Hasina Khatib

As the skies cloud over outdoors, your hair is likely responding to the increased humidity with a burst of rebellion of its own. Frizz, flyaways and hairfall are some of the most common concerns of the season, but the good news is that a proper haircare routine can help you keep all of them at bay. The first order of business? Ensuring that you aren’t expecting the same summer haircare routine to take care of your strands in the monsoon as well. Ahead, the top experts in the world of haircare share their best advice for ensuring the hair of your dreams.

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How The Seasonal Change From Summer To Monsoon Affects Your Hair

“If you thought the summer months took a toll on your hair, then you’ll probably be baffled by what monsoon can do,” says Asha Hariharan, education director at Enrich Beauty. “When it rains, the humid air naturally has more water molecules than dry air, and this leads to hair strands forming a high number of hydrogen bonds. These bonds cause the hair to fold back, curl or become frizzy,” she cautions.

Any change in the weather is likely to trigger a change in our hair, affirms Shilpa Joshi Halder, senior scientist of hair color and care development manager of South Asia at L’Oréal Paris. “Environmental factors play an integral role in the general health of our hair and it tends to speed up the wear and tear of strands. Studies prove that during the warm summer months, hair growth increases to protect the scalp from sunlight. It also boosts the supply of nutrients to produce increased keratin, an integral protein that our hair is composed of, resulting in faster hair growth. However, during monsoons, the humidity in the air blocks your scalp and hair follicles. This is further aggravated by excess sebum production which attracts dirt and pollution,” she explains.

Melissa Hughe, national technical head of Schwarzkopf India, agrees and adds, “Monsoon means a high level of humidity, which brings a rise in scalp and hair concerns. Scalp sensitivity, itching and dandruff are some of the key concerns that get intensified over the monsoon period. High levels of moisture in the air also impact the hair condition, making it more prone to breakage, frizz and unmanageability. The increased moisture in the air causes the hair cuticles to swell and open, thereby leaving the hair in a fragile state. Oxidation of the hair in this condition weakens the hair fibre further and also accelerates the fading of colour. The open cuticles maximise the unruliness and frizz which, in turn, minimises the hair’s natural shine.”

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The Ideal Haircare Routine For Monsoon

Every hair type reacts differently to the rains and suffers from different problems ranging from frizzy, unmanageable hair and dandruff to an oily scalp and increased hairfall. However, Joshi Halder and Hariharan believe that it helps to keep a few basics of good haircare in mind for the season:

• Wash your hair twice or thrice a week with the right shampoo and conditioner for your hair type. Ensure that the water is not too hot or cold since that will cause more hair damage.
• Use a lightweight, moisturising serum post-wash that nourishes your hair and controls frizz.
• Keep your scalp and hair dry as much as possible, as rainwater is acidic in nature and will cause harm to your hair and skin.
• Choosing the right comb for your hair is important during the monsoon season to avoid
• frizzy hair. Use a wide-toothed comb to detangle wet hair however, avoid combing your hair immediately after washing.
• Applying coconut oil is one of the easiest ways to keep your hair healthy while keeping it nourished. Coconut oil will nurture your scalp and hair while protecting it from damage.

Dos and Don’ts For Proper Haircare In Monsoon

The right routine aside, we also got our trusty experts to give us the low-down on what to do and what not to do. So, take notes people.

Dos:

• No matter how much trouble you take to keep your head dry, a heavy shower is sure to
• leave you soaking. Proper drying of hair goes a long way to help minimise the damage from excessive wetting of hair.
• Food rich in protein, such as soybean, paneer and chickpeas, is excellent for hair. Drinking three litres of water everyday will help in the detoxification of the body and also provide minerals which are required for hair.
• Visit your salon for a scalp exfoliation treatment that gently removes dead skin from your scalp, allows the skin to breathe and boosts blood circulation to strengthen the scalp.
• While going easy on the shampoo, don’t forget to apply a weekly moisturising mask to your hair after washing it. Masks are significantly lighter than conditioners and will not weigh down your hair or make it seem flat or oily. They also include powerful moisturising elements that rebuild hair from the inside out.
• Never underestimate the power of a professional hair spa treatment to balance, soothe, strengthen, and restore your hair’s health and shine. Your hairdresser will guarantee that a spa mix tailored to your scalp and hair requirements is created.

Don’ts:

• Hair sprays and gels are a big no as they contain gums which can stick to the scalp and cause dandruff. Instead, protect your hair with a nourishing serum.
• Do not forget to keep your hair open, especially when damp, as millie fungi and bacteria will be able to thrive on the scalp when the hair is not allowed to breathe.
• While it is assumed that hairdryers are bad for frizz, the trick is to use one to dry 60% of the water from the hair. The remaining 40% will then dry faster without pulling away extra moisture from your hair.