Winterizing Your Hair

While the summer humidity may drive us crazy and make our hair either fall flat or frizz to the moon and back it is actually your hairs friend. All the humidity keeps your hair hydrated. Winter is our skin and hairs worst enemy! Temperatures are starting to drop and our heaters are starting to rev up what do you need to do to prepare your hair to stay happy and healthy over the dry and cold season?

Dry your hair before leaving the house

Did you know that leaving your hair wet and walking outside can increase breakage? Just like an ice cube expands when freezing so does your hair strands. Once expanded outside your hair becomes more prone to breaking. No time for drying in the morning? Wash your hair at night. Towel dry thoroughly and let air dry over night.

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate and hydrate some more

This step is oven overlooked by so many. Our daily shampoo and conditioner can not do all the heavy hitting and needs a helping hand to keep our hair soft and strong during the winter months. How do we inject that extra moisture? Conditioning treatments and masques. Depending on how frequently you wash and heat style will determine the frequency as well as your texture.

How Often should you treat your hair with a Masque/Treatment?

• Oily scalp that is washed daily - every other week

• Normal hair washed every other to every 3rd day - every other week

• Flat Iron or Curling your hair daily - every week

So now you know it is needed, how do you work a treatment into your already busy schedule? Have a treatment sleepover (leave it in overnight) Wrap your head in a satin/silk scarf to protect your pillow. Or take a Saturday or Sunday that is a chill and stay in day and leave the treatment on for hours while you do the chores around the house. Most at home treatments only need to stay on 5-10 minutes so make that your skin care time as well.

Turn down the hot water

While I know that hot shower can make you warm and toasty it also strips all the moisture from your skin and hair. Try to keep the shower warm to lukewarm, and keep them short! I know if your like me a hot bath or shower can be needed for our mental health. If one is in order use a shower cap while in the hot shower to protect your hair from the extreme heat. Then moisturize your skin so you will not turn into a crocodile later.

Skip a day of washing

I am sure if you are a oily girl this may have you shaking your head. But most of us have normal to dry scalp and over shampooing can strip our hair of the natural oils our scalp needs to keep our hair healthy and soft. If you do have oily hair then try supplementing your wash days with a dry shampoo like Kevin.Murphy’s Fresh.Hair. Apply to the scalp in sections then let it absorb. After a few minutes brush or work in with your fingers to refresh your style.

Exfoliate your scalp

Just like our face needs to be exfoliated so does our scalp. Especially in the dry winter months. Or if you are a dry shampoo junkie it is imperative to keep you scalp clean and free from buildup to promote healthy hair growth. Kevin.Murphy just came out with their Scalp.Spa which is a 2 step exfoliating system that can be used a couple times a month. Or I have salon treatments that will clean and detox the pores as well.

Use a Silk or Satin Pillowcase

This is so old school but just as important today. A silk or satin pillowcase will protect your hair from rubbing on a cotton pillow case and causing friction and breakage. Cotton also absorbs our needed natural oils from our face and hair. Your skin will thank you for this for years to come. Amazon has so many to pick from and are very affordable. My one pro tip is to get one with a zipper so it stays in place all day.

Avoid/Minimize Heat Styling

If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook or sit in my chair you will know this girl loves her curls! I mean like LOVES to curl my hair. BUT I also style my hair so that I am only curling my hair once a week or maybe two. And I am hydrating my hair daily with conditioning leave in styling products. If your trying to grow out your hair or need to be super careful about your fragile tresses keep your dryer on the medium or low heat setting. And especially watch the settings on your irons. Or work out a way to let you natural texture rock.

Avoid too many alcohol-based products

This is the time to put away those salt sprays and layering massive amounts of hairspray. Hairspray is our friend in the summer with it’s power to propel humidity. But this is not helpful in the winter. Use it sparingly.

Invest in a Humidifier

Having a humidifier in your bedroom will save your skin and hair from the dryness of the heater. Temperatures drop while we sleep and keeping the air humidified will save on static and dry and itchy skin.

Wear a hat

Just like we need to protect our hair & skin in the summer from sun exposure the winter is no different. Covering our hair will protect it from the extreme cold and can help prevent breakage. If you want to keep the frizz at bay make sure you winter hat is lined with satin. A quick side note to keep your hair from falling flat when you take off your hat. Make sure you flip your hair the opposite side you part on inside your hat. Than flip it back.

Maintain Your Haircut Appointments

You may think that if you hydrate and keep the heat to a minimum you can skip those winter trims. But keeping the ends of your hair free from breakage is super important. The suggested schedule is every 6-12 weeks. And if you are using any hot tools the maximum suggested time is 8-10 weeks.

What To Eat & Drink

Healthy Fats like omega-3, 6 & 9 keep hair shiny and help it grow. And the body can not naturally produce it alone. Proteins found in salmon, avocado or nuts can also be super important so make sure you are getting enough. Vitamin has antioxidant properties to help slow down the aging process, helping to protect your hair against split ends and breakage. Citrus fruits and dark leafy greens are an excellent source of Vitamin C and not only help our hair but our whole body health. And finally but certainly not last, DRINK LOADS of WATER!!! Water not only helps your body stay hydrated it helps in hair growth. Aim for 1/2 your body weight in ounces of water each and every day.

This is not all the things but it is a good start to ensure you are staying on top of your hair care. I hope this list of suggestions to winterize your hair and prepare for the long winter. Then come spring your skin and hair will thank you.