Every July, the same thing happens. You look at your hairbrush, your pillow, and the shower drain—and the hair is everywhere. Monsoon hair fall is real, it is common, and it spikes every single year. Most people try protein shampoos or hair masks. But what is happening is not a shampoo problem. It is a scalp problem—and the right oil, applied correctly, addresses it at the root. Cold-pressed oil for hair fall works differently from the refined oils sold in drugstores. The active compounds in cold-pressed oils—ricinoleic acid in castor, sesamol in sesame, and sulfur compounds in mustard—are preserved only when the oil is extracted without heat. Heat-extracted oils have the smell and the color but not the chemistry that makes them effective. Here are three that actually do something.
Why Hair Fall Increases Every Monsoon
Monsoon hair fall has a name—telogen effluvium. It is a delayed shedding response where hair that entered the resting phase three to four months earlier (around March and April, when temperatures peak) falls out all at once in the rainy season. So the hair you are losing in July was actually affected by summer stress months ago.
On top of that, monsoon brings its own fresh triggers. High humidity creates the perfect conditions for scalp fungus—malassezia—which causes dandruff and weakens hair follicles. Rainwater and hard water strip natural scalp oils. Tying wet hair tightly after getting caught in rain causes breakage. And iron deficiency, common in Indian women, accelerates shedding significantly in this season when diet changes too. Cold-pressed oils address almost all of these—some topically, some through cooking.
5 Cold Pressed Oils for Monsoon Hair Fall — Each One Does Something Different
1. Cold Pressed Castor Oil — For Scalp Circulation and Follicle Strength
Castor oil is the most well-known hair-fall remedy in Indian households—and the science behind it is solid. Its main compound, ricinoleic acid, has been shown to reduce inflammation at the follicle level and improve scalp blood circulation, which is directly tied to how well follicles receive nutrients. Better circulation means weaker follicles get a chance to recover instead of shedding. Castor oil is thick — mix it with a lighter oil like sesame in a 1:2 ratio so it spreads easily. Massage into the scalp for 10 minutes, leave for 45 minutes, then wash. Use twice a week during monsoon. For detailed application methods, see our complete guide on cold pressed castor oil for hair.
2. Wood-Pressed Sesame Oil—For Scalp Sebum Balance and Protein Protection
Sesame oil does something most people do not know about — it penetrates the hair shaft deeper than almost any other oil because its molecules are small enough to get past the cuticle layer. This means it does not just coat the surface; it actually reduces protein loss from individual hair strands. When monsoon humidity and hard water strip your hair repeatedly, protein loss is what causes the thinning and breakage you see. Cold pressed sesame oil also has natural antibacterial and antifungal properties—which means it actively works against the scalp fungus that monsoon humidity encourages. Apply warm sesame oil from root to tip and leave for 30 minutes before washing. It works well as a standalone oil or mixed with castor for a combined scalp and length treatment.
3. Cold Pressed Coconut Oil — For Pre-Wash Protein Protection
Coconut oil’s role in hair fall is very specific—and often misunderstood. It does not prevent shedding directly. What it does is significantly reduce the protein loss that happens when hair is wet and most vulnerable. Wet hair swells, the cuticle opens, and without a protective coating, proteins leach out with every wash. Applying cold-pressed coconut oil 30 minutes before every shampoo creates a barrier that reduces this protein loss. Over weeks, that means each strand stays thicker and stronger—and thin, weak hair breaks and falls out far less. This is a pre-wash treatment, not an overnight mask. 20 to 30 minutes before shampooing is enough.
The Right Way to Oil Your Scalp This Monsoon
Application method matters as much as which oil you use. Most people apply oil wrong and wonder why it does not work.
- Warm the oil slightly — place the bottle in warm water for 3 minutes. Never microwave. Warm oil absorbs faster and improves circulation.
- Section the hair and apply directly to the scalp first, then work through the lengths.
- Massage in circular motions for 5 to 10 minutes. The massage itself stimulates blood flow — do not skip this.
- Leave for at least 30 to 45 minutes. Overnight is fine but not necessary.
- Wash with a gentle sulfate-free or low-sulfate shampoo. Harsh shampoos strip the oil and dry out the scalp again.
- Do not tie wet hair tightly after washing. Pat dry with a soft cotton cloth, not a rough towel.
How Often Should You Oil in the Monsoon?
Twice a week is the right frequency for most people. More than that, a monsoon can trap moisture at the scalp and encourage the fungal growth you are trying to prevent. Less than once a week is not enough to build the consistent scalp nourishment that reduces shedding. If you have an oily scalp, once a week is sufficient — focus on scalp massage and wash out within an hour.
What Makes Cold-Pressed Oil Different from Drugstore Hair Oils
Most bottled hair oils sold in pharmacies and supermarkets use a refined mineral oil or refined vegetable oil base with fragrance and a small percentage of herbal extracts added. The base oil itself has no therapeutic value — it just carries the fragrance. Cold-pressed castor, sesame, and mustard oils are the actual active ingredients. The ricinoleic acid, sesamol, and allyl isothiocyanate that make them effective for hair fall are completely absent in refined or mineral oil-based products. This is why switching to cold-pressed oil for hair fall gives results that drugstore oils typically cannot match.
Conclusion
Monsoon hair fall is frustrating—but it is also predictable and manageable. The pattern is the same every year, which means you can prepare for it every year. Start the oil routine two weeks before monsoon peaks in your area. Use cold-pressed oil for hair fall consistently—castor and sesame for scalp massage twice a week, mustard once a week for circulation, coconut oil as a pre-wash treatment, and niger seed oil in your cooking for internal iron support. Give it six weeks. Most people who stick with it see a noticeable reduction in shedding before the season ends.
Browse Srikruti Naturals’ full range of cold-pressed and wood-pressed oils, extracted the traditional way, with every active compound still intact.
