The Rains Are Here: Caring for Hair This Season

When it comes to our hair, the state of the weather determines the hairstyle you wear, the products you use and how you care for the hair during the day. In Ghana, except in the north, two rainy seasons occur, from April to July and from September to November. In the north the rainy season begins in April and lasts until September. Now, we are in the rainy season and styling can be tedious especially if you depend on "trotro" or "troski" (public transport). 

Goel  of completewellbeing.com gives the following advice for hair care during rainy season:

1. The rain showers bring with them many pollutants. If rainwater touches your hair, it damages your hair shaft and weakens your hair in the process. If you do wet your hair in the rain, make sure that you wash your hair as soon as possible with a mild shampoo and condition after that. Do not leave the rainwater in the hair for long time as it is high in chemical contents and can damage the hair.
2. Washing your hair 2-3 times a week will keep your hair clean and looking good. At the same time, it prevents excessive drying of hair and keeps frizziness away. Also, do not forget to condition your hair after every wash; you could use a leave-in conditioner to make dry hair more manageable.
3. Dry massage your scalp so that it improves blood circulation. However, once a week oil massaging it with warm oil is a good idea. But in that case do not leave the oil in the hair for a long time. Instead, wash it off in a few hours.
4. Do not use hair spray or gel as these stick to the scalp and cause dandruff. Avoid using blow dryer also. However, if the hair is wet at night, apply lots of leave-in conditioner on the hair and then blow dry on cold air.
5. Excessive moisture is the biggest culprit during this season. It affects your hair even if you remain indoors, especially on days when the humidity is high. Depending on your hair type, it may leave your hair frizzy or flat. Hair usually tends to absorb the moisture in the air. This makes fine/thin hair fall flat, but people with wavy/curly hair end up with frizzy strands. The best solution to this is to use a humidity-protective gel before styling. These gels help by forming a protective coat over the hair cuticle and preventing moisture from getting in and also going out.
6. The chlorine content in water during the monsoons is also very high; this can bleach and damage your hair. So, if possible wear caps or rain coats with cap/hood to protect the hair from coming in contact with rain water.
7. Rains are also the favourite time for lice to grow in the hair. In case of any itching on the scalp, apply Permethrin lotion [anti-lice medication] on the scalp with cotton, leave for two hours and wash off. Repeat this for 3-4 weeks. This problem is more common in school-going children.

Another point worth noting is taking precautions with weaves and braids during the rainy season. These can trap water in the hair so be sure to avoid getting caught in the rain. Otherwise, dry your hair as soon as you get out of the rain. You don't want a smelly hair!

Enjoy the season whilst it lasts!
Emprezz

Reference:

http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/geography/climate.php