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Making your own chemical-free Holi colors at home is a great idea! Not only does it ensure safety for your skin, but it’s also eco-friendly. Here are some tips for making natural and safe colors for Holi:
1. Red Color (from Hibiscus)
- Ingredients: Dried hibiscus flowers
- How to Make: Crush dried hibiscus flowers and grind them into a fine powder. You can also soak the flowers in hot water and use the liquid for a more vibrant red.
2. Yellow Color (from Turmeric)
- Ingredients: Turmeric powder
- How to Make: Turmeric is naturally yellow, so simply use it as is! Mix it with a little cornstarch or rice flour to make it finer and easier to apply.
3. Green Color (from Spinach or Moringa)
- Ingredients: Spinach leaves or moringa powder
- How to Make: Blend spinach leaves with a little water, strain the mixture, and dry the green liquid to make a powder. Alternatively, you can use moringa powder for a vibrant green.
4. Blue Color (from Butterfly Pea Flowers)
- Ingredients: Dried butterfly pea flowers
- How to Make: Crush the dried butterfly pea flowers into a powder. If you need a liquid version, dip the flowers in warm water to get a natural blue liquid.
5. Pink Color (from Beets)
- Ingredients: Beetroot
- How to Make: Shred beetroot and dry it in the sun. Once dried, grind it into a fine powder. Alternatively, you can extract beetroot juice for a liquid pink color.
6. Orange Color (from Marigold Flowers)
- Ingredients: Marigold petals
- How to Make: Collect fresh marigold flowers, dry the petals, and crush them into a fine powder. You can also steep marigold petals in water to get a vibrant orange color.
7. White Color (from Rice Flour or Cornstarch)
- Ingredients: Rice flour or cornstarch
- How to Make: Rice flour and cornstarch are naturally white and can be used as a base for other colors or as a plain white color. Mix with a little glitter for extra shine!
8. Purple Color (from Red Cabbage)
- Ingredients: Red cabbage
- How to Make: Boil red cabbage in water until the water turns purple and then dry the liquid to make a powder.
Tips for Preparing and Storing Natural Holi Colors:
- Mix with Cornstarch: To make the colors easier to apply and spread, mix the powders with cornstarch or rice flour.
- Add Essential Oils: For a pleasant fragrance, you can add a few drops of essential oils like lavender or rose to the powders.
- Storage: Store the dry powders in airtight containers to prevent moisture. For liquid colors, store them in bottles or jars and label them accordingly.
Precautions:
Even natural colors used during Holi can irritate some skin types, so it’s important to test them on a small patch of skin before using them fully. Additionally, avoid applying colors near your eyes or other sensitive areas of your body. Always wear old clothes that you don’t mind staining to fully enjoy the festivities without worrying about any damage to your clothes.