With the monsoon season in full swing, if you ever look in the mirror after a few weeks of colouring your hair and wonder why your colour is already looking dull, you are not alone. The first thought is to blame the rain, but strangely rainwater isn’t the biggest culprit. It’s everything the season has in store. The humidity, excess scalp oil, pollution, UV exposure, and frequent washing that quietly speeds up colour fade. Rochelle Chhabra, Head of Streax Professional explains why hair colours lose their sheen in monsoons.
Many confuse loss of shine with fading colour. One of the biggest misconceptions is that colour care is only about the lengths of hair, but actually, it begins with the scalp. Monsoon weather can cause excess sweat, oil and product build-up, which can make the scalp greasy and more susceptible to dandruff. Even if your colour is not too faded, an unhealthy scalp can make hair look flat, dull and lifeless. Keeping the scalp clean and balanced with ingredients like Piroctone Olamine and Tea Tree Oil helps reduce build-up and creates a healthier foundation for vibrant-looking hair. Another thing people often forget is the actual colouring process. Long-lasting colour is not just about choosing a shade that suits you, but also about choosing a professional colour service that protects the hair as the colouring takes place. Ammonia-free hair colours and nourishing ingredients such as Argan Oil and Walnut Oil help to minimise dryness, leaving hair softer, smoother and more able to retain colour. Your after-salon hair care is key to keeping your colour looking fresh. Monsoons make the weather humid, and hair absorbs the extra moisture. This causes the cuticle to lift, allowing the colour pigments to escape more easily. A colour-safe, sulphate-free shampoo, followed by a nourishing conditioner or hair mask, helps to protect colour, while formulations infused with colour-protecting technology, nourishing oils and UV filters provide an extra layer of protection against humidity and environmental stress. There is no complicated routine to keep your colours looking vibrant. Fight frizz by patting your hair dry with a microfibre towel instead of a regular one. Use a lightweight, non-sticky serum with Vitamin E and avoid DIY solutions like lemon or curd, which can mess with professionally coloured hair.
Humidity lifts the cuticle of the hair, and the hair reflects less light, so even freshly coloured hair looks dull before the colour actually fades.
Follow the right routine and your colour will stay glossy, rich and salon-fresh, no matter what the weather throws at you.