Winter weather can wreak havoc on your hair and scalp. Between the dry air indoors, cold air outside, and frequent use of heated styling tools, suddenly hair that felt soft and healthy just last month may now feel brittle, frizzy, and in need of some extra care. It’s essential to adjust your winter hair care routine to protect, hydrate, and even strengthen your strands all season long. Here are some tips to help protect your hair from the wintery elements.
First up, moisturizing with natural oils. Cold outdoor air holds less moisture, with indoor heating drying out the scalp and strands, leaving hair cuticles prone to breakage that compounds as the season progresses. To combat dry, brittle hair this winter, I’m considering adding hair oils to my beauty routine. There are daily-use oils like Public Goods’ plant-based Hair Oil to work into your hair, similar to a leave-in conditioner. Or, Cecred’s Nourishing Hair Oil, available at Ulta, can be applied mid-shaft to the ends, as well as directly onto your scalp, and works on beards. However, if your daily routine is already packed with skincare and cosmetic steps, you may lean toward a semi-weekly hair oil treatment. I’m eyeing up Bur Bur’s Growing Season-Burdock Hair Growth Oil. Apply fully to your head and hair, let it set for 45 minutes-1 hour, and then shampoo and condition as you normally do.
Next, avoid hot water and use lukewarm instead. This trick helps combat some of the damage that you may not notice at first as winter rips through your follicles. A little dryness and frizz may not be a deal breaker at the start of the season; however, with each hot-water wash, your hair is further stripped of the natural oils your scalp may be struggling to produce. So, while a hot shower is very tempting when it’s cold out, try to keep your head out of the shower stream and adjust the temp when it’s time to wash and condition. Also, your hair may not need to be washed as often as you shower. Shower caps come in handy for no-wash days. You get the comfort of a hot shower for your neck and shoulders, while keeping your hair protected. I just ordered a four-pack from Amazon!
In addition to switching up your water temperature, consider swapping in a hydrating shampoo that’s formulated to cleanse without drying out your strands. Target brand Method’s Serene Escape Smoothing Shampoo Sulfate & Silicone Free makes for a simple switch. Or try their Simply Nourish Moisturizing version, which is also sulfate- and silicone-free. If you’re looking for a system of haircare, there’s Native’s Strengthening Hair Trio. An almond and shea butter-based shampoo, conditioner, and hair mask set, all three of which are formulated to reduce damage, strengthen strands, and prevent frizz.
Hair masks are great for deep conditioning, which is recommended at least weekly in the coldest months of the year. You can also use a leave-in conditioner to add moisture that will protect your hair shaft from both dry and cold air, as well as prevent static. I’m in the market for a hair mask and have been checking out Eva NYC’s Therapy Session Deep Conditioning Hair Mask at Ulta. This boasts plant protein and can be used as a weekly treatment or in place of conditioner. I like that it comes in a 2-oz option to test it out before committing to the full 13.5-oz. Some hair masks can be quite expensive, and it’s hard to know which will work best for your hair. Try to score a sample or a smaller, lower-cost version to test out. Of course, whether you use a deep daily conditioner, a hair mask, or both during winter, don’t skip conditioner ever. Conditioner, in whatever form, is the key to locking in hydration and helps create a protective barrier against cold air and indoor heating.
Speaking of protection, don’t forget your scalp. Healthy hair starts at the scalp, and as I’m sure you know, winter can be particularly brutal on our heads. You can use a few drops of scalp oil, like Royal Oils Instant Soothe Scalp Elixir, 2-3 times a week, which I use on my children when they stand still enough to let me. Or further utilize a hair oil as mentioned previously working into part and along the sides. Of course, you should be wearing a hat, which can be a pain; the term hat-hair exists for a reason. And as static was mentioned above, a knit hat or beanie can further frizz out your hair even with all of the best of conditioning and lukewarm washing intentions. I recently discovered satin-lined beanies! KIN has a range of knitted hair lined with satin for both adults and kids. They even have satin-lined hoodies. The Big Silk, as its name suggests, offers silk-lined beanies for kids and grown-ups. They also feature silky scrunches to keep your locks secure and undamaged.
A few other tips for healthy hair this winter include getting regular trims to prevent split ends. Nourish your hair from within by drinking lots of water and maintaining a healthy diet. Try to avoid using heated styling tools, which is not easy and may not be doable, to have dry hair when you leave the house in the freezing morning. But on days when you can skip the hair dryer and curling iron, let your hair air dry. Lastly, use the right products for your hair type. As mentioned above, try to get product samples or smaller sizes if you’re unsure which products work best for your hair type. In general, dry hair look for hydrating and nourishing products. For oily hair, avoid overwashing and focus on maintaining a clean scalp with anti-dandruff products.
Winter can be tough on your hair, but with the right routine, you can maintain healthy, strong strands and scalp throughout the colder months.
