A prominent festival celebrated in India and Nepal, Holi is a time when friends and families come together to drench themselves in a myriad of colors and feel high on life. It’s also a time when you expose your delicate skin and hair to harsh chemicals often used in making the vibrant Holi colors.

Little do we realize that all the frolicking and smearing each other’s faces with whatnot can wreak havoc on your skin. Most of us remove Holi colors from skin with a face wash or soap and leave the stains to fade over time. But these colors slowly soak into our skin and give way to rashes, breakouts and other skin troubles.

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intro remove Holi color from skin
Use natural ingredients to get Holi color off your skin

Since you cannot avoid the colors, it is best to prepare your skin and hair for Holi. Here are some of the precautionary steps that you can take:

  • Apply olive or mustard oil on your hair and scalp. This will prevent the colors from sticking to your scalp or hair.
  • Coat your exposed skin with a thick moisturizer. You can go one step further and apply a foundation for the second layer of protection.
  • Apply nail polish to protect your nails from staining.
  • Avoid washing the colors off with warm water, as it can set the stain.
  • Smear a thick layer of Vaseline over your lips to keep them protected.

If you still manage to get some nasty color stains on your skin, you can use one of the following natural methods to remove Holi colors from skin.

Method 1: Gram Flour Scrub

Gram flour has been an age-old secret for flawless skin. It works as a natural exfoliant to slough off dead skin cells and impurities and, in this case, the Holi colors. Since the chemicals in the colors can damage the skin, you can mix the gram flour with other enriching ingredients like turmeric, sandalwood powder, and mustard oil.

The turmeric powder, being anti-inflammatory, will heal any skin irritation and also help lighten the skin. The sandalwood powder will soothe the irritated skin. The mustard oil will bind the ingredients together and also help remove Holi colors from skin. This scrub also uses wheat flour to improve your skin texture.

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Caution: The turmeric powder and mustard oil used in this scrub can make your skin burn. Do a patch test first to check your skin’s sensitivity. If the burning is unbearable, wash it off immediately.

Things you’ll need:

things you'll need to make gram flour scrub to remove Holi color from skin

  • Gram flour (exfoliant) – 2 tablespoons
  • Whole wheat flour (renews skin) – 2 tablespoons
  • Turmeric powder (lighten skin, anti-inflammatory) – ¼ teaspoon
  • Sandalwood powder (soothes skin) – ¼ teaspoon
  • Mustard oil (helps remove oil) – enough to make a paste

Step 1. Mix the four dry ingredients in a bowl

combine the dry ingredients to remove Holi color from skin
Combine the dry ingredients
  • Put 2 tablespoons of gram flour in a bowl.
  • Add 2 tablespoons of whole wheat flour to it.
  • Add ¼ of a teaspoon each of sandalwood and turmeric powders.
  • Mix everything well.

Step 2. Make a paste by adding the mustard oil

add mustard oil to remove Holi color from skin
Add mustard oil to bind the ingredients together
  • Add just enough mustard oil to make a thick, spreadable paste.
  • Mix it well with the dry ingredients until you get a lump-free paste.

Step 3. Scrub your skin with the gram flour paste

scrub the skin with the paste to remove holi color from skin
Use the prepared paste as a body scrub
  • Apply a small amount of the paste on your stained skin.
  • Massage it into the skin in small circular motions. It may sting a little due to the presence of mustard oil, but the burning will subside after a few seconds.
  • Continue scrubbing for 1 to 2 minutes, then rinse it off with cool water.
  • Repeat the process if needed.

Method 2: Coffee & Sugar Scrub

Coffee-based scrubs are great for your skin. This particular blend will not only remove Holi colors from skin but also help improve its appearance.

The coffee grounds work as an exfoliant to slough off dead skin cells. Using sugar along with coffee grounds improves the scrub’s exfoliating properties. This scrub also uses glycerin that restores moisture to dry and irritated skin. The coconut oil helps deeply nourish the skin and forms a protective layer over it.

This coffee scrub is also an excellent remedy to get rid of cellulite. Massaging coffee grounds over the affected area helps plump up the skin to make the cellulite less visible.

Things you’ll need:

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things you'll need to make coffee scrub to remove Holi color from skin

  • Coffee grounds (exfoliates skin) – 2 tablespoons
  • Granulated sugar (exfoliates skin) – 2 tablespoons
  • Vegetable glycerin (humectant) – 2 tablespoons
  • Coconut oil (moisturizes skin) – 2 tablespoons

Step 1. Combine the four ingredients

combine all the ingredients to remove Holi color from skin
Add sugar, glycerin and coconut oil to the coffee grounds
  • Put 2 tablespoons of coffee grounds in a bowl.
  • Add 2 tablespoons each of granulated sugar, coconut oil, and vegetable glycerin.

Step 2. Mix well & scrub your stained skin with it

mix well and scrub the stained skin with it to remove holi color from skin
Use the blend as a scrub to get rid of the color and nourish your skin
  • Mix everything into a uniform blend.
  • Take a small amount of the prepared scrub and buff your stained skin with it in small circular motions.
  • Rinse it off with cool water and pat your skin dry.
  • Repeat the process if some color remains.

