The Concerns:

Trichologist, Dr. Apoorva Shah says, "Just as the sudden change from the harsh summer to the monsoons affect the body, so does it affect the health of the hair. Monsoon is a time when the climate is highly humid and this humidity affects our hair in many ways. This season brings with it a host of hair problems like limpness, greasiness and at times even leads to hair fall. Another evident hair problem that is seen in monsoon is dandruff." Dr. Snehal Sriram, Consultant and Head, Cosmetic Dermatology Clinic, SevenHills Hospital, Mumbai, adds that limp and lifeless hair and dry hair are some other problems seen in the monsoons.

 

Why do they occur:

Dr. Apoorva Shah explains, "Moisture or humidity is the biggest culprit during the monsoons. The excessive moisture in the air makes the texture of hair dull, flat and tangled. As a result, it makes your hair your look limp and unattractive. Moreover accumulation of dust and environmental changes affect the quality of hair. People with outdoor work tend to have more problems due to the frequent exposure to rain and moisture. Also exposure of
heat through a blow dryer further dries up the hair to such an extent that the hair becomes limp and unruly."

 

Hair Care in Monsoon:

A thorough hair care regime and the right selection of hair products that give gentle and effective care, becomes crucial in the monsoons. Dr. Snehal suggests the following for the hair

 

concerns in the monsoons:

Limp lifeless hair: Use shampoos with citrates fruit extracts and conditioners with aromatic oils. Use simple hairstyles, avoid elaborate hair-dos. Avoid tying up wet hair.

 

Dry Hair: Lather on a volume enhancing conditioner containing dimethicone high molecular weight proteins. Avoid warm / hot water; use either cold or tepid lukewarm water for hair wash. Avoid blowdrying, if you have to, use a leave-on conditioner prior to drying.

 

Dandruff: Apply your anti-dandruff shampoo and wait for 10 mins before rinsing off. Repeat this 2-3 times a week. If dandruff is persistent, use a good antifungal lotion on your scalp overnight. This will soothe the scalp; prevent itching, irritation, build-up of fungus and dandruff. Repeat this 2-3 times a week. Massage warm coconut oil in the scalp one hour before washing the hair.

 

Feed your hair in Monsoon

Food rich in vitamin C enhances your skin, hair and improves your resistance to infections. Have plums, pears, fresh lime and litchis to your heart's content. Anti-oxidants like lycopenes present in tomatoes are great for you in this season. Ensure adequate consumption of these to compensate for all the indulgence in those hot 'pakora & samosas'. Drink a lot of water with a balanced protein-rich diet and add a lot of fruits and vegetables to it.