When I woke up on Thursday morning, my apartment was dark and I couldn’t see anything when I pulled aside my blinds.
For a split second, my groggy mind thought the apocalypse had happened while l slept.
I quickly got on the Gulf News website and discovered it was another sandstorm, the second serious one to hit UAE this year.
It was so bad on Thursday; you couldn’t see more than 10 feet at most in front of you while driving.
Maybe some people with supersonic vision could but I definitely couldn’t.
This was my first time seeing such a volatile sand storm since I moved to the Middle East.
So much dust also has several negative effects on the eyes, hair, and skin among which are:
- The dust sweeping over your hair can cause tangling, dry, and frizzy hair.
- Irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat. Throat irritation especially could also be problematic if you have respiratory issues such as asthma, allergies, etc.
- Drying out your skin especially your face.
Unfortunately, you can’t always predict when there will be a sand storm unless you check the weather report consistently.
Even then, it’s not always 100% accurate. Next time, a sand storm lands and you have to go to work or a prior appointment, here are 8 tips to practice to protect your hair, skin, and eyes:
8 Ways to Protect Your Eyes, Hair, and Skin from Sand Storm Effects
1. Minimal Hair Products
Do not overload your hair with products especially products that contain humectants during the harsher months.
Humectants will attract dust and increase dry hair occurrence. Minimal works best.
2. Protect Your Hair
Protect your hair by wearing it up in a bun or with the ends tucked in at least. Keep ends away from brushing against your shoulders and clothes.
3. Cover Your Hair
You can take protecting your hair further by wearing a headscarf, a head wrap, or a hat.
4. Stay Hydrated
Stay hydrated by drinking loads of water and/or flavoured tea. Stay away from fizzy drinks like soda. Fruits like cucumbers also count towards hydration.
5. Moisturise Your Skin
Wear an adequate amount of moisturizer to protect your skin from the elements. Cleanse properly in the evening and re-moisturise.
6. Use a Mask
If you have to walk outside, wear a mask. You can get disposable masks in most pharmacies.
You can also get a pack of face masks from Amazon UAE HERE.
7. Wear Goggles
If you’re concerned about looking a little crazy in goggles, you can wear sunglasses instead.
8. Use a Purifier
If you have respiratory issues, it helps to have a purifier in your home and the office. Purifiers trap potential contaminants and purify the air up to 90%.
You can get a budget-friendly humidifier on Amazon such as Black and Decker Air Humidifier or IDEER LIFE Air Purifier.
Black and Decker Air Humidifier
The best solution, of course, is to stay indoors throughout the storm if you can get away with it.