Monsoon hair fall is real and the culprit might be your scalp

First come the clouds, then comes the hair fall. You find it on your pillow, in your brush or coiled around your bathroom drain. Monsoon hair fall isn’t just seasonal drama: it’s biology, scalp science, and sometimes, neglect. Rainwater dries on your roots, sebum gets trapped under sweat and your scalp turns into a damp buffet for fungal growth.

The good news is that it’s rarely permanent. The better news is that it doesn’t require a 12-step routine but a shift in how you care for your scalp when there’s high humidity.

Why monsoon hair fall happens in the first place

Monsoon hair fall can be a byproduct of humidity, inflammation and a disrupted scalp microbiome. “High humidity traps sweat and sebum, disrupting the scalp’s microbiome and encouraging overgrowth of Malassezia fungi and certain bacteria,” Dr Kalyani Deshmukh, dermatologist at Traya, tells Vogue India. “This leads to itching, inflammation and flaking. Think of your scalp in the monsoon as a tropical greenhouse—warm, damp and perfect for fungal overgrowth.”

And it’s not just seasonal chaos. As Dr Yogesh Gupta, celebrity skin expert and director of RSB Wellness Clinic, explains, your scalp is “a mini-ecosystem”—home to nearly 1,00,000 follicles and vulnerable to build-up from natural oils, sweat and product residue. “It’s important to treat the scalp like you’d treat your face.” Skipping too many wash days or letting rainwater dry on your scalp only worsens this imbalance.

How to reduce hair fall during the monsoon season

Clarify, don’t strip

Use a gentle exfoliating or clarifying shampoo once a week to dislodge build-up. Avoid harsh surfactants, but look for scalp-focused ingredients like salicylic acid, piroctone olamine or tea tree oil to counter fungal overgrowth.

Don’t let rainwater sit

Rainwater is often acidic and full of pollutants. Letting it dry on the scalp without rinsing can worsen flaking, itching and breakage. “Careful drying after every wash and avoiding rainwater on the scalp” are key steps, says Dr Deshmukh.

Keep conditioners off your roots

This should be the rule, regardless of the season. Apply conditioner only to mid-lengths and ends, and rinse thoroughly. If you have finer hair, a lightweight conditioner is enough. Skip leave-ins and heavy oils that weigh the scalp down or clog follicles.