The struggle is real when it comes to maintaining your fabulous hair during the monsoons. While rain showers can be refreshing, they often wreak havoc on your hair. But wait, there's more! Not only do you have to battle the frizz and unruly tresses, but the monsoon also brings along its mischievous partner: DANDRUFF causing dry, flaky, and itchy scalp. It can be quite the uninvited guest. Surprised? Well, let's bust the Biggest Myths before we share those 5 magical tips on how to prevent dandruff in the monsoon.
Myth # 1: Dandruff is because of dry skin
Myth # 2: Dandruff gets worse in Summer and Winter
Both of these statements are true but there is much more to it!
To effectively address dandruff, it's important to recognise that there are different types of dandruff, and treatment options for them may vary. It's recommended to consult with a healthcare professional for personalised advice.
- Dry Skin Dandruff: Small and white flakes (dead skin)
- Eczema: Similar to #1 but flakes appear larger
- Oily Skin Dandruff: Seborrheic Dermatitis has larger flakes, yellow, and appears oily
- Scalp Psoriasis: Appears as fine, powdery flakes with a silver sheen
- Fungus-Related Dandruff: Dandruff decides to crash our monsoon extravaganza and blame it on a common fungus called Malassezia.
Monsoon = Dandruff!
Read till the end and find out how to leave the “monsoon” dandruff out.
What causes monsoon dandruff?
1. Humidity and Dryness
It affects your scalp and creates an environment for the growth of the Malassezia fungus, which is the main cause of monsoon dandruff.
2. Damp scalp
The Dampness on your scalp due to exposure to rainwater furthermore adds to build-up and itchiness.
3. Imbalance on pH
Due to humidity in monsoon, sebum from sebaceous glands accumulate very easily on the scalp making it greasy. It disturbs the pH balance and leads to an itchy and flaky scalp.
4. Poor hygiene
Constant exposure of the scalp to rainwater creates dampness. Making it difficult to keep the scalp clean and safe from the accumulation of dirt, oil, and dead skin cells leading to dandruff.
5. Weak Immune System
As we know, monsoon is the season of bacterial infections which leads to a weak immune system. Even the scalp’s defence mechanism gets weakened, leading to excessive dandruff.
6. Changes in mood
The dark, gloomy weather on the outside affects your mood and increases stress levels. And as we know, stress is one of the biggest triggers for various scalp conditions, and dandruff is no exception
5 effective ways to prevent dandruff in Monsoon:
- Regular hair wash: Wash your hair at least 2-3 times a week. Use a mild, gentle shampoo that doesn’t disturbs the scalp’s pH balance yet cleanses all the dirt, oil, and scalp buildup. Eh-Maaya’s Fluidique Shampoo is one of the best mild shampoos to cure and even prevent dandruff. After massaging the shampoo on your scalp, leave it for 5 minutes before rinsing it for the best results!
- Provide nourishment: Yes, oiling your hair isn’t the best option during monsoons, especially if you have dandruff but the scalp needs deep nourishment. You need to choose something which is non-greasy yet gives the perfect nourishment to your scalp and hair follicles. Try Eh-Maaya’s Midnight Potion which is an oil replacement and won’t leave you feeling oily and greasy.
- Exfoliate: The scalp needs exfoliation to be truly clean and dandruff free. It is important to choose an exfoliator that not only removes all the buildup but also provides a healthy dose of vitamins, proteins and antioxidants. We highly recommend Eh-maaya’s Clear Clay which is available for curly, straight and wavy hair.
- Eat healthy: Nothing replaces a balanced and nutritious diet. Include foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B, zinc, and antioxidants in your diet. These nutrients help in nourishing your scalp and reducing the chances of dandruff.
- Moisturise your hair: Hair becomes dry, dull, and frizzy due to the humid climate and dandruff. They lose their moisture and either turn too dry or too greasy and attract dirt and bacteria to the scalp. Use a gentle conditioner which moisturises your hair with botanicals. Try the Eh-Maaya Fluidique Conditioner and you will never want to switch to another conditioner again!
Summary
Getting recurring dandruff can feel emotionally exhausting but if you follow the above 5 steps consistently, we can assure you it will get better soon. In case of severe dandruff, we recommend consulting a dermatologist to be sure that there are no other underlying scalp infections.
