Stress plays a significant role in the hair, scalp, immunity, and overall body health. And, the stress of the pandemic is far from over. This stress is having a toll on everyone's overall health in different ways. The good news is that Monsoon is here, and with lockdowns relaxed, there is this elated sense of freedom in the community. But another fact is that monsoon brings, dampness, humidity, static current, sweating, and a lot more. All of these make the hair frizzy, tangled, dry, trapping the sweat, odor, and bacteria in the scalp. This may result in dandruff, hair loss, split ends, and just overall a bad hair day every day.
Social media like Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and even Youtube are going frenzy with the happy monsoon posts including photos and videos of road trips, wet streets, scenic sights, and selfies in the monsoon rain. Getting wet in the rain is fun and there is no harm in doing that as long as we are prepared to take care of our health, especially our hair & scalp. So, let's remind ourselves to relearn the basics we already know. There is nothing new about it. Dr. H S Chauhan, who is a renowned dermatologist and Founder CEO of Twacha Dermatology Skin Cosmetic and Laser Clinics in Ganganagar, Meerut, Bijnor, Najibabad, Uttar Pradesh, India, shares some basic recommendations for this monsoon season. He suggests, "Follow the 3 basic principles, protect, prevent & pamper the hair, just like any other part of the body"
Here is how:
1) Protect your hair: As we all know that with the pollution the rains are becoming more and more acidic and this can be harmful to your beautiful hair. The pollutants, dust, and acidic water can be extremely harsh to the hair. So just enjoy the rain with your head covered using an umbrella, headgear, or a scarf. Prevention is always better than cure.
2) Prevent damage to the hair
: · Wash if your hair gets wet and loose in rain. If you have already gone for your trip in the rain and taking your selfies with wet hair, your hair has got rainwater in it. It's time now to wash the hair with plain water or using a very mild shampoo.
· Avoid daily shampooing. Another common mistake. Shampoos can clean and remove excess oil from the hair & scalp. But in excess, it can remove the natural oils and moisture produced by our body. This may result in an itchy, flaky scalp and dry, dull hair. Shampooing 2-3 times a week is more than enough.
· Let the hair dry naturally otherwise to minimize trauma, use a microfiber towel or try a cotton T-shirt to dry your hair.
· Avoid tying wet hair tight, as it may pull and traumatize the hair follicles, causing unwanted hair loss. · Loosely tie the hair with a hair clip or headband after drying gently.
· Avoid keeping your hair open for too long during this season because the static around us in monsoon makes the hair difficult to manage, the scalp sweat gets trapped thus leading to odor, bacteria, poor circulation, clogging of the pore, poor oxygenation, and increased hair fall.
· Avoid heating appliances and blow-dry. During the monsoon, the inherent nature of the hair becomes dryer because of the dampness in the atmosphere, so it is not advisable to put extra heat on the hair strands using the blow dryer to prevent heat damage. · Avoid bleaching/chemicals. During the monsoon, the hair gets damp, lusterless, and frizzy. It is time to avoid any chemical trauma like bleaching or putting chemicals on the scalp and hair that may cause more damage.
· Avoid brushing wet hair, because wet hair is fragile and prone to trauma, and brushing wet hair can cause excessive tension on the roots and even break the hair strands.
· Avoid prolonged oiling of the scalp: You will hear many views about oiling the hair from different sources. A most common recommendation is to massage the hair with oil and keeping it overnight but you have to be very careful with this advice. This is because hair is already sticky during monsoon and keeping oil in the head for a longer time will only make the scalp rancid, attract dust and block the pores. Most dermatologists recommend using oil in the hair mostly during the pre-wash period somewhere between 1-2 hours before the head wash.
· Avoid scraping the scalp with pointed sharp combs, which can lead to superficial injuries, painful scalp, and infection too. Regardless of your hair kind or the weather, one universal issue that the Indian community is having and not addressed properly is using pointy sharp combs to untangle the hair. This is by far the most common iatrogenic cause of hair loss and hair trauma.
3) Pamper your hair with nourishment & hydration:
· Enrich yourself with Nutrients & Antioxidants: Hair & Scalp care is no different than skincare. Our scalp is just an extension of our skin from the forehead to the nape of the neck with rapidly growing hair follicles. So, we have to provide the ideal nutrition to the body to keep it healthy. A balanced diet is even more essential in harsh conditions to combat stress. It is a good idea to add a supplement like Amitox-Glo that is full of antioxidants, minerals, vitamin C, and glutathione to boost the hair skin, and immune health from the inside out at the cellular level.
· Oil massage: As mentioned earlier, oil massage is one of the most controversial topics in hair health. However, it has its benefits if done correctly. You may use the oil of your choice or experiment by adding your choice of herbs like fenugreek, Tulsi, etc. But it is best to go with the ones with a proven track record for a long time, like Coconut oil, Mustard oil, Almond oil, Olive oil, Jasmine oil, or any other aromatic oil of your choice that can soothe the scalp, is anti-inflammatory and can nourish the root of hair follicles. Gentle oil massage followed by hair wash within 30 minutes to 2 hours is sufficient.
· Moisturize or hydrate the hair with a good quality Hair Serum with Vitamin E, Argon Oil, and natural ingredients. Hair serum nourishes and polishes the hair strands making the hair more manageable. It creates a protective layer, protecting the hair from pollution, heat, and trauma. Hair serums are best to apply after showering on wet hair gently along the length of the strands.
· A hair mask is a good option only if you are comfortable doing it, but is not a must. Remember, during monsoon we want the hair to be handled to a minimum level. The most commonly used hair masks are clay masks, yogurt masks, egg masks, lemon juice masks, or onion juice masks.
· Use an extra mild shampoo for dry damaged hair. In monsoon hair, is frizzy enough and prone to day-to-day trauma we just need to be kind to the scalp and hair. A caffeine-based shampoo will be a good option if there is less hair volume and notable hair loss too.
· Apply conditioner judiciously and try to cover the hair strands, not the scalp. Most people try to rub the conditioner on the scalp, which isn't beneficial and may be difficult to clean.
· Get gentle hair massage and exfoliation with a wide hair bush with round tips on dry hair.
· Trim those split ends and extra length and keep the hair manageable.
Wash short hair regularly and long hair alternate day. Enjoy the monsoon. Protect and take care of your mane.
Happy Monsoon!
Disclaimer: This article is for general information purpose only. This is not a substitute for qualified medical professionals' opinions. Please, consult your health care provider for any doubts or queries.
