Manage Your Mane in the Rain

It is that time of the year, which all of us wait for and welcome with open arms. The rains give us a relief from the scorching heat. And though it’s fun to play in the rains, the victims of such a joyful experience are the skin and hair. As the heavens open up and showers descend down, it’s important to keep in mind some tips to preserve your hair and avoid hair problems. The rain showers bring with them many pollutants. If rainwater touches your hair, it damages your hair shaft and weakens your hair in the process. However, by following a few simple tips, you can manage to keep your hair problems to a minimum and look good always.

There is nothing better than a nice bath, when you just get in from the pouring rain. However, washing your hair too often, say every day, can exaggerate the problems you already face. Washing your hair 2-3 times a week will keep your hair clean and looking good. At the same time, it prevents excessive drying of hair and keeps frizziness away. Also, do not forget to condition your hair after every wash; you could use a leave-in conditioner to make dry hair more manageable.

A list of handy tips for a gorgeous mane –

• If you do wet your hair in the rain, make sure that you wash your hair as soon as possible with a mild shampoo and condition after that. Do not leave the rainwater in the hair for long time as it is high in chemical contents and can damage the hair.
• Dry massage your scalp so that it improves blood circulation. However, once a week oil massaging it with warm oil is a good idea. But in that case do not leave the oil in the hair for a long time. Instead, wash it off in a few hours.
• Wash your hair every alternate day. If you have short hair, you can wash it daily. Switching to a gentle/baby shampoo is a good idea. Apply conditioner on the hair shaft as this will strengthen your hair.
• Do not use hair spray or gel in the monsoons as these stick to the scalp and cause dandruff. Avoid using blow dryer also. However, if the hair is wet at night, apply lots of leave-in conditioner on the hair and then blow dry on cold air.
• Excessive moisture is the biggest culprit during this season. It affects your hair even if you remain indoors, especially on days when the humidity is high. Depending on your hair type, it may leave your hair frizzy or flat. Hair usually tends to absorb the moisture in the air. This makes fine/thin hair fall flat, but people with wavy/curly hair end up with frizzy strands. The best solution to this is to use a humidity-protective gel before styling. These gels help by forming a protective coat over the hair cuticle and preventing moisture from getting in and also going out.
• Choose hair care products wisely depending on your hair type. Frizzy, dry and rough hair is usually dealt with by using hair cream or similar products to smoothen it. But this can have an adverse effect, by allowing your hair to absorb moisture and making it look greasy or sticky. If this happens, stick to a leave-in conditioner. Also for coloured hair, use the special shampoos and conditioners meant for such hair.
• Due to high humidity and wet hair, dandruff is a common problem in monsoons. So, make sure that you use an effective anti-dandruff once a week. However, use your normal regular wash shampoo on other days.
• The chlorine content in water during the monsoons is also very high; this can bleach and damage your hair. So, if possible wear caps or rain coats with cap/hood to protect the hair from coming in contact with rain water.
• Rains are also the favourite time for lice to grow in the hair. In case of any itching on the scalp, apply Permethrin lotion [anti-lice medication] on the scalp with cotton, leave for two hours and wash off. Repeat this for 3-4 weeks. This problem is more common in school-going children.

Hair care routine for all hair types

For dry hair:

You know your hair is dry when it becomes greasy 4-6 days after washing.

Use shampoo especially formulated for dry hair. Wash your hair once or twice a week.

Do not use a hairdryer.

For oily hair

You know your hair is oily when it becomes greasy 1-2 days after washing.

Use mild shampoo with an in-built conditioner or a vinegar/lemon rinse. Wash the hair daily.

To make the vinegar/lemon rinse, take two tablespoons of vinegar or lemon juice and massage into hair.

To double the strength of the rinse, you can use peppermint tea with one quart of distilled water as a final rinse.

For normal hair

You know your hair is normal if it becomes greasy 2-4 days after washing.

Use a mild shampoo and a good conditioner. But rinse the hair with plain water or mild shampoo whenever it gets wet in rain water.

Hair requires more attention during the rainy season, because of the additional humidity. But following the above tips will make you a proud owner of a healthy, shiny, soft and thick crowning glory.