7 Natural Hair Fall Remedies for India: Monsoon & Beyond
Natural remedies can support a healthy scalp during monsoon, but they won't stop hair fall on their own. The seven below, from onion and neem to methi, aloe and fermented rice water, are traditional options, each with how to make it and how often to use it. Patch-test first, and see a dermatologist if shedding lasts beyond 8 to 12 weeks. To understand why it happens, read our guide to monsoon and seasonal hair fall.
Our Nanis Were Right About Monsoon Hair Fall
7 Traditional Indian Remedies Worth Trying
Traditional remedies · Researched products
Why it happens: Monsoon & Seasonal Hair Fall: Causes, Prevention, What Works →
Shampoos: 5 Best Natural Shampoos for Hair Fall in India →
You are reading: 7 Natural Home Remedies + Natural Hair Oils for Monsoon Hair Fall
📋 What's in This Article
- Why Hair Fall Increases in Monsoon — What We Know
- Seasonal Hair Fall vs Hair Fall That Needs a Doctor
- 3 Mistakes That Can Make Monsoon Hair Fall Worse
- 7 Natural Indian Home Remedies Worth Trying
- What the Research Actually Says
- 5 Natural Hair Oils to Consider (With Amazon Links)
- Your Monsoon Hair Care Routine
- Frequently Asked Questions
Hair falling more this monsoon? You are not imagining it. Monsoon hair fall in India is a common seasonal concern, and studies in other countries have found that hair shedding tends to peak in summer, so a seasonal rise is real and is usually temporary. Our nanis and dadis had a whole toolkit of oils and kitchen remedies for this time of year.
Several things may add to it during the rains: humidity, extra sweat and scalp oil, and scalp yeast that thrives in warm, damp weather. Ayurveda describes the monsoon (Varsha Ritu) as a season when Vata dosha is aggravated, and many traditional remedies were designed around that idea. Here is the honest part: most of these remedies have little direct human research behind them, so we label each one with what the evidence does and doesn't show. For the full science of why it happens, read Monsoon Hair Fall: Why It Happens and How to Stop It.
In this guide you'll find 7 traditional home remedies with step-by-step recipes, a short summary of the actual studies behind the claims, and 5 widely available natural hair oils compared by ingredients, with Amazon links if you want to look at them. Some links are affiliate links; see the disclosure at the end.
⚡ Quick Guide — Which Oil for Which Preference
Affiliate links. No oil here is a medical treatment; details and evidence notes are further down.
- Traditional bhringraj-based oil: Indulekha Bringha Hair Oil ↗
- Onion extract blend: Mamaearth Onion Hair Oil ↗
- Rosemary + lavender: Soulflower Rosemary Lavender Hair Oil ↗
- Rosemary + biotin: Botanic Hearth Rosemary Hair Oil ↗
- 13-herb traditional blend: Nidhi's Grandmaa Secret 13 Herbs Hair Oil ↗
Why Hair Fall Increases in Monsoon — What We Know
Rain itself is not the main culprit. Human hair follows a natural growth cycle, and research has found that more hairs enter the resting phase in summer, so many people shed more at this time of year. During the monsoon, three more factors may add to it:
💧 Cause 1 — Humidity, Sweat and Oil
Humid air makes hair swell and feel frizzier and weaker, and sweat and scalp oil build up faster. This can make breakage and shedding look worse. Direct evidence that humidity itself causes hair fall is limited, but a clean, comfortable scalp is a sensible goal.
🦠 Cause 2 — Scalp Yeast and Dandruff
Warm, damp conditions suit Malassezia, a yeast that lives on the scalp and feeds on oil. When it overgrows, dandruff, itching and irritation can follow, and an irritated scalp can contribute to shedding. Persistent flaking, thick scaling or painful bumps need a dermatologist, not a home remedy. For milder flaking, see dandruff home remedies: what actually helps.
🌿 Cause 3 — Vata Dosha (Traditional View)
In Ayurveda, the monsoon (Varsha Ritu) is said to aggravate Vata dosha, which is linked to a dry scalp and weaker hair. This is a traditional framework rather than a finding from clinical trials. It is the reason bhringraj and brahmi are the classic monsoon herbs in many Indian homes.
Want the studies and the full explanation? See Monsoon Hair Fall: Why It Happens and How to Stop It.
