Holi 2022: Tips to protect your eyes from ‘gulaal’

Holi is the
festival of colours and joy. While it is fun to celebrate the occasion with ‘gulaal’ and water and music bursting out loud, it can often lead to injuries and it is
advisable to take a few precautionary steps in order to enjoy the festival without
harming oneself or others.

Also Read | Priyanka Chopra paints the town red with Nick Jonas and his parents on Holi: See pics

The eyes
are particularly at risk during the festival as powdered colours, coloured water
or other chemicals can very easily enter them and cause short or long-term
injury. Here are a few steps that can be taken in order to keep your eyes safe
during Holi.

1. Do not
use toxic chemicals

Most Holi
colours sold nowadays contain toxic chemicals that can damage not only your
eyes, but your skin, hair and the environment. They contain substances like
mercury, asbestos, mica, lead among other harmful chemicals. Therefore, ensure you
use only organic colours.

Also Read | Follow these pre and post-Holi hair care tips to prevent damage

2. Wear glasses
or protective eyewear

If you have
plans to play with colours with friends or family during Holi, you will not be
amiss in wearing a pair of glasses or some other kind of protective eyewear.

3. Do not
wear contact lenses

Coloured waters
entering your eyes can do a lot more damage in case one is wearing contact
lenses.  The colour pigments get deposited
on the lenses and will leach over a longer period of time, potentially causing
long-term eye damage.

Using colour-stained
fingers to remove these lenses can also cause harm, so the general thumbrule is
to not wear lenses at all in case you are celebrating properly.

Also Read | Try these pre and post-Holi skincare tips for a carefree festival

4. Keep your
hair tied back

Coloured
water can often drip into your eyes from your hair. In order to prevent that, you
can keep your hair tied behind your head or wear a scarf/bandana.

5. Do not
rub your eyes

Try to avoid
touching your face or eyes during or immediately after playing Holi, as your
hands will most likely be drenched in coloured water, which can enter your eyes.
And in case anything does enter your eye, do not rub them, seek help from
someone not drenched in colours.