Weather-Proof your Tresses

Content Play

Weather-Proof your Tresses

While scorching summer months might be a thing of the past, monsoons and winters bring their own share of hair woes.
Constant showers, all - encompassing dampness, outdoor winds, indoor heat and endless frizz conspire to make things hard on your tresses. And since you can't stay cooped up inside forever, here's a cheat sheet to banish all bad hair days in the coming months.

Shampoo smarts
Don't wash your hair too often during the monsoon and winter months - twice a week is sufficient. Washing hair daily strips the scalp of natural oils, making it frizzy and unmanageable. If the desire to sud up is too strong, try rinsing your hair with plain water in the intervening period.

Personalize conditioning
A one size fits all approach never works for conditioners. To determine your best match: Cut off an inch-long strand of your hair and drop it into a glass of water. If it sinks immediately, your hair is dry and needs a deep moisturizing conditioner. If the strand remains afloat, your hair is oily and needs a light weight conditioner.

Free styling
Find it impossible to look after your locks amidst scorching heat, chilly winds and frequent rain storms? Let go of the every hair-in-place hairdo and opt for a flexible layered cut that doesn't require perfection. And air-dry hair as much as possible. Blow drying causes hair cuticle to lift up, leading to moisture loss and brittleness. When absolutely necessary, blow-dry with care since wet hair is fragile. Also towel-dry first - the wetter the hair is the longer it will take to blow dry.

Minus frizz factor
Frizz is the number one style-spoiler, especially when it sweats in heat and in rains. Hair frizzes because it attracts water from the air, so use conditioner religiously - this will seal the cuticle and make it less permeable. Follow with a silicone based serum to weigh down the cuticle and lock down the moisture all day. Just avoid blow dry. Apply serum and then do not touch strands while they air dry.

Unruly curls
The right cut c an make the difference between enviable ringlets and an out of control tangle. And since the cuticle on curly hair is more easily raised, often making it look dry and dull, using a rich rinse out conditioner will greatly help in boosting shine and vitality.

Add volume
Humidity and dryness may make fine hair even lankier, so stick to light weight products that wont weigh down your strands. Condition only ends, and try volumising shampoos for additional bounce. In a pinch, bend over and gather your hair into a ponytail, securing it with a scarf. Leave about ten minutes, and you will have temporarily regained lift and volume.

Brittle hair
The most likely culprits are heat-styling, extremes of temperature and follicle-clogging environmental pollutants that are dissolved in rain water. The remedy? Deep condition twice a week, apply a dab of silicon serum daily, and follow with a hair mask once in every two weeks. Another trick is to apply a hair mask before shampooing and conditioning.

Pared down products
It's tempting to overload on hair products during frizzy and unruly times, but product buildup creates lustre-robbing residue, making hair seem dull and lifeless. If you are using more than four items, you need to downsize your hair regimen. Clean balance once a week.

Don't let it flake
Dandruff does not result from a dry scalp; on a contrary, it is usually a combination of excessive oil production and the presence of yeast pityrosporum - both of which are common fallouts of seasonal changes. Over the counter medicated shampoos that contain salicylic acid, zinc, pyrithione or tar are effective flake fighters, but massage them in gently. Flakes can usually be brought under control within 2-4 weeks at which point you can use a dandruff shampoo once weekly. As these shampoos tend to be drying, they need the balance of an intensive conditioner.

Don't split ends
Split ends occur when the natural oils from the scalp don't travel down the hair shaft to the ends. Frayed ends then start traveling up the hair shaft, weakening the strands and making them vulnerable to damage. The only solution is to cut off the splits with a six weekly trim. If you can't see your hair dresser immediately, temporarily mask the problem with a conditioning serum or moisturizing balm applied to damp ends before styling.

Breakage control
With extremes of heat and cold and humidity, seasonal changes can be rough on your locks. The best way to repair damaged hair and prevent future breakage is by using an intensive conditioner once in a week. Look for one that contains proteins or acids to strengthen weak strands and moisturizers to hydrate and soften.

The high shine diet
Foods high in vitamin B and essential fatty acids - particularly omega-3 can add lustre to your hair by keeping your scalp moist. Try and aim to eat a minimum of 3-4 servings a week. Try fish, dried beans, dark leafy vegetables, walnuts, soya and eggs. If you are not certain of getting enough nutrients from your diet, ask your doctor to prescribe a daily vitamin pill to ensure that your strands stay in a good shape.

Other tips include:

• Like your skin, your hair also needs hydration. Drink plenty of water.
• Oil your hair at least twice a week
• Always use wide-toothed comb with less static to untangle your hair.
• Don’t comb or tie your hair when it’s wet.
• Pat your hair dry before using a blow dryer.
• Do not share combs.
• Go for short hair cuts if your hair is long and could not manage
• To avoid breakage, comb your hair at the bottom and then start combing from the roots.
• Make sure your hair is fully wet before you apply shampoo and always use lukewarm water for this.