Fighting hair loss during the monsoon
July 25, 2018 | By Dr. Sangay Bhutia (Hair Transplant Specialist in Delhi)
Who doesn’t like the rain? Especially in a country like India where the monsoons sweep over the country every year providing much-needed respite from the searing heat. As much as the rains are wonderful, the humidity isn’t, especially for the hair. The chemical structure of the hair is such that it absorbs moisture, and hydrogen, which forms bonds, making the cuticles frizzy. This means that hair will not just become a little unmanageable, but it can also break and fall.
A lot of people notice more hair fall during the rainy season. While losing 60-100 strands of hair is absolutely normal, more than that is a cause of concern. Here are a few ways to protect your hair and mitigate hair fall during the monsoon season:
Eat for your hair
Yes, this sounds repetitive and obvious, but honestly it cannot be said enough. It is very important to eat right and eat well for your hair to be strong under any kind of adverse weather conditions. Hair is essentially made of protein, so add it to your diet in the form of eggs, seafood, white meat, beans, soy, and pork, and it will work wonders for your hair.
Apart from these, leafy vegetables, fruits, wholegrains are all good for the hair. Eating seasonal food is good for the hair and for your general health as well. Cut down on caffeine as it dehydrates the hair. Avoiding alcohol and cigarettes also helps, as they can both constrict the supply of blood to the follicles. Also, drinking sufficient water to stay hydrated will help in avoiding hair loss.
Keep your hair clean and dry
Humidity during the monsoons also means that there is build up from sweat on your scalp, which needs to be washed frequently to keep you hair clean. Leaving the hair dirty means that there could be dandruff, which can make hair weak and brittle, and eventually fall. If you work out, or play sports that make you sweat, try and wash at least once in two days, or everyday if you must with a mild shampoo.
Secondly don’t tie wet hair, even if it takes longer to dry in this weather, it can cause breakage. If your hair gets wet in the rain, wash it with regular water, because rainwater contains pollutants from the air, which are not good for the hair. Leaving the hair wet or dirty means it will be more susceptible to breakage and fall.
Avoid too many products and hot tools
This is precisely the season in which your hair might need more products owing to the frizziness, but resist the urge to go overboard with products. They will not just make your hair greasy, but mixed with humidity and sweat will cause build up on the scalp. Also tools like hair irons and hair dryers might help tame your mane but too much of it will damage the hair. Use your hair dryer on the cool setting if you must.
Hair needs a little extra care and attention in this weather, and keeping it as natural as possible will help avoiding breakage and loss. Additionally regular conditioning and using a wide tooth comb are helpful.
All these might sound like simple tips but when it comes to hair a little care goes a long way especially in inclement weather. Also, warm oil massages with coconut or olive oil can help stimulate blood circulation and help essential nutrients reach the follicles. Even yoga and exercising helps with improving the blood circulation in the body, which will help in keeping the hair strong and avoid hair fall.
Follow these tips and you can enjoy the rains without having to worry about hair fall.