Seasonal Hair Fall vs Hair Fall That Needs a Doctor
| Factor | Usually Seasonal ✅ | Worth a Dermatologist ⚠️ |
|---|---|---|
| When it started | With the rains, or a little after | Months or years before monsoon |
| Daily hair count | A modest rise on top of the usual 50–100 hairs a day | Much higher than your usual, and not settling |
| Root appearance | Small white bulb at the root (a shed hair) | No bulb, hair snapping mid-length (breakage) |
| Visible thinning | Overall density looks about the same | Wider parting, thinner ponytail, patches |
| What to do | Gentle routine and the remedies below; it often settles as the season changes | See a dermatologist. Remedies alone are unlikely to be enough |
If shedding lasts beyond 8–12 weeks, see a dermatologist. Fever, illness, stress, rapid weight change or low iron can all trigger shedding that shows up two to three months later, which is easy to mistake for a monsoon effect.
3 Mistakes That Can Make Monsoon Hair Fall Worse
❌ Mistake 1 — Tying Wet Hair
Wet hair is more elastic and more fragile than dry hair, and a tight bun or braid puts strain on it, especially at the hair tie. Let your hair dry mostly before tying it, and use a soft scrunchie instead of a thin elastic.
❌ Mistake 2 — Letting Sweat and Oil Build Up
In humid weather, sweat and oil build up faster. Most people do well washing 2–4 times a week depending on scalp type: oily scalps toward 3–4, dry scalps toward 2–3. Use a mild sulphate-free shampoo.
❌ Mistake 3 — Heavy Overnight Oiling
In humid weather, a thick layer of oil left overnight can leave an oily scalp feeling itchy and may add to buildup. A light layer for 30–60 minutes before washing is usually enough. If your scalp is dry and it feels fine to you, you can adjust, but oily or dandruff-prone scalps tend to do better without overnight oiling.
7 Natural Indian Home Remedies for Monsoon Hair Fall — Worth Trying
These are traditional remedies rooted in Indian households and Ayurveda. We have not found strong human trials for most of them, so each one carries an evidence note that tells you what is known. Treat them as gentle scalp-care options, not cures.
| Remedy | What research exists | Evidence for monsoon hair fall |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Onion + neem | Small trial of onion juice in patchy hair loss (alopecia areata); lab data on neem | Limited |
| 2. Methi + aloe vera | Mostly traditional use | Limited |
| 3. Fermented rice water | Traditional use; little controlled human data | Limited |
| 4. Bhringraj + coconut oil | Bhringraj: animal studies. Coconut oil: lab study on hair protein loss | Bhringraj limited; coconut oil protects the strand |
| 5. Curry leaves + coconut oil | Traditional use; coconut oil base as above | Limited |
| 6. Egg + curd mask | Traditional conditioning mask | Conditioning only, no evidence for shedding |
| 7. Amla + hibiscus | Traditional conditioning pack | Limited |
What the Research Actually Says
These are the studies behind the claims in this post, with what each one tested and what it did not. Each study title links to its PubMed record so you can read the abstract yourself.
| Study | What was tested | What it found | Limits to keep in mind |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kunz et al., Dermatology, 2009 | Trichograms of 823 women over 6 years | The share of resting hairs peaked in summer, showing that seasonal shedding is real | Retrospective study of women in Switzerland who complained of hair loss; not specific to the Indian monsoon |
| Panahi et al., Skinmed, 2015 | Rosemary oil vs 2% minoxidil for 6 months in 100 men with pattern hair loss | The authors reported similar results for both; scalp itching was more common with minoxidil | One single-blind trial; men with genetic pattern hair loss, not seasonal shedding; not tested in women |
| Rele & Mohile, J Cosmet Sci, 2003 | Coconut, sunflower and mineral oil on hair tresses in the lab | Only coconut oil clearly reduced protein loss, in both damaged and undamaged hair | Lab study on hair strands, not on hair fall in people; authors worked at a coconut-oil maker (Marico) |
| Sharquie & Al-Obaidi, J Dermatol, 2002 | Onion juice vs tap water in patchy hair loss (alopecia areata); 23 patients on onion juice | More regrowth with onion juice than with tap water | Small trial in an autoimmune condition; not seasonal shedding or pattern hair loss |
| Roy, Thakur & Dixit, Arch Dermatol Res, 2008 | Bhringraj (Eclipta alba) extracts applied to albino rats | Hair growth started sooner and more follicles were in the growth phase | Animal study; results in rats may not carry over to people |
5 Natural Hair Oils to Consider for Monsoon Hair Fall in India)
No oil will stop seasonal shedding on its own, and none of these is a medical treatment. We picked five widely available oils with different hero ingredients so you can choose by what is in the bottle rather than by the marketing. We have not personally tested each oil; the notes below are based on the listed ingredients and the published research above. Ingredient lists can change, so read the label before you buy, patch test, and stop using any oil that irritates your scalp.
