quite an easy task either. It often takes a certain amount of product and sometimes, the use of heat styling tools as well, to get your hair to behave. However, all of this product and heat-styling can cause considerable damage to the health of your hair, leaving it looking dry, dull and frizzy by the end of the season. Fret not though, as we’ve got a few tips and tricks up our sleeve to help you get out of this quagmire as well.
First and foremost, avoid using heat-styling tools as much as possible (opt for hairstyles such as updos and braids that do not usually require any heat tools to get right) and if you just have to, remember to always apply a heat-protectant spray onto your hair beforehand. Heat tends to break down the hydrogen bonds in your hair, causing them to become dry, brittle and frizzy.
Even regular use of products such as mousse on your hair can have a harmful effect on its health. Also, just like it is imperative that you take off any makeup before you go to bed, it is also important that you wash off any mousse or other styling products that you might have applied to your hair regularly. Investing in a good and nourishing shampoo and conditioner will also ensure that your hair is able to deal with the heat and pollution in a much better way. Go in for a detox drink such as lemon water or green tea every day, since a healthy digestive system will not only help your skin stay healthier, it will also ensure the well-being of your scalp. This is especially important given the sweets and fried snacks we’re assuming you’ll be gorging upon all through the festive season.
Hot oil massages and hair masks are also an excellent solution for keeping your tresses healthy and nourished. All you need to do is warm up some coconut, jojoba or sweet almond oil and massage it onto your scalp using your finger tips. You could even make a hair mask at home using ingredients such as yogurt, avocados, bananas, honey or aloe vera, or even a combination of these. Leave the mask on to dry for about 15-20 minutes, depending upon the ingredients you’re using and wash it off using a mild sulphate-free shampoo afterwards. Taking care of your skin and hair is the best gift you can give to yourself this Diwali. And we wish you a really happy one too!
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Written by Karan Dalvi on 24th Oct 2019