Hair, Rain and Panic

Woman in the rain, with an umbrella
Photo: Sanneberg/Shutterstock
Q: I often see women panic when it starts to rain and then they start whining about their hair. Why is rain such a disaster for a woman's hair?
 
A: Well, simply put, rain and humidity can instantly ruin a hairstyle that took so much time and money to create.
 
The process of styling hair to be fully straight or curly against its natural wave pattern relies on heat to break the temporary hydrogen bonds that give hair its shape. When styled hair is exposed to moisture - whether from raindrops, mist, or high humidity - the water breaks those reconfigured hydrogen bonds, forcing the hair back into its natural texture.
 
For women with naturally curly or frizzy hair who have spent time blow-drying and flat-ironing it straight, rain causes the hair shaft to swell and frizz. And women with naturally straight hair who have curled it will find those curls falling limp as the hair absorbs water. In either case, the style can disappear within minutes.
 

Why Hair Absorbs Water So Fast

Hair is hygroscopic. It rapidly absorbs water vapor from the air. This effect is even worse for hair that is porous or heat-damaged, as damaged hair lacks the natural protective lipid layer that repels water.
 
Also, raindrops often carry environmental pollutants that leave a residue, stripping away shine and making hair coarse and prone to tangling. Rain also causes sebum to clump at the roots. This clumping, combined with wet hair flattening against the scalp, creates the appearance of greasy, flat hair.
 

Time and Money

Women panic because of the investment involved. A salon blowout can take anywhere from 30 minutes to over an hour, not to mention the cost of products and the service. Seeing that time, money and effort ruined instantly is frustrating.
 
While modern hydrophobic hair products and heat-activated polymer sprays create a protective barrier to slow down water absorption, they are not completely waterproof. If hair gets saturated, moisture wins every time.
 
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See also:
 
Hair care in humid weather
 
The effect of the weather on our hair
 
How to protect straightened hair in the rain