The humid season, with all its unholy stickiness, is on its last leg. Our hair and skin will probably be glad to say goodbye to the unfavorable conditions. But how do you deal with the aftermath of the rainy season? While dancing in the rain (or romantic walks) might seem very enjoyable, it almost always leaves the skin and hair in a dire situation for months after. Break-outs and increased hairfall are just a couple of post monsoon baggage that we all have to carry, among other things. Here, we tell you how to care for and restore your skin and tresses back to their healthy state.
Post Monsoon Skin Care
Following a set regime is very important. And your basic “cleansing toning moisturizing” routine will not do either. Restoring rain affected skin to its original glow and clarity is no mean feat and it requires some additional steps in your daily regimen.
Start off by carefully selecting a non-comedogenic cleanser for your face (one that suits your specific skin type). After washing your face with the cleanser, apply toner for restoring the PH balance. Next comes a treatment cream/gel, like Sebonac Gel, if you have pimple-prone skin or the rains have left you with regular break-outs. Follow it up with sunscreen during daytime, and under-eye gel and repair-action night cream before bedtime. Exfoliate your skin twice a week, getting rid of all the blackheads and other pore blockages using a gentle exfoliator. You should also never skip out on sunscreen or night cream, because they help preserve your glow and youthfulness.
| Product | Why you need it | Brand choices |
| Cleanser | you need it to thoroughly clean sunscreen and moisturizer without irritating the skin | Kaya Skin Clinic Soothing Cleansing Gel/ Fab India Tea Tree Face Wash/ Vedic Line Neem and Brahmi Face Wash / Jolen Face Wash Gel with Lemon Extract / Himalaya Purifying Neem Face Wash |
| Exfoliant | a low percentage glycolic acid product, an exfoliating cleanser to keep pores clear and reduce oiliness | AHA Glow face wash or Glomed face wash (medical stores) |
| Treatment | a low percentage salicylic acid product to keep pores clear and reduce oiliness | Sebonac Gel (medical stores) |
| Moisturizer | for relief from dry, stretchy feeling and possible skin flaking | Neutrogena Oil-free Moisture for Combination Skin (not the SPF 15 version) / Aloe Veda Aloe Vera Gel / Sebamed Clear Face Gel (online shopping websites) |
| Sunscreen | to prevent darkening of acne spots and overall sun protection | Sunprotek Gel SPF 30+ / Bioderma Photoderm Spot SPF 50+ / Kaya Daily Use Sunscreen + with SPF 15 / Suncote Gel SPF 30+ |
Once a week, you should also apply restorative home-made masks, like these.
Eating lots of leafy greens and fresh fruits and including loads of fluids in your daily diet will make a huge difference, giving you an all over healthy glow and lustrous hair.
Post Monsoon Hair Care
Don’t worry too much if the monsoon has taken a toll on your locks, causing dryness and hairfall and such. Some care is all you need to restore the health of your mane.
After washing and before styling, if any, take a few drops of some lightweight hair oil (we recommend Conatural’s Argan Oil) and smooth into your locks, taking care to focus more on the ends at first and massage any remainder into your scalp. Use this as you would a serum or leave-in conditioner. Not only will it minimize frizz, it will nourish and moisturise your hair on-the-go.
An oil massage once or twice a week can do wonders for transforming your hair and keeping it manageable. For those experiencing excessive hair fall, apply slightly warm oil on the roots and massage thoroughly for added blood circulation in the scalp. All oil treatments are additionally effective if you wrap a hot, damp towel around your hair once you’ve applied the oil. Doing this will repair damaged hair plus protect hair from then on.
The monsoon weather already is notorious for aggravating hair fall. Combing your hair once it’s wet causes more hair to fall out since the hair is weaker and more susceptible to damage when wet. Wait till hair is dry or even slightly damp and then have a go with a wide toothed comb. Keeping the curls? Don’t comb your hair at all.
Aloe vera loves your hair in so many ways. It is nourishing and healing inside and out, so when applied on the hair in the form of a hair mask, it rejuvenates and heals damaged follicles. After the monsoon, it also helps to combat any infection causing bacteria around your scalp and reduces any itching you may have had during the damp and rainy monsoon months. Similarly, pureed neem leaves and yogurt are also good options for nourishing hair masks that keep any itchiness and infections of the scalp at bay and the yogurt in protein will also make hair stronger.
Steer clear of processed and unnatural foods and instead opt for fruits and veggies, lean proteins and healthy complex carbs. Adequate protein intake is particularly important when it comes to healthy hair, so indulge in some protein rich foods like fish, yogurt, nuts, sprouts, etc.
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