Protecting Your Hair In The Winter

At sometime, during the winter, most people end up going outside.  Unfortunately, most people only think about staying warm when its cold outside rather than taking time to protect their hair.  Cold winter weather is extremely harsh on your hair and it is important to take steps to protect it.  Even when it's not well below zero, one should still do things to keep the hair healthy.

One of the easiest things to do is to wear a hat during the winter.  The hat protects your hair to shield it from  the dry air, rain, snow, and/or wind which can rob the moisture from your hair. 

Unfortunately, winter weather can dry your hair out, causing breakage so a hat is great protection but make sure your hat is lined with silk or satin if your hat is made of wool, polar fleece, or cotton because those fabrics can cause additional breakage. Furthermore, the dryness of winter air can cause your hair to build up static electricity so make sure to apply a spray a dry oil to hydrate your hair and keep it shiny. 

Another thing to do in winter is to run a humidifier. Humidifiers add moisture to the air which has been removed due to indoor heating and by using a humidifier you are helping to keep your hair hydrated. Furthermore, don't forget to get regular trims so the ends are no longer dry and split. Getting regular trims help the hair stay healthy and cuts down on split, dry, ends. 

Often in winter, we opt for those nice hot showers with the temperature of the water turned up as much as possible.  Of course, this makes the room nice and steamy but for your hair, the temperature should be lower because the hot water can remove moisture from your hair, making it more brittle leading to additional breakage.  Wash your hair in warm water followed by a cool, not cold rinse.

If you can, let your hair air dry. When you blow dry your hair, it can remove moisture from your hair, making it more dry and brittle. The dryer air is hard enough already but when you apply heat to your hair, it sucks any moisture from your hair, damaging it.  If you don't have the time, wash it at night to give it enough time to dry on its own. Try not to straighten it or use a curling iron.  Instead wear braids, buns, or twists. 

Growing up, I was told never to go outside when its cold because your hair can freeze and break off. Guess what? It is true so make sure your hair is dry whenever you leave the house.  If you have to, you can blow dry it but make sure you use some sort of protection so it doesn't lose moisture.  Don't be afraid to use hot oil treatments or hair masks to provide deep moisturizing at least once a week. You might also need to add oil to the ends daily to keep them moisturized.  In addition, consider using a heavy duty leave in conditioner to provide additional protection.

Finally, try not to wash your hair every day.  Instead, plan to wash it every three to five days to help it stay healthier.  Hint: If you have fly away hair, rub a dryer sheet over your hair to eliminate static from your hair.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day and a wonderful weekend.