Hair Care this Monsoon!

You have had your fill of the sun and can’t wait for the fat droplets of rain to fall over your head and help you cool down. With the appearance of every dark cloud, you find your hopes rising… finally it rains!

After having thoroughly enjoyed the first rain, you suddenly realize that you forgot to cover your hair! And while you panic, we would just like to remind you that, these being the monsoons your hair will regularly get drenched whether you like it or not.

But all’s not lost yet as here are answers to some of the most common questions regarding hair care in the monsoons.

Should I regularly wash my hair during monsoons?
We Say: Yes! You should because …

Monsoons in India though consistent in their timing in the year are also very erratic with light drizzles usually turning into heavy downpour, within the blink of an eye. With no guarantee of a dry hair, you must make it a point to wash your hair every 2-3 days to keep it clean, plus this will also help in preventing the buildup of dust and grime in the hair.
It is also advisable to use a mild shampoo and conditioner to wash your hair in the monsoon. During rainy season, tap water contains more chlorine and hence one must make use of mild shampoos and conditioners to maintain the texture of their hair. 


Remember to wash your hair gently as hair drenched in rain often ends up in a tangled mess. After washing do not towel your hair vigorously as this will weaken your hair roots and cause split ends, instead opt for the gentle pat and dry routine whenever you have to dry your hair.


Should I oil my hair during monsoons?
We Say: Yes, only if …
Oiling your hair in the monsoons is a topic that is always up for debate! With oil enthusiasts vouching for the liquid’s ‘hair conditioning’ ability while skeptics shouting themselves hoarse about the liquids’ properties of attracting dust and grime  that lead to dandruff; the answer lies in moderation.
Oiling your hair during monsoons requires moderation in terms of time, which in simple lay man’s terms means - do not leave oil on your hair for too long in rainy season! Oiling your hair an hour or two before you wash your hair is greatly beneficial, as it helps in conditioning your hair and prevents them from becoming frizzy and dry after a wash.




Can I use Chemical products to keep my hair looking great in monsoons?
We Say: No, because …

The rainy season brings a humid atmosphere along with it. This in itself spells disaster for those with chemically treated hair, as hair being hydroscopic – absorbs the moisture from the atmosphere and this nullifies the effect of any chemical treatment or product used on the hair.
Moreover dust, grime and other pollutants stick to these chemicals, which again contribute to the tangling and knotting of your hair during monsoons.




Should I tie my hair during monsoons?
We Say: No, because …

Hair tends to get wet during monsoons and tying up the hair will only lead to the rain water being trapped in your hair. With a humid atmosphere, drying of the hair becomes a problem and a damp skin of the head is breeding ground for fungal infections,dandruff and lice on the scalp. While tying up your hair is not advised during monsoon, nor is leaving it open advisable. Leaving the hair open will expose it to the humidity making the hair either frizzy in case of curly or wavy hair, or limp in case of straight and silky hair. The best solution would be a loose bun or a loose ponytail as these do not trap much water and also protect your hair from direct exposure to the humidity.






How should I comb my hair during monsoons?
We Say: Use wide toothed combs instead of brushes because …

Combing your hair during monsoons is a bit tricky, as wet hair when combed with a brush can result in split ends and breakage, especially curly and wavy hair.
Combing hair when its wet is not a good idea”. Hair should only be combed when it is dried or semi dry, because wet hair being combed gets stretched and reaches its breaking point quite easily”. It’s best to use the gentle pat and dry routine with a towel to dry hair before finger combing it to get rid of the tangles during the monsoons.
Also remember to use a wide toothed comb for combing your hair during monsoons, as it will not pull on hair ends like a brush, thus preventing breakage and will also help get rid of the tangles and knots easily.




While these are just answers to some common queries regarding monsoons and hair care in India, we decided to go ahead and simplify things a bit more with the help of some good old Do’s and Don’ts for hair care during monsoons.


Some Do’s and Don’ts for the Monsoons:


Do’s:

• Wash your hair with a mild shampoo every time it gets wet
• Oil your hair an hour or two prior to a wash
• Have a diet rich in Vitamin E for strong and healthy hair 

Don’ts:

• Don't tie your hair when it’s wet
• Don't use a brush to comb your wet hair
• Don't use a blow-dryer to dry your hair

So, what are you waiting for? Go ahead, get wet and enjoy the rains, just don’t forget to wash your hair afterwards!