Method 3: Almond & Honey Pack (Dry Skin)

Harsh chemicals can make your dry skin itchy and even lead to rashes. What you need at this time is a scrub that is extremely gentle and packed with hydrating elements that protect your skin. This honey and almond pack will give you just that.

The almond powder works as an extremely gentle exfoliant to slough off the dead skin cells. Plus, its nutrients make your skin supple. The honey helps seal moisture into your skin and also forms a protective coating. The milk and lemon juice in this pack work as natural cleansers to remove Holi colors and other impurities from your skin.

Things you’ll need:

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things you'll need to make almond-honey pack to remove Holi color from skin

  • Almond powder (gentle exfoliant) – 1 tablespoon
  • Raw honey (humectant) – 1 tablespoon
  • Lemon juice (skin cleanser) – 10 drops
  • Milk (skin cleanser) – enough to make a paste

Step 1. Combine the four ingredients

combine the ingredients to remove Holi color from skin
Add honey, lemon juice and milk to the almond powder
  • Put 1 tablespoon of almond powder in a bowl.
  • Add 1 tablespoon of raw honey.
  • Squeeze a lemon wedge to add 10 drops of lemon juice.
  • Add just enough milk to form a thick paste.

Step 2. Mix well & apply it to your stained skin

mix well and apply on the stain to remove Holi color from skin
Mix well and apply it on the skin for 20 minutes
  • Use a spoon to mix the ingredients thoroughly.
  • Apply the blend on your stained skin and let it sit for 20 minutes.
  • Wet the dried pack with water and massage it gently over your skin until the color starts coming off.
  • Rinse the area with cool water.
  • If needed, apply the pack again to remove the color completely.

Method 4: Almond & Oatmeal Pack (Sensitive Skin)

Nothing works better than oatmeal when it comes to dealing with sensitive skin. The soft grains can serve as a gentle exfoliant. The saponins found in oatmeal work as a natural cleanser along with the milk to get rid of any impurities on your skin. The antioxidants in oatmeal also protect the skin from free-radical damage.

This pack also contains almond powder that improves the texture of your skin. The honey helps seal in moisture. The aloe vera gel has anti-inflammatory properties that help soothe skin irritation and also forms an antibacterial layer on the skin.

Things you’ll need:

things you'll need to make almond-oatmeal pack to remove Holi color from skin

  • Ground oatmeal (exfoliant, skin cleanser) – 1 tablespoon
  • Almond powder (improves skin texture) – 1 tablespoon
  • Raw honey (humectant) – ¼ tablespoon
  • Fresh aloe vera gel (anti-inflammatory) – ¼ tablespoon
  • Cold milk (skin cleanser) – 1 tablespoon

Step 1. Mix the five ingredients into a thick paste

combine the ingredients to remove holi color from skin
Add oatmeal, aloe vera, and honey to the almond powder
  • Put 1 tablespoon of ground oatmeal in a bowl.
  • Add 1 tablespoon of almond powder.
  • Add ¼ of a tablespoon each of raw honey and fresh aloe vera gel.
add milk and mix well to remove Holi color from skin
Add milk to bind the ingredients together
  • Add 1 tablespoon of milk.
  • Use a spoon to whip up the ingredients into a thick paste.

Step 2. Apply the paste to the stained skin

apply the blend to remove holi color from skin
Apply the thick paste on the stain for 10 minutes
  • Spread a thick layer of the paste on your stained skin.
  • Leave it on for 10 minutes.
  • Simply rinse it off with cool water. Do not try to scrub the paste off, as it can irritate your already sensitive skin.

Method 5: Fuller’s Earth

If you have oily or combination skin and you wish to detoxify it after playing with harsh colors, go for this blend of fuller’s earth and yogurt. The fuller’s earth soaks up toxins, impurities, and sebum from your pores, while the yogurt works as a natural cleanser to remove Holi colors from skin.

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Things you’ll need:

things you'll need to make Fuller's Earth pack to remove Holi color from skin

  • Fuller’s earth (detoxes skin) – 2 tablespoons
  • Yogurt (cleanser) – 1 tablespoon

Single-Step Method: Mix Fuller’s earth & yogurt into a paste and apply

mix well and apply on the skin to remove holi color from skin
Mix yogurt with Fuller's Earth and apply on the stained skin
  • Put 2 tablespoons of Fuller’s earth in a bowl.
  • Add 1 tablespoon of plain yogurt to it.
  • Mix the two well to form a thick paste.
  • Spread a thin layer of the paste on your stained skin.
  • Allow it to dry completely, then just rinse it off with cool water.
  • Finish by applying a light moisturizer.

Tips

  • Since the colors available in the market are often laden with harsh chemicals and strong pigments, try making natural Holi colors.
  • Wear long-sleeve clothing while playing with colors to prevent staining your skin in the first place.
  • If you wear contact lenses, do not wear them on the day of Holi. The colors could accidentally get in your eyes.
  • Lastly, keep your body and skin well-hydrated by drinking lots of water.
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