As soon as the first showers bless the nation, most of us experience something very disturbing: More strands of hair in your pillow, more hair on your comb and more on your drain! Monsoon hair loss is perhaps the most common seasonal issue discussed and complained about all over India, and perhaps, also the most ill-understood. The cocktail of excessive humidity, acid rain, hair infections and nutrient deficient monsoon diet makes for a disaster zone for your hair – which eventually translates to shedding! Know what to do, to be at the right side of monsoon.
Why the Monsoon Season Specifically Triggers Hair Loss?
What happens isn’t a simple case of “the monsoon is making me shed”. What this weather event does is exacerbate the problems your hair and scalp are already dealing with. When air humidity goes up, your hair’s keratin protein becomes plumper and porous, and it weakens it.
Not washing off acidic and sometimes contaminated rainwater on your scalp results in a pH shift, leading to a conducive breeding ground for bacteria.
When coupled with seasonal stress and changing food habits, it is enough for your hair follicles to begin revolting. Realizing that this phenomenon is in reality, science-based and that it isn’t anything out of the ordinary is the first step.
Scalp Hygiene Is Your First Line of Defence
The two common extremes are washing hair very frequently in monsoon or very rarely. High frequency means your scalp gets more sweaty as well as releases excess oil in this climate, which if not properly washed, could block hair follicles and lead to a surge in microbial infections. Twice or thrice a week wash is ideal for balance, preferably with a mild or anti-fungal or a sulphate free shampoo.
And if you wash your hair then, make sure you are able to completely dry them after the shower. If the hair and scalp are damp, and left like that for too many hours, then you are opening up the door for all such monsoon infections.
What You Eat Directly Affects How Much Hair You Lose
Hair – a collection of proteins called keratin, require constant nourishment to ensure a firm hold and the ability to grow, as our hair growth phase begins in this season and usually lasts till the fall. With monsoon comes a series of dietary changes due to the variety of food available with changing temperature that impact nutrient absorption by the body of iron, zinc and biotin, all essential to prevent hair fall. The simple presence of foods such as eggs, dals, greens, nuts and seeds in our diet provides your hair follicles the essential elements that would enable them to prevent falling off.
Oil Massages Work — When Done the Right Way
There is an undeniable rationale for why Trichologists continue to vouch for the process of oiling hair, and it’s definitely more than just a custom. When you massage your scalp using any of the neem, coconut, or bhringraj oils you provide your hair with increased circulation of blood to its roots, nourishing it right from the origin. Neem oil works wonderfully for this purpose especially with its antifungal properties.
Using oils at room temperature, massage on to your scalp using small circles for about 10-15 minutes and leave it for an hour minimum before rinsing thoroughly. Do not leave it overnight as oil will catch dust and block the roots in humid season.
Handling Wet Hair Gently Is Non-Negotiable
Your hair’s strength is at its lowest when wet, thanks to weakened protein bonds that loosen the structure of each strand with water, which leads to snapped hair when tugged too much. Harsh towel drying, brushing your hair fiercely when wet or tying it back tight when wet leads to breakage, falsely assumed to be hair loss. Gently pat your hair dry with a microfiber towel, and a wide-toothed comb can be used when hair is about 70 per cent dry. Opt for effortless styles this monsoon to spare your hair from any stress that pulls your strands while fall.
When Home Care Is Not Enough — Explore Clinical Options
If you continue to have hair loss problems even after a good two to three months of care, it is recommended that you should consider getting professional help. Hair fall solutions in India have also improved immensely, with various centres providing options like Trichoscopy, PRP Therapy, Mesotherapy, laser hair treatment, etc., that target underlying hair loss problems. The facility of a hair transplant in Hyderabad also provides individuals with numerous hair transplant options if they are located in southern parts of India, and the clinics even have non-surgical hair replacement options to treat varied stages of hair thinning.
Surgical Restoration for Severe or Long-Term Hair Loss
Seasonal shedding mostly resolves itself, although some individuals realize come monsoon season that the condition that causes shedding of their hair may in fact be due to underlying conditions such as androgenetic alopecia. Treatment options for such issues usually require more than a lifestyle change. Hair loss treatment in India is easily available at the clinics and medical centres in all the prominent cities .
If you live in Northern India, you should research for the best clinic for hair transplant in Delhi where there is a team of proficient surgeons who will conduct a safe FUE process and will monitor you through your post-procedure and assure successful, permanent, natural hair regrowth. It is always advisable to seek the guidance of an experienced and well-qualified surgeon at the initial stage, as a late intervention can be much more challenging to address and overcome.
Conclusion
It’s incredibly annoying when you start experiencing hair loss during monsoon, but there is a way to manage it – and in many cases, make it completely reversible. Good scalp hygiene, a good diet, and handling your wet hair gently, with the help of your hair care professionals whenever necessary, sum it all up. Whether you are shedding a little, or a lot, you’ll do well to take it seriously and treat it immediately.