The shower drain tells the story first. Then the pillow. Then the comb, wrapped in more strands than you remember losing last month. Every July, the same quiet panic returns - and with it, the same question: is this just monsoon hair fall, or is something else going on?
The short answer: it can be both. Losing 50 to 100 strands a day is considered normal, and during seasonal transitions, that number may temporarily rise to 150-200 hairs a day - alarming to see, but not automatically a sign of chronic hair loss. The trouble is that the monsoon can also mask hair loss unrelated to the weather.
Why The Rains Make Your Hair Fall More
Humidity is the main culprit. During the monsoon, the scalp often stays damp for extended periods due to rain and excessive sweating caused by high humidity. This prolonged moisture, combined with pollutants and microbial buildup, can weaken hair roots, irritate the scalp, and contribute to increased hair fall.
A damp scalp is also fertile ground for dandruff and fungal flare-ups, which trigger itching, scratching and breakage. Much of what looks like hair "falling" in the monsoon is actually hair breaking - full-length strands are more likely to have shed from the follicle, while shorter, uneven hairs point towards breakage from towel-drying, tight buns and combing wet hair.