Monsoon Hair Care Tips

Rains bring with them a sense of freshness, change and cool weather which is eagerly awaited after a harsh summer. However, this pleasant weather also brings high humidity and moisture along with it which can harm your skin and affect the quality and texture of your hair, ultimately leading to hair fall.

The sudden change of weather during monsoon can disrupt several body functions and also reduce your general immunity. Hence, several infections and diseases are on the rise in the monsoon season. Heavy rains and the excess humidity and moisture in the air can weaken your hair roots, affect the scalp health causing hair damage.

How do the rains impact your hair?

• More than 90% of people are affected by hair fall during the monsoons.
• Ideally, we should all be modifying our hair care routine as the weather changes but this is not always possible.
• On a normal day, we experience hair fall of about 50-100 hairs per day but during the monsoons, this number can increase to up to 200 or more.
• Hair loss increases during the monsoon season because of the increased humidity in the atmosphere, dry scalp, dandruff, and contact with the acidic rainwater.

What causes frizz and hair loss in monsoon?

• The high percentage of moisture in the environment around us causes the hair to absorb excess hydrogen and swell, thus causing brittle and frizzy hairs that are prone to easy damage.
• The humidity strips the scalp of the natural oils causing a dry scalp and weaker roots.
• Another problem is in keeping the hair dry, the moisture in the scalp weakens the hair follicle strength causing hair to look lifeless and dull and worst it leads to tangled hair which easily breaks and falls.
• Dampness and humidity also increase the risk of infection, as the scalp becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and fungus causing hair problems like itching, dandruff and redness of the scalp.
• Unfavourable moisture conditions disrupt the scalp’s natural oil and pH balance and can lead to a buildup of dirt and clogged pores. This can trigger dandruff and increase itching problems which can further weaken the hair roots and trigger massive hair loss.

Other factors increasing the chances of hair fall in the rains:

• Poor diet, increased consumption of junk food
• High stress
• Lack of Vitamin D due to cloudy weather
• Monsoon related infections and fevers which reduce immunity and trigger hair fall
• Frequent hair styling and heat treatments

In most cases, hair loss in monsoons is a temporary phase and you should follow some simple changes in your daily habits and hair care routine to retain the shine and bounce of your locks and still enjoy the rains.

1. Cut the stress to preserve your tresses:

• Many people tend to stress about hair loss and rush towards over the counter topical applications for the hair, which only quickens the hair loss.

2. Avoid getting drenched in the rains:

• This is the first golden rule of hair maintenance in the rain.
• Rainwater is not as pure as it looks, there are many pollutants and air toxins mixed in it.
• These toxins can cause damage to the scalp and weaken the hair roots, which leads to hair fall.
• If you want to take a walk in the rain, carry an umbrella with you or cover your head with a scarf or a cap.

3. Avoid professional hair salon treatments: 

• Postpone or avoid the hair colour treatments, perming, or any other chemical or heat treatment to after the monsoons.
• Professional treatments make the hair oily and greasy causing damage to the hair and scalp making it prone to breakage and hair loss.
• You should even avoid using hair sprays and gels during the monsoons.

4. Don’t be lazy:

• You can easily undo the damage done by rains by washing your hair immediately after getting home and drying it the natural way.
• Washing will clean off the chemicals from the hair and prevent hair loss.

5. Keep your hair dry:

• Use a microfiber towel to gently squeeze and absorb water from the hair and dry them quickly.
• Don’t use a hairdryer, as it will only damage the already weak hair; instead, let the hair dry naturally.

6. Shampoo less and condition more: –

• Switch to a gentle cleansing and moisturizing shampoo during the monsoons.
• Choosing the right shampoo and conditioner according to your hair type will help prevent problems like dandruff and frizzy hair.
• A conditioner will boost moisture and shine to the hair strands, prevent their breakage and prevent tangled locks.

7. Take warm oil massage twice a week: 

• Warm oil massages with coconut oil or any other oil will not only nourish your scalp but also increase blood circulation and keep the hair healthy and shiny.
• Let the oil sit in the hair for 2-3 hours or preferably overnight and then wash with a mild shampoo.

8. Eat and drink for your hair:

• A healthy well-balanced diet will do wonders for your skin and hair.
• Avoid caffeine as it dehydrates the scalp.
• Instead, aim to drink at least 10-12 glasses of water every day.
• Include sprouts and seeds in your everyday diet.
• Sprouts and seeds are rich in vitamin B, vitamin E, potassium and iron and effective in bringing the lustre back to the hair in no time at all.

9. A Protein-rich Diet

• Hair is mainly made up of keratin which is a protein. Hence consuming foods rich in protein helps boost hair growth.
• Introduce protein-rich foods such as eggs, nuts, green leafy vegetables, salmon, dairy products etc. into your diet plan.
• These foods can help you in maintaining beautiful lustrous hair.

Some important tips:
– Wash your hair at the end with cold water for the extra shine.
– Don’t comb your hair when wet

– Home remedies such as homemade masks and oils are a much safer option than harmful chemicals when it comes to controlling hair loss in monsoons.

Here are some easy to use home remedies:

• Aloe vera gel is easy to use, cooling to the scalp and has excellent anti-dandruff and antimicrobial properties.
• Get rid of excess oil on your scalp by applying some lemon juice to it. Leave it for 15 minutes and then wash.
• To restore shine to normal hair, make a paste of mango and mint and apply it on hair half an hour before shampooing.
• A mix of mashed bananas, eggs and honey will take away the dryness from dry hair and make it softer. Leave the mix on the hair for one hours before washing.
• Hair loss reduction oil: Mix olive oil with honey and cinnamon powder, apply on scalp and keep for forty minutes. Wash with shampoo and condition normally. Repeat once a week.

Hair loss in monsoon is quite a normal and temporary occurence, however, if you notice excessive hair loss then do visit a specialist doctor such as a Plastic surgeon who can identify and treat the cause properly.