KATHMANDU: Holi celebrated with different colours is fun as long as you are playing, but after the fun is over, the real trouble begins. You face and hair is covered in colour and you cannot get rid of it even after many washes.

Some who are allergic to certain colours have a difficult time as by the evening the

rashes start getting worse. Clothes are ruined and some even meet with accidents at times.

Here are few tips to make your Holi fun even after the celebrations are over

Skin and hair care:

• Say no to facials, waxing or threading, in the week preceding Holi.

• Liberal application of olive/coconut/mustard oil all over your body (then apply waterproof sunscreen), and hair on the morning of Holi will prevent colours from directly coming in contact with your skin, and will lessen the damage.

• Use Vaseline under and over your nails, or scrape your nails over a candle to accumulate wax underneath. This will prevent colour clogging and undesirable permanent staining. Apply dark colour nail paint to your nails and later remove the nail paint.

• Wear protective clothing before playing with colours. A swimsuit or waterproof tights under your clothes would protect your body from the harmful effects of chemicals in colours. Wear full-sleeved clothes and use a scarf or bandana around your head to further protect your hair.

• Be careful while eating the tempting goodies — you might swallow colour accidentally spilled on the food or from your hands.

• Don’t overdo fried foods and sweets if you don’t want to break into acne.

• Use organic colours or vegetable and flower extracts as a substitute for Holi colours.

Keep it safe:

• Play safe. Don’t get too boisterous and do not let others to be rude on you.

• The best option would be to play with natural home made colours. Your skin and hair will feel less tampered with the use of skin friendly natural products.

• Use more of red or pink colours, which look good and can easily taken off. Gaudy purple, green, yellow, orange have more harmful chemicals in them and should be avoided.

• Make sure that powder or any other product does not get inside your eyes. Please ensure that your eyes remain protected at all times.

• Put on your old clothes so that you won’t have to take on the hassles of an immediate washing. Tattered denims and shades like black, blue, green, purple are highly recommended.

• Try to save yourself off from all possible attacks on the face. In case your attempts fail, keep your eyes and lips tightly shut if you are attacked on your face.

• When travelling keep the car windows shut.

• Avoid running or jumping on wet floors, so that you don’t slip and injure yourself. Bones are especially vulnerable on this day.

• Avoid over indulgence in bhang, drinks or food... so that you don’t repent later.

• Do not drive if you are high on alcohol or bhang.

• Keep handy painkillers, anti-oxidants, and anti-allergic tablets if all the above tips have been disregarded.