Not sure about you guys, but we truly appreciated those days of complete lockdown because it drastically changed most of our skin and hair for the better! Why? Well, staying at home was a little overwhelming but the absence of pollution, dirt and dust made a huge difference.
In simple words, pollution does major harm to our skin and hair without us realising at all! Hence, the smartest way to avoid this damage is by simply taking care of your skin and hair in every way possible. In fact, it isn’t that difficult either! And obviously it is the only way that you can take care of your skin and hair because we definitely don’t want another lock down just so that our skin and hair could improve.
Let’s begin with your skin…
Step 1
Effects of pollution on skin runs deeper than you realise and no matter what the weather is like or what season you are in, never ever forget your skincare regime before stepping out of the house. Your basic skincare regime before stepping out of the house must include cleansing, toning, moisturizing and finishing it off with a sunscreen. It is okay if you want to skip on your makeup on some days, but it is absolutely not okay to skip on your sunscreen. While, if you are wearing makeup, it not only makes you look nicer, but it also creates another layer on your skin which ensures protection against pollution.
Apart from this, did you know that air pollution affects skin much more violently then you realise. The free particles floating in the air get attracted to the oil and sweat on your skin and stay on until you cleanse your face. If you don’t cleanse your face well, this dirt and bacteria is what invites pimples and acne in the long run. Hence cleansing your face once your day is over is extremely important.
Step 2
If you travel by car with windows up at all times, you can skip this step. But for the rest of you all who travel by two wheelers or on foot, this extra little step works really well! Just make sure that your scarf is not made of synthetic materials. Go for a soft cotton scarf and cover your face and neck well. This will ensure extra protection for your skin against pollution and dust. Air pollution also affects your skin also when your cotton scarf is not washed properly. Hence make sure that you use a clean cotton scarf every time you step out.
Step 3
Cleansing! This step is extremely important for your skin at the end of the day. Cleansing washes off all the dirt and pollution particles that might have stuck on your face during the day. This makes your skin clean and retains its healthy glow while preventing skin problems like pimples, acne, rashes caused by dirt, grime and pollution. If you don’t feel your skin properly, effects of pollution on skin will start to shore and probably remain permanent for the rest of your life. So to avoid this make sure you use a gentle face wash every single day.
Step 4
Another way to control the effects of pollution on skin is to use a good face scrub at least twice a week. This will gently exfoliate your skin and get rid of all the dead skin cells and dirt that your face wash is not able to wash off. A gentle face scrub helps in revealing your youthful glow and also helps in cleaning your pores from within. This also helps in getting rid of blackheads and whiteheads.
Follow these three easy steps and your skin will be happy and pollution-free!
Now that we are sorted with our skin care regime, let us now check out what all you need to do for your luscious hair…
Step 1
Now this step is similar to your skincare regime, which says ‘cover your head’ no matter what! If you travel on an open transport or on foot, make sure you always cover your head with a scarf making sure that your hair is well covered. This step is very simple but it makes or breaks the quality of your hair. Uncovered hair is rougher and drier compared to someone who covers their hair outdoors. Uncovered hair also attracts dirt and grime that stick to the scalp resulting in itchiness, dryness and at times dandruff. So, the smart step would be to simply cover your hair before stepping out. Pollution and hair loss go hand in hand so make sure you follow this step.
Step 2
Hair loss due to pollution is more common than you realise. If you are someone with oily hair then we suggest that you wash your hair at least twice a week to avoid dirt and pollution clogging on your scalp. And if you have normal hair then check your scalp and hair quality and wash your hair whenever needed and more than once a week is fine too.
For this step we especially recommend the Iba Professional Black Seed Therapy Shampoo that is specially designed for cleansing off pollutants, dandruff, calming down an itchy scalp and also for hair fall. This halal shampoo is infused with the goodness of kalonji, amla, neem extract to give you healthy hair always.
Step 3
As important as it is to wash your hair to get rid of all the dirt and pollution, this step is also crucial in reversing damaged hair. Conditioner it is! Your conditioner does more than you can imagine. Most of us skip this extra step, but this step is what restores your hair quality. Your conditioner deeply moisturizes your hair and heals all the damage and dryness caused by pollution and dust. Your conditioner also increases your hair’s elasticity which helps in preventing breakage.
The best conditioner you can get your hands upon is the Iba Professional Black Seed Therapy Conditioner which is known for its deep conditioning and anti-pollution properties. Infused with the goodness of kalonji, amla, neem extract, this conditioner ensures you with stronger, healthier, smoother and softer hair. The best option would be to get your very own hair care combo that includes all the hair care products.
Step 4
Lastly, make sure you use a good hair serum that not only protects your hair from pollution but also from the harmful UVA and UVB rays from the sun. Hair loss due to pollution also happens when your hair is dry and you haven’t applied any moisturising product on your hair. Hence applying a hair serum helps in maintaining your hair’s natural moisture and keeps your hair well hydrated.
We hope these tips and tricks help you in protecting your skin and hair against pollution from now on!
