KEMA Hair Column
Begin "Structural Care"
for Your Hair Before the Rainy Season
Suppleness that defies humidity doesn't come
from surface-level fixes, but from internal order.
The rainy season comes around every year. You style your hair perfectly in the morning, only for it to frizz, ends to curl, and the silhouette to collapse the moment you step outside—many of you likely know this frustration all too well. However, hair troubles during the rainy season cannot be attributed solely to "humidity." At the root of the problem is a disruption in the internal structural balance of the hair. What KEMA proposes is "structural care" started *before* the rains arrive, to restore your hair's balance from within. It is an approach of restoring order, not just covering the surface.
Section 01
Why Hair Frizzes in the Rainy Season
—A Structural Perspective
A hair strand consists of a three-layer structure: the outermost cuticle, the middle cortex, and the center medulla. In healthy hair, cuticles are neatly aligned to prevent external moisture from entering; however, when this structure is disrupted by hair color, perms, or heat damage, it becomes easy for moisture to penetrate the gaps between the cuticles.
Moisture that enters the interior acts unevenly on the protein bonds within the cortex, causing parts of the hair to swell. This is the true cause of "curling" and "frizzing." In other words, the essence of hair troubles during the rainy season lies in the breakdown of the protein balance and structural order inside the hair.
Fig.01 — Hair Structure: Healthy vs. Damaged
Section 02
The "Pre-Rainy" Season is Prime Time
—Proactive Care Makes the Difference
Many people deal with rainy season hair troubles with "band-aid" fixes. Applying oil when they feel humidity, or using a flat iron to flatten frizz—these may work temporarily, but they are not fundamental solutions. In fact, repetitive use of heat can further damage the cuticles, leading to a vicious cycle.
The ideal approach is to start caring for and rebuilding your hair's internal structure 4 to 6 weeks before the rainy season begins. By systematically replenishing proteins and repairing the cuticles, your hair will be prepared to exert its own barrier function by the time the humid season arrives.
While the start of the rainy season varies by region, in the Kanto area, it typically begins in early June. This means mid-April through May is the best timing to start structural care. Taking action early gives your hair the necessary lead time to truly change from the inside out.
Section 03
3-Step "Structural Care" Before the Rain
Based on KEMA’s product design philosophy of "ORDER, BALANCE, and HARMONY," here are the three steps of structural care you should practice before the rainy season. These steps can be easily incorporated into your daily routine.
Remove impurities and residues from the scalp and hair to restore the order that serves as the foundation for care.
Replenish lost proteins and moisture in an optimal balance to reconstruct the internal structure.
Protect the restored structure from the outside, forming a lasting barrier against humidity.
Step 01 — Order
Cleanse: Cleansing to Restore Order
Pre-rainy season care starts with a "reset." Daily buildup of silicones, styling product residues, and oxidized sebum forms a layer on the surface of your hair, hindering the penetration of even the best treatments.
Maintaining the scalp environment is the first step toward growing beautiful hair. Thoroughly removing excess sebum while protecting necessary moisture—this balance maximizes the effectiveness of the subsequent repair step. By incorporating a deep cleanse 1–2 times a week, you will notice a significant difference in treatment penetration during your intensive pre-rainy season care.
Recommended
SCALP SHAMPOO
Cleanses excess sebum and dirt while retaining essential moisture. A scalp care shampoo that addresses scalp concerns such as stickiness, odor, dandruff, and itching, leading to a light, airy finish from the roots.
SHOP NOW ↗Recommended
CREMA SHAMPOO
A high-concentration protein formula focused on damage from flat irons and daily heat styling. Contains keratin, silk, collagen, and wheat protein to support protein density within the hair. Intensively cares for hair while minimizing strain on the scalp.
SHOP NOW ↗Step 02 — Balance
Repair: Reconstruction of Internal Structure
Once the foundation is set with cleansing, the next step is intensive repair of the hair's interior. What is important for pre-rainy season repair care is the "equilibrium" of protein and moisture.
If you only replenish protein in excess, the hair becomes hard and stiff; if you provide only moisture, it becomes too soft and lacks body. By replenishing both in a balanced manner, you create hair that possesses both suppleness and strength, making it resilient against humidity.
The key is to combine multiple protein components such as silk, keratin, and collagen to increase the density of the cortex layer. In addition to daily treatments, performing intensive care 1–2 times a week should result in a clear difference in the texture of your hair after about 4 weeks.
Recommended
CREMA TREATMENT (WHITE or BLACK)
WHITE: A high-protein intensive care formula with silk, keratin, and collagen. Replenishes moisture and protein that tend to be lost, leading to soft, resilient hair with a feeling of substance from the core.
BLACK: A black liquid formula infused with charcoal. For hair with advanced damage from repeated flat iron use or bleaching. Restores moisture from within using proteins, amino acids, and natural oils while smoothing the cuticles.
Step 03 — Harmony
Protect: Barrier Formation to Safeguard Structure
Once the internal structure is restored, the final step is to protect that order. Using a leave-in treatment or hair oil, you can smooth the cuticle surface and prevent moisture from the outside from penetrating.
The important thing here is lightweight protection that does not sacrifice the hair's natural movement, rather than heavy coating. Excess oil film can actually make the hair feel heavy and limp. What is needed is a protection where nature and science harmonize to "let the hair breathe while keeping it safe."
By applying a very small amount, focusing on the ends, during your morning styling, you can significantly reduce style collapse caused by humidity throughout the day. This "final touch" is especially effective during the rainy season, as you move between dry indoor environments and humid outdoors.
Recommended
OUTBATH BALM (MIRACLE BOND BALM or LEAVE-IN BALM)
MIRACLE BOND BALM: A high-repair leave-in treatment. Cares for dryness, breakage, and frizz from the root through internal repair and external coating. Replenishes missing proteins while maintaining shine and manageability for hours.
LEAVE-IN BALM: Blends in lightly without heaviness. A smooth, spreading balm that coats hair evenly, suppressing dryness and frizz for a natural finish. Designed for ease of use, even for those with fine-to-normal hair or those who dislike styling products.
Section 04
5 Pre-Rainy Season Habits
to Incorporate Daily
In addition to product care, simply reviewing your daily habits can greatly improve rainy season hair troubles. Here are five points you can start implementing today.
Fig.02 — 5 Daily Habits for Pre-Rainy Season
Restore the structure.
All beauty follows thereafter.
— KEMA PHILOSOPHY
Closing
Towards Hair That Doesn't Fear the Rain.
The best approach to rainy season hair troubles is not to fight the humidity, but to pre-prepare a hair structure that is unswayed by it. It is much like the foundation work for a building. By building a base that doesn't waver under any weather, your daily styling becomes freer and lighter.
Based on the three principles of ORDER, BALANCE, and HARMONY, KEMA designs fundamental beauty from within the hair. This rainy season, why not graduate from "band-aid fixes" and get a head start with structural care?
Beauty begins with order.
Bring serene confidence to your hair.
For those who want to learn more about hair damage during the rainy season and summer, please also see The Difference Between Those Whose Hair Stays Healthy and Those Whose Hair Becomes Frayed After Summer, UV Hair Care to Protect Your Hair From Summer UV Rays, and Shiny Hair That Lasts All Day With Leave-In Treatments.
