Between the blustery winds, freezing temperatures and all that indoor heating, winter can be a tough few months for hair. Your choices: lots of hat head, or switching up your hair care routine to keep a season of bad hair days at bay. If you’re down for option two, follow these three tips to avoid dry, brittle, snarled hair all winter long.
Don’t Over Wash!
This is a year-round rule, but it’s especially important during dry, cold months. Shampoo strips your hair of its natural oils, and that leads to dry, brittle strands – fast. Don’t skip the suds every time you shower – shoot for three to four times a week, tops. And when you shampoo, work it into your scalp only and let it run down the length of your hair as you rinse. Follow up with a rich conditioner, and on days you don’t shampoo, use a high-quality conditioner. A weekly conditioning treatment is also a good idea.
We like: Hydrating formulas like Bumble and Bumble crème de coco shampoo and conditioner or the more budget-friendly Clairol Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner.
Pro tip: DIY your own conditioning treatment with a coconut oil mask – just apply coconut oil to dry hair for twenty minutes to overnight, then shampoo and condition for smooth, happy hair.
Lay Your Locks to Rest on a 100% Silk Pillowcase
Weather proof your hair in your sleep! A silk pillowcase can help keep your hair fresh throughout the night when you skip a day of washing. Silk has a smooth surface, which reduces friction on your hair. Not only does this mean fewer split ends in the long run, but you can also say bye-bye to bed head when the morning comes. Still not loving what your hair looks like in the morning? Try one of these adorable (and hassle-free!) second-day hair styles.
Be Smart About Your Products
If you use heating tools, don’t skip the heat protectant. Try to work with lower temperature settings if you can, and make sure to lightly coat your hair with a hear protectant product first. Be savvy about your products, too. Avoid styling products with high alcohol content – they’re naturally drying, and that’s asking for trouble during the winter.
We like: ALTERNA Haircare’s Bamboo Smooth Anti-Breakage Thermal Protectant Spray. It’s a long way of saying this stuff guards your locks against damage from your arsenal of styling tools (up to 428 degrees!) while also repairing, strengthening and smoothing.
Pro tip: If you typically use a gel, try switching to a cream for a little boost of moisture.
Get Regular Trims
Whether you’re growing out your locks or not, schedule regular trims during the winter. Just a quick dusting of the ends every six to eight weeks or so will cut down on those pesky split ends.
Practice Hair Care
When you’re braving the elements, cover up so you don’t expose your hair to extreme cold or rough weather. If you’re worried about hat hair, try wrapping it loosely with a silk scarf first.
We like: Having a choice when it comes to our silk scarves.
