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.

Protecting Hair in the Winter

 I am used to my hair being different in the winter due to the season. If you live where you experience what we call a real winter, then you are used to the accompanying static, frizziness, dryness, and a general lack luster.

Much of this is due to going in and out of building so your hair is exposed to both heat and cold.  In addition, dandruff, and a dry scalp become more common.  Fortunately, there are ways to keep your hair in better shape through the tough winter season.

One way to combat the loss of moisture from your hair is to use a leave-in conditioner or oil.  The best place to add the additional oil is to the ends of your hair where split ends are more likely to occurs.  Argon oil or Jojoba oil are recommended for this.  It is also recommended you use coconut oil on the scalp for 20 to 30 minutes before washing it out.  This helps cut down on dandruff and a dry scalp.

In addition, don't be afraid to use a hair mask or deep conditioning mixture to help keep moisture in your hair.  Hair masks are deeply conditioning mixtures that can make repairs in 20 minutes.  If you don't have time for that, you can use coconut oil in your hair over night to add even more moisture.

I usually have enough static in my hair that I get shocked when I touch the wrong things.  One way to get rid of the static that causes the fly away issue is to keep a dryer sheet.  Simply rub it over your your and your hairdo returns to it's beautiful self.  If you use the recommended oil in your hair, it cuts down on dryness and static.

Try not to wash your hair every day because frequent washings can strip the natural oils out of your hair.  It is suggested a person wash their hair about every three days or so.  If that bugs you, then you might want to use a dry shampoo in between regular washings.  If you have dry hair, use only conditioner instead of shampoo and conditioner to keep oils in your hair as much as possible.

Unfortunately, the added heat from curling irons and straighteners is notorious for drying out healthy hair but in the winter it damages your already dry hair.  It is better to either curl your air using regular curlers or let your hair dry so you preserve as much moisture as you can.  Furthermore, you could braid your hair, pop it in a fancy bun, or secure it in a ponytail.

When you go outside, make sure your hair is completely dry because the cold air can make the hair shaft and cause breakage or make your color fade faster.  If you have to head out before it's dry, put it under a hat or wrap it in a scarf to protect it.  Be sure to use a silk scarf wrapped around your hair so it is under a wool hat because wool hats can damage the hair.  In addition, the silk helps cut down on the frizzes and static.

Now if you do color your hair, look at using a darker color instead of those summery blonds because it cuts down on the damage you do to your hair every time you bleach it.  The darker colors also mean you are giving your hair a chance to recover.  A cool way to add color is via a hair glaze which sits on top of the hair cuticle,  boosting the color and making your hair shine.

I definitely experience so many of these things and always use a leave in conditioner in the winter along with coconut oil to keep it in better shape.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear. Have a great day.