Two essential steps to tame frizzy hair this monsoon

Taming your frizzy hair this monsoon is only one half of the battle won experts say The two new kids on the block when it comes to your hair care routine wonrsquot just protect your tresses from the elements but also safeguard your scalp health an oftenoverlooked aspect of hair maintenanceSunny concernsProlonged sun exposure can damage your hair cuticle and cause pigment loss giving your hair a bleached appearance Unprotected hair also loses moisture from the shaft which leads to dry damaged and brittle ends In the longer term this can cause the protein in your hair to degrade making your hair more prone to breakage This is where hair SPF can prove to be a real gamechanger especially for greying or colourtreated hair which is more prone to damage says Dr Niketa Sonavane celebrity dermatologist and founder of Ambrosia AestheticsWeekly hair masks help in boosting hair healthHair sunscreens which come in the form of sprays powders serums and creams can also help to prevent colour fading or your greys from turning yellow due to UV stress Make sure to layer your hair SPF over wellconditioned hair mdash choose more hydrating formulas that deposit silicon or silicon substitutes on your strands For those looking for an allnatural alternative argan oil has been found to offer similar sun protective benefits And finally while hair offers your scalp some protection against the sun the scalp skin is very vulnerable to sun damage especially if your hair is thin In this case a powder sunscreen that protects your scalp without adding grease can be a great alternativeldquoYou might think you can skip sunscreen for your hair during the monsoon but thatrsquos not the case Even when itrsquos cloudy and rainy UV rays can still penetrate through the clouds and cause damage Plus the high humidity during the monsoon can make your hair more vulnerable to stress and damage Using hair sunscreen helps maintain your hairrsquos health and colour offering protection even in the rainy seasonrdquo Dr Sonavane emphasisesExfoliate and growldquoScalp exfoliation involves the removal of dead skin cells and buildup from the scalprsquos surface It helps to remove dead cells product residue and oil from the scalp in turn unclogging the hairrsquos follicular units to result in improved absorption of haircare products Exfoliation also helps to increase blood circulation to the scalp enhancing the availability of essential nutrients and oxygen mdash consequently your hair grows better and faster and will be healthierrdquo says Dr Pallavi Sule dermatologist and aesthetic physician She adds that regular scalp exfoliation during the monsoon can protect against scalp conditions such as folliculitis fungal infection or any other kind of inflammation while also reducing dryness flaking and dandruffThe allnatural alternative argan oil offers sun protective benefitsWhile massaging your scalp with your fingertips can exfoliate to an extent experts recommend opting for chemical exfoliants to avoid breakage mdash look for dedicated products containing ingredients such as salicylic acid glycolic acid or lactic acid How often you exfoliate your scalp depends on your scalp type mdash an oily scalp thrives with weekly exfoliation while a drier scalp responds best to fortnightly treatments summarises Dr Sonavane cautioning that overexfoliating can cause irritation and damage ldquoAvoid harsh scrubs and follow up with a hydrating conditioner or scalp serum to restore moisture balancerdquo she signs offHair care done rightDr Niketa Sonavanegtgt Moisture can lead to fungal infections so make sure you dry your hair thoroughly after every washgtgt Shampoos with antifungal ingredients such as ketoconazole can help prevent scalp infectionsgtgt Allow your scalp to breathe by avoiding tight hairstyles that can trap moisturegtgt Wash your hair regularly to remove sweat dirt and pollutantsgtgt Stick to lightweight conditioners to avoid making your hair greasygtgt Minimise your heatstyling and use of products such as gels which can make your hair dry and frizzygtgt Minimise dryness by oiling your scalp for at least 1520 minutes before shampooing Warm coconut olive or almond oil can help arrest dryness and hair fallDo not use very thick viscous oils as it is difficult to wash them out and will necessitate the use of harsh cleansers which damage the hair furthergtgt Weekly hair masks especially homemade varieties can boost your hair health These include aloe vera and hibiscus gels a combination of almond and olive oil with a Vitamin E capsule or egg white