They Called It a Rain Dance. My Hair Called It Trauma.

There’s a special kind of chaos that only Indian schools can offer—and right at the top of that list is the annual rain dance. You know the one. You're 10 years old, standing in a muddy school quadrangle, your white PT uniform already soaked, and a teacher with a mic is yelling, “Children! Have fun! It’s the monsoon!”

And while everyone else is jumping around like they’re in a shampoo ad, you're just standing there, holding your frizzy curly hair like it's about to detach and walk off on its own.

As someone who grew up with curly hair in India before curly hair care products were even a thing, I can confidently say—my rain dance trauma is real. And the worst part? At the time, I thought it was my fault. I thought my hair wasn’t “normal.”

It wasn’t until years later—thank you, internet—that I realised: my curls weren’t the problem. My hair care was.

Monsoon + Curls = Not a Cute Combo (If You’re Not Prepared)

Let’s break it down. Rainwater is technically soft water, but it’s also unpredictable. Add to that:

• Insane humidity

• Sweaty school days

• Pollution in the rain

• Zero knowledge of how to care for curls

...and you’ve got a frizz explosion waiting to happen.

Rain dances were just the tip of the iceberg. Every monsoon walk to the bus stop, every PT period in July, every time you forgot your umbrella, curly hair became a science project gone rogue.

What I Wish I Knew Back Then (And What I Use Now)

Fast-forward to today, and thankfully, we’re in the golden age of curly hair care products in India. Brands like Manetain India are finally giving curls the love they deserve—with products that work in our weather, for our hair.

If I could go back in time and hand 10-year-old me a care kit, here’s what would be in it:

Gentle Conditioner for Curly Hair

Not the family Head & Shoulders. Not that hotel shampoo.
A proper, hydrating conditioner for curly hair, like the one from Manetain India, that helps define, moisturise, and protect curls in humid weather.

Leave-in Cream or Curl Enhancer

This is your rain-dance armour. Use a lightweight leave-in on damp hair before heading out. It forms a barrier and keeps your curls from swelling up like pakoras in oil.

Curl Refresh Spray

For post-rain bounce-back. If your curls get drenched or go flat mid-day, a curl refresh mist revives them without starting from scratch. Manetain’s mist is travel-friendly and smells amazing, too.

Microfibre Hair Towel

Stop torturing your curls with your mom’s heavy towel. A soft microfibre towel reduces friction, soaks water gently, and keeps your hair from frizzing before it even dries.

Satin Scrunchies & Bonnets

Rainy day = frizz fiesta. Tying your hair up in a tight elastic is just adding fuel to the fire. Use satin scrunchies instead—they’re gentle and don’t mess with your curl pattern. And if you're sleeping with damp hair? A satin bonnet is non-negotiable.

What I Tell Moms Now (Because I Wish Mine Knew)

Today, I see curly-haired kids at school, still getting rained on and towel-rubbed into oblivion. And their moms? Still confused. Still brushing dry curls. Still calling it “rough hair.”

So here’s what I gently say:
It’s not rough. It’s curly.
It’s not “spoilt by rain.” It just needs the right care.

And thankfully, you don’t have to DIY with curd and banana anymore. You’ve got Manetain India—a homegrown brand with curly hair care products that work for Indian weather, Indian water, and Indian kids (and moms, and dads, and dadas, and chachis… curls are everywhere now, aren’t they?).

Final Thoughts

If the words “school rain dance” trigger a hair memory, you’re not alone.
But guess what? We don’t have to pass that trauma forward.

We can raise the next generation of curlies to dance in the rain—and still walk back into class with defined curls, zero frizz, and the quiet pride of knowing:
My hair’s not a science project anymore. It’s a flex.