Don't let the monsoons dampen your spirit or hair! Dr. Manasi Shirolikar shares some tips on how to protect your hair before stepping out in the rain!
In the wise words of Fleabag, “Hair is everything. We wish it wasn’t so we could actually think about something else occasionally. But it is. It’s the difference between a good day and a bad day." And we couldn't agree more! So, as seasons and weather change, we have to do the best we can to protect our hair from damage while also making it look stylish or at least normal and healthy. Indian monsoons are especially a sore time when it comes to maintaining hair. If you stay at home, humidity makes your hair look frizzy or damp. When it's raining cats and dogs, your hair gets wet, no matter how you cover it. Stepping out in the rain without an umbrella or windcheater is a horror story, one we know all too well! Don't panic just yet though! To end your woes, we sat down with dermatologist, Dr. Manasi Shirolikar and learned how to take care of hair during monsoon. We're sure that her effortless and uncomplicated tricks will help you style your hair during the rains without any fuss.
And here's what she has to say!
While we enjoy the beautiful rains, they bring humidity with them. Humidity is nothing but an increase in the moisture in the air. Hair is made up of two types of bonds, a strong disulfide bond (which breaks due to chemical treatments), and a weak hydrogen bond (which breaks due to water). And humidity causes the hydrogen bond to break and makes the hair swell up; thus making it look frizzy. The swollen hair also breaks more easily. Further, sebum builds up very easily on the scalp, especially if it’s not cleaned frequently in humid climatic conditions. Microbes usually feed on this sebum to breed, which can lead to increased chances of dandruff and even lice during monsoon. Humidity can also lead to depletion of the natural oils, causing a dry, flaky scalp that would be itchier. This is how rain affects one's hair!
However, rain affects anyone's hair in the same manner regardless of their gender, sex, and age. But drier or chemically treated hair, especially colored hair is more prone to frizz or breakage.
If you have colored hair that's chemically treated, usually with bleach, it's more brittle and prone to breakage. It's also easy for colored hair to become frizzy due to an increase in humidity. When your hair is wet, make sure you don't brush or comb it as this will only break and damage it. Apply protective conditioners and, most importantly, a serum.
Here's what you can do before stepping out in the rain!
- Cover your hair wherever possible so that it does not get wet.
- Use serums to form a protective layer and keep the water out, thereby reducing the swelling and breakage of hair.
- Use a clarifying shampoo once a week to reduce scalp build-up.
- You can even use scalp exfoliants once a week.
- Do not skip conditioners! Conditioners form a protective layer over the hair, which can reduce the risk of damage from rainwater.
- Do not comb your hair when wet. Wet hair breaks easily.
P.S. If you don't have a serum or conditioner, you can use coconut oil on your hair strands to act as a barrier between rainwater and your hair.
A consultant dermatologist practising in Bandra, Mumbai, Dr. Manasi has a decade's worth of experience in medicine. She creates fun and informational content to spread awareness about skincare on Instagram @dr.manasi.skin.
Also Read: #KetchupTalks: Dr. Saloni Vora talks about learning the complex architecture of skin and hair
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