Hair
Dandruff and hair fall in Kochi's monsoon: what helps
Every monsoon brings the same two complaints: white flakes on a dark office shirt, and more hair than usual in the drain. Kerala's long wet season, and the sticky humidity either side of it, explain a lot of it.
Here's what's actually going on, what salon treatments can and can't do, a simple home routine, and the signs that mean you should see a doctor instead.
Why the wet months are hard on your scalp
Everyone's scalp carries a yeast called Malassezia. Usually it causes no trouble, but it thrives when the scalp is warm, damp and oily, which describes most heads in Kochi during the monsoon. When it overgrows, the scalp reacts with itching and flaking: dandruff.
A few monsoon habits make it worse:
- Hair that never dries fully. Caught in the rain, then straight under a helmet for the ride home along Infopark Road, then tied up under the office AC.
- Washing less. Many people skip washes when it's wet outside, so sweat and oil build up.
- Heavy oiling left on for hours. For some dandruff-prone scalps, oil left on overnight seems to feed the problem.
- Sweat under helmets and caps that sits on the scalp all day.
Is it really more hair fall?
Sometimes it's breakage rather than fall. Wet hair is weaker and tangles easily, so rough towelling and combing out knots snap strands mid-length. Short broken pieces point to breakage; a strand with a tiny white bulb at one end has shed from the root.
Some shedding is normal. Dermatologists commonly put it at around 50 to 100 hairs a day. A heavier wave can follow a high fever or illness, often a couple of months later, and the monsoon is when viral fevers do the rounds. Stress, low iron, thyroid problems, hormonal changes, childbirth and genetics also play a part, and no salon treatment can fix those.
What salon treatments can do
Hair spa
A cleanse suited to your scalp (balancing, anti-dandruff or hydrating), a mask worked through, a scalp massage, then a rinse and blow-dry. It improves the condition of your hair and scalp, and it's the calmest hour on the menu. Every three to four weeks suits most people.
SP Alchemy protein treatment
This one targets a specific problem. At Essensuals Infopark it comes in dandruff and hair-loss versions, among others, and works as a course: four sittings, two weeks apart, with homecare in between. There's more on the dandruff treatment page.
| Hair spa | SP Alchemy treatment | |
|---|---|---|
| Good for | Nourishment, a calmer scalp, relaxation | One problem: dandruff, hair loss, frizz and more |
| Format | One sitting, repeated every 3–4 weeks | A course of 4 sittings, 2 weeks apart |
| Men, from | ₹900 (30 min), ₹1,300 (60 min) | ₹1,200 per treatment |
| Women, from | ₹1,100 (30 min, shoulder length) | ₹1,500 per treatment |
These are starting prices, before GST. Women with hair below the shoulder pay from ₹1,400 for 30 minutes or ₹1,600 for 60. If you're a regular, pay for four hair spas (shea butter or protein) and the fifth is free; see offers. Every option is listed on the hair spa and treatments page.
What they can't do
Salon treatments improve the condition of your scalp and hair. They can reduce flaking and breakage and give you a routine to stick to. They can't:
- Cure seborrhoeic dermatitis, psoriasis or a fungal infection
- Regrow hair lost to pattern hair loss or alopecia areata
- Fix shedding caused by low iron, thyroid problems, hormones or illness
If any of those is behind your symptoms, you need a diagnosis first. A salon treatment can sit alongside medical care if your doctor is happy with it.
Home care for the wet months
- Wash often enough. An oily, flaky scalp usually does better washed every two or three days, or more often in the monsoon, than once a week.
- Use an anti-dandruff shampoo properly. Look for ketoconazole, zinc pyrithione or selenium sulphide. Massage it into the scalp and leave it for a few minutes before rinsing. Alternate with a mild shampoo if it feels drying.
- Dry your scalp, not just your lengths. Blow-dry the roots on a cool setting. Never tie up wet hair or put a helmet on over it; a washable cotton liner inside the helmet helps.
- Oil lightly and briefly. If you're prone to dandruff, wash oil out within an hour or two rather than leaving it on overnight.
- Be gentle when it's wet. Pat dry, use a wide-tooth comb and avoid tight ponytails.
- Rinse in lukewarm water, not hot, to keep the scalp calm.
If you love a head massage but worry about oil sitting on your scalp, the head massage here includes a hair wash and blast-dry, so you leave with clean hair. A 30-minute head oil massage is ₹999.
When to see a dermatologist
See a dermatologist rather than a salon if you notice any of these:
- A red, inflamed, weeping, crusted or painful scalp
- Flaking that spreads to your eyebrows, the sides of your nose, your ears or chest
- No improvement after about four weeks of regular anti-dandruff shampoo
- Hair coming out in clumps, round bald patches, a widening parting or a receding hairline
- Heavy shedding that lasts more than about three months, or starts after illness, childbirth, a new medicine or a crash diet
- Other symptoms alongside it, such as unusual tiredness, weight changes or irregular periods
Quick answers
Can a hair spa cure dandruff?
No. A hair spa cleanses and calms the scalp, and the SP dandruff treatment targets flaking over a course of sittings. Dandruff that doesn't improve needs a dermatologist.
How many SP treatment sittings will I need?
The course is four sittings, two weeks apart, with homecare in between.
Is more hair fall in the monsoon normal?
A mild rise in shedding and breakage is common in the wet months. If it's heavy, patchy or lasts more than about three months, see a doctor.
Should I oil my hair if I have dandruff?
Lightly and briefly. Wash it out within a couple of hours rather than leaving it on overnight.
Flakes or extra shedding this monsoon? Book a dandruff treatment.