🔗 Complete Your Monsoon Hair Care Routine
Oil needs to be washed out properly, and the right shampoo matters as much as the oil. See 5 Best Natural Shampoos for Hair Fall in India. To understand why the shedding happens in the first place, read Monsoon Hair Fall: Why It Happens and How to Stop It.
📅 Your Monsoon Hair Care Routine
Daily
Comb dry hair gently, from the ends upward. If you get caught in the rain, rinse your scalp with plain water, then pat dry with a soft or microfibre towel and don't rub. Don't sleep with a damp scalp.
Wash — 2–4× a Week by Scalp Type
Oily scalps lean toward 3–4 washes, dry scalps toward 2–3. Use a mild sulphate-free shampoo, massage the scalp gently for 3–5 minutes, and condition the lengths only. Let hair dry mostly before tying it.
Once or Twice a Week — Oil
Apply a light layer of oil to the scalp (one of the five above, or the infused oils from Remedies 4 and 5). Massage for 5 minutes, leave for 30–60 minutes, and wash it out completely. No heavy overnight oiling in humid weather.
Once Weekly — One Mask or Rinse
Pick one remedy a week and rotate: onion + neem, methi + aloe, rice water, egg + curd, or amla + hibiscus. Introduce one new thing at a time and give it 3–4 weeks before judging it. Stop anything that irritates your scalp.
When to See a Dermatologist
Don't rely on home remedies if shedding continues beyond 8–12 weeks, you notice bald patches or a widening parting, your scalp is very itchy, painful, red or scaly, you have pus-filled bumps, or hair fall comes with fatigue, unexplained weight change or menstrual irregularities. These need a proper diagnosis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Is monsoon hair fall normal or something to worry about?
A temporary rise in shedding at this time of year is common. Losing 50–100 hairs a day is typical, and many people notice a bit more during monsoon. It often settles as the season changes. See a dermatologist if shedding lasts beyond 8–12 weeks, or if you notice bald patches, visible thinning or a very itchy, scaly or painful scalp.
Q2: Why does hair fall increase in the rainy season in India?
Hair has a natural seasonal cycle, and studies elsewhere have found more resting hairs in summer. During monsoon, humidity, sweat and scalp oil may add to irritation, flaking and breakage. Rain itself has not been shown to cause hair fall. Ayurveda describes the season as aggravating Vata dosha, which is a traditional view rather than a clinical finding. Our causes and evidence guide covers this in detail.
Q3: Which is the best natural hair oil for monsoon hair fall in India?
There is no single best oil. Bhringraj-based oils suit people who want a traditional Ayurvedic routine. Rosemary has the most human research of the ingredients above, but that is one small trial in men with pattern hair loss. Coconut oil has lab evidence for protecting the hair strand. Choose by ingredient list and how your scalp feels, patch test first, and judge any oil only after 3–4 weeks.
Q4: Can I apply hair oil overnight during monsoon?
It isn't necessary. In humid weather, a light layer for 30–60 minutes before washing is usually enough and tends to feel more comfortable. Oily or dandruff-prone scalps often feel worse with overnight oil. If your scalp is dry and overnight oiling feels fine, wash it out thoroughly the next morning.
Q5: Is monsoon hair fall temporary? Will my hair grow back?
Seasonal shedding is usually temporary: hairs that enter the resting phase are replaced by new ones, and the rise generally settles in the following weeks to months. Remedies and oils haven't been shown to speed this up. If shedding continues beyond 8–12 weeks or you see thinning or patches, see a dermatologist to look for another cause.
Q6: How often should I wash hair during monsoon to prevent hair fall?
Most people do well washing 2–4 times a week depending on scalp type: oily scalps toward 3–4, dry scalps toward 2–3. In humid weather sweat and oil build up faster, so don't let them sit for days. Use a mild sulphate-free shampoo, and condition the lengths rather than the scalp.
Q7: Are natural remedies safe for the scalp?
Natural doesn't mean risk-free. Raw onion juice, neem, essential oils and camphor can irritate skin or trigger allergies. Always patch test on your inner forearm for 24 hours, avoid broken or inflamed skin, introduce one new remedy at a time, and stop if you notice redness, itching or stinging.
Keep reading
Understand the cause, then choose your wash
Why Monsoon Hair Fall Happens → 5 Best Natural Shampoos →
Smita Sonawane is the Founder & Content Researcher at The Natural Move, a research-led wellness and consumer education platform. She focuses on translating confusing wellness, personal-care and natural-product claims into practical information that consumers can actually use.
The Natural Move's editorial approach is simple: Research the claim. Check the evidence. Separate tradition from proof. Then let the reader decide.
🩺 Medical Review Status
This article has not been independently medically reviewed. Health information is provided for consumer education and should not replace professional medical advice.