Monsoon haircare myths: Navneet Misra, hair expert and founder of Xtovia, debunks common beliefs about monsoon hair problems in an interview with HT Lifestyle, explaining that most seasonal hair issues stem from pre-existing structural weakness rather than weather alone.
Many people blame monsoon for increased hair fall and frizz, but Misra clarifies that humidity doesn’t create new problems, it exposes existing ones. For instance, monsoon doesn’t cause hair fall but triggers hygral fatigue, where repeated swelling and contracting from moisture weakens already fragile hair fibres, causing breakage. Similarly, humidity doesn’t cause frizz; it reveals a lifted cuticle that was already damaged. A healthy, flat cuticle stays smooth regardless of weather.
Misra also addresses common misconceptions about hair care routines. Oiling heavily before a wash can condition hair, but it cannot repair broken bonds inside the cortex or fix a lifted cuticle. Anti-frizz serums provide temporary smoothness, but they don’t address the underlying cuticle damage, so the problem returns with humidity. Additionally, skipping conditioner for an oily scalp is a mistake, as scalp oil doesn’t reach mid-lengths and ends, leaving them dry and vulnerable.
The key takeaway is that diverse symptoms like hair fall, frizz, and dullness all point to the same root cause: whether the hair’s cortex and cuticle are structurally intact. Instead of reacting to each symptom separately, focusing on strengthening the hair’s internal structure offers a more effective solution for monsoon months.