DIY- Gulal Hacks

DIY Tips: How to make herbal Holi colours

Some European studies have reported links between artificial colors and a range of health issues. Those colourful packets of gulal can leave you with nasty skin rashes.

Colours that you can prepare at home

The festival of colours is around the corner and it calls for some celebration! That is exactly what Holi brings, a lot of enjoyment, bright colours, delicious food and the never-ending singing and dancing until our throats go sore from all the cheering and hooting! Full of colours and sweets, the celebrations start almost a week before the actual date of the festival. In fact, colours simply add on to the festive fervour and there's hardly anyone who doesn't love the plethora of colours in the air. But time and again, we bear the brunt of the chemical based colours have on our skin and their side effects on our overall health. Of late, there has been a change in the trend and people are going for organically made colours, but are they pocket friendly too. 

Gulal

The whole feel of Holi begins with this beautiful, bright red colour and why wouldn’t it? Just looking at this colour can fill your heart with happiness. To make it at home, you will need some red sandalwood powder and mix it with some maida or atta. Remember to not use this colour with water. To make a wet version of the same, you will need to boil some beetroots along with hibiscus flowers. Add the juice of a tomato into it to avoid it fro sticking to your face or any other body part.

Green

The best way to create a green colour is to mix some henna powder with some maida. This will give you a smooth and natural dry green colour. To make a wet green colour, take hold of some spinach leaves and coriander leaves. Boil them and then grind them into a fine paste.

Pink

To make a dry version of this colour, grind beetroot in a fine paste and let it dry in the sun. Once it dries, mix it with besan or maida and use. For wet version o the same, boil some beetroot pieces and let them sit in the water for some time. You will have a wet pink colour too.

Saffron

Arrange for a Tesu flower and soak it in some water overnight. This primarily makes a wet colour and gives a pretty, deep saffron colour.

Purple

To prepare a deep purple colour, grind some grapes and Jamun in a grinder and mix it in water. Jamun works marvellously as natural dyes and will give you a beautiful purple colour.

Yellow

To make a beautiful, natural yellow colour, you will need some dry and raw turmeric. Blend the dry turmeric powder with some besan and you will have dry yellow colour ready. If you want a wet version of the same, boil the raw haldi in water and once it cools down, your dry yellow colour will be ready to use.

Resource - TOI