MANE COURSE

Don8217;t let the rains ruin your tresses. Experts recommend a simple trick or two to keep bad hair days away

The pitter-patter of raindrops may have a ring of romance about it. But try telling that to someone who has trouble keeping her hair in order when it pours and the air is moist. A befuddled stare is what you will get. There is good reason for that.

During the monsoon months, curly frizzes tend to fizz up more than is good for them, and a straight mane has a way of getting limper. But that needn8217;t cause a panic attack. You can wish away your bad hair days without breaking into a sweat. As the air around you gets soggy, just follow a few simple rules to take care of your locks.

Here8217;s what some hair experts have to say. 8220;Monsoon is the worst season for hair and skin. Moisture and humidity make sweat stick to the scalp which in turn leads to dandruff8221;, says hairstylist Jawed Habib. Dandruff is a problem that many confront in their everyday lives irrespective of the season. But the rains only make the affliction worse.

8220;Dandruff should be taken care of on a priority basis. Using anti-dandruff shampoos becomes a must,8221; says hair expert Dr Blossom Kochhar. She also recommends applying a mix of yoghurt, lemon and a few drops of an essential oil for half an hour before a hair wash for it helps control the problem of dandruff.

An itchy scalp is another problem that the monsoon season aggravates. But again, there are simple solutions available. Keep your hair dry and avoid braiding of hair when it8217;s wet. 8220;Tying wet hair leads of fungal infection. So one must always make sure to keep the hair dry,8221; adds Kochar.

While fuzziness of hair can be tamed by applying a paste of maithi dana and water for half an hour, you can get rid of the excess oil oily hair by applying talcum powder. But most importantly, one must ensure that the product that one uses suits the hair type. 8220;Applying talcum powder at the roots of the hair also helps absorbing excess oil8221;, says hairstylist Meenakshi Dutt of Beautiful Makeovers.

Among all the myths about hair care, the belief that daily shampooing is harmful tops the list. The fact is that shampooing hair regularly is sure-fire way of keeping it clean. 8220;The best treatment lies in keeping the hair clean and shampooing certainly helps8221;, explains Habib, who also adds that while hair serum certainly gets a thumbs up during monsoons, conditioners should be used more sparingly.

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The length of hair has nothing to do with the health of your curls. 8220;Length is not the concern, it is the texture that one should worry about during the rainy season8221;, says Ambika Pillai. 8220; A short haircut is a good option but in case the longer length is preferred then they should have a lot of layers as that helps in giving volume to the hair8221;, adds Habib.

From using gels to colouring hair, the worries never cease on a rainy day. But hair experts confirm that while colouring and streaking are perfectly safe during the rains, straightening and perming must be avoided. And as for gels, they are safe for use once in a while for parties.

So what are the other ways of keeping hair clean and healthy? 8220;Hair spa is a great hair care treatment8221;, says Pillai. 8220;Vinegar rinse is a good option as well. Mix a mug of water with three-four spoons of vinegar and a few drops of lavender twenty minutes and apply before washing your hair,8221; adds Kochhar.

So there you go. Take the stress out of keeping your tresses healthy and bouncy when you are caught in a downpour.