The amount of aggressors that our hair has to withstand is unimaginable. It sometimes has to deal with chemicals because of all the styling, or colouring, as well as heat from the curling, blow drying, and straightening. Besides this, it also has to endure air pollution and effects of smog we dwell in. With both these on the rise, our hair is getting seriously damaged. Polluted air, dust, long exposure to sun, and more, contribute to that extra-sensitive, itchy scalp you’re suffering from. This gets even worse in the winters, as the cold air sucks out all the moisture from your scalp, and leaves it extremely dry. If you’re wondering how smog and polluted air does so much damage and the hair care tips you can rely on to deal with it, read on.
Why is smog so bad for your hair?
You should know that just like your skin, your hair also undergoes serious damage from the effects of smog and air pollution—especially with the special particles present in it. These little particles pass through your hair each and every time you’re outdoors. Besides sitting on your strands, they also make their way to your scalp, and cause it to become dry and itchy. The air outside is abundant in dust, carbon, and other toxic, harmful matter, and so, when they enter the skin of our scalp, they hinder hair growth, and also cause serious hair fall.
Now that you know how bad smog is for your hair, here are a couple of hair care tips to help you combat the ill effects of pollution and adopt a hair care routing to pollution-proof your locks…
1. Wear a hat
Besides being a super cute accessory, hats are a great way to protect your hair from all the damage caused by air pollution and the effects of smog, and even ultraviolet light. A simple hair care tip is to slather your strands with some leave-in conditioner or any sort of hydrating product (your hair needs all the moisture it can get in winter), wrap it into a bun, and put your hat on. If you aren’t too fond of hats, wear a satin or silk scarf around your head while you’re outdoors to shield your locks from the damage smog can cause.
2. Go product-free or use the right products
When you're living in a city that is high on air pollution switch your hair care routine to include products that can help fend it off. Our favourite for the high-smog months is the Dove Environmental Defence Range that has the essence of lotus that cleanses and purifies hair.
While stepping out, if don't want to tie your hair, it's best to not use any sort of product in it. This is because sticky, heavy product textures basically act like magnets and attract the minute particles present in polluted air, resulting in your hair feeling, and looking dirty. You should also ensure that you don't step outdoors with wet hair, as wet hair also attracts dust and other particles.
3. Revive your hair
The best way to do this by adding a regular hair mask to your weekly hair care routine. You could either go to a salon to get one applied onto your hair, or make one at home. You could use natural and easily available ingredients such as yogurt, honey, and vinegar, to wake your hair up.
Written by Cassandra Pereira on Dec 13, 2017