In humid weather your scalp feels sticky by noon, and your hair puffs up the moment you step outside. A hair care routine Indonesia families follow was built for exactly that, with warm oils, creamy masks, gentle rinses and well covered hair. Here are 12 rituals you can borrow, so start at number one tonight.
1. Warm coconut oil before shampooing
Warm two tablespoons of coconut oil in your palms and smooth it over your lengths half an hour before you wash. Start at the ends and work up, and keep it off your scalp if your roots get oily. Cover your hair with a warm cloth or a shower cap. The oil acts like a shield, so shampoo strips less of your own moisture. Wash it out with shampoo twice if it feels greasy. Coconut oil is very thick in cool rooms, so stand the jar in warm water first. Do this once a week, and your hair will feel softer after each wash.
2. Try a creambath style treatment
Smooth a rich cream mask through damp hair and massage your scalp for five minutes. Creambath is the relaxing Indonesian habit of a creamy hair mask followed by a scalp massage. At home, use a thick conditioner, work it in with slow circles and leave it on for fifteen to twenty minutes under a warm towel. Rinse with lukewarm water until the slippery feeling is mostly gone. Do it once every two or three weeks. It softens dry, sun tired hair and leaves your head feeling calm. Light your favorite candle and make it a small evening ritual. Afterward your hair feels soft and your shoulders feel looser.
3. Use traditional oils carefully
Patch test any traditional oil, such as candlenut, on your inner arm and wait a day before using it on your head. Old family oils are loved for shine and softness, but strong ones can sting or cause a rash on some skin. Use a few drops, not a handful, and only on the lengths at first. Never leave a new oil on overnight until you know your skin likes it. Stop at once if your scalp itches or burns. Keep oils in a cool dark place, since warm weather turns them stale. A small amount is plenty, because the goal is gloss and not grease.
4. Wash the scalp often and gently
Wash your scalp every two days in hot, sticky weather, using the pads of your fingers. Sweat, dust and oil gather fast in humid air, and a dirty scalp itches. Use a mild shampoo and focus it on the roots, never the ends. If you wear a headscarf, helmet or cap most days, your scalp needs washing even more often. Rinse for a full minute so no foam is left behind. A fresh scalp keeps new hair growing comfortably and makes your hair look lighter. If your lengths feel dry, wash less on the ends, and add a conditioner from mid length down.
5. Rinse with lukewarm water
Rinse with water that feels pleasantly warm on your wrist, then finish with a splash of cooler water. Very hot water roughens the hair and leaves it frizzy as soon as it meets humid air. Cool water at the end helps the outer layer lie flat. In a warm country the tap can run lukewarm all by itself, which is ideal. Do not wash your hair in water that has been sitting in the sun all afternoon, because it may be too hot. It costs nothing and you will notice smoother hair by the next wash.
6. Detangle gently after washing
Comb your hair when it is damp with a wide tooth comb, starting from the ends. Humid air makes hair swell and snag, so knots form fast. A little leave in spray or conditioner gives the comb slip. Hold the hair above each knot and work slowly. Do not comb hard when your hair is dripping wet, since wet hair stretches and breaks. Wait ten minutes after you towel off, then comb. If your hair is long, braid it loosely when you are done. A calm, gentle comb stops the small tangles from becoming mats by the weekend.
7. Rinse with fermented or plain rice water
Soak half a cup of rice in two cups of water for thirty minutes, strain it, and pour it over your clean hair. Leave it for three to five minutes, then rinse with plain water. Plain rice water is the gentlest version. If you ferment it, leave it at room temperature for a day, and stop if it smells sharply sour. Use it once a week at most. Hair often feels slippery and smooth after. Too much can leave it stiff, so cut back if it does. Make a fresh batch every time, and do not store it, since it spoils.
8. Use fresh aloe gel as a light conditioner
Scoop the clear gel from a fresh aloe leaf and smooth a thin layer over damp hair. Rinse out the yellow juice near the skin of the leaf first, because it can irritate. Leave the gel on for ten minutes, then rinse. It adds slip and a cool, soft feel without weighing hair down. Test a little on your inner arm first. Keep the leftover gel in the fridge for up to a few days. In hot weather, a cool aloe mask also feels lovely on a tired scalp. Use it once a week, and pat dry instead of rubbing.
9. Choose breathable, smooth fabrics
Sleep on a smooth pillowcase and cover your hair with a loose cotton or silky scarf during the day. In warm weather satin can feel hot, so a thin, soft fabric is a good middle path. Rough fabric catches strands and raises frizz. Wash your scarf and pillowcase weekly, because sweat and oil build up in them fast. Tie the scarf loosely so it does not squeeze your hairline. If you wear a headscarf for work, line it with something smooth. Your hair will feel less tangled when you take it off, and you will see fewer flyaways around the face.
10. Keep the scalp fresh and dry fully
Let your hair dry all the way before you tie it, wrap it or cover it. In humid air a damp scalp turns sour and itchy quickly. Pat it with a towel, then sit in front of a fan for ten minutes. If your hair is thick, lift the sections so air gets to the roots. A light mist of water with a drop of tea tree oil, diluted well, can freshen the scalp between washes, but patch test first. Never go to bed with wet roots. A scalp that dries well stays free of that sticky smell.
11. Shade your hair from strong sun
Wear a hat, a loose scarf or carry an umbrella when the midday sun is strong. Sun fades color, dries the lengths and makes hair brittle. A scarf also keeps dust and smoke off. If your hair is dyed, it fades even faster, so cover it between ten and three. A leave in with a light oil gives a little extra shield on long days outside. After a day at the beach or the pool, rinse your hair with fresh water. Long hours in the sun without cover are the quiet reason hair turns rough by the end of the year.
12. Keep styles loose to manage frizz
Wear a loose braid, a low bun or a soft twist to keep humid frizz down. Tight ponytails pull on the roots and, in heat, they trap sweat. Smooth a drop of light oil over the surface to calm flyaways. Brush your hair gently only when it is dry, and do not touch it all day. If your hair frizzes within an hour of styling, your products may be too heavy. Try something lighter. The best hair care routine Indonesia style leaves hair soft, loose and free. Let your hair move, and the humidity becomes less of a fight. Carry a spare soft band in your bag for the hottest afternoons.
Complete the Routine: Hair Care Routine Indonesia Style for Every Week
Pick two rituals, such as coconut oil and a cool rinse, and add one every week. To build more habits, read about a weekly hair care routine and a simple hair care routine.
