Well, it’s getting to be that time of year again, winter! Some of my friends already see cooler temperatures where they live. But it is never too soon to start preparing your hair for winter! We need to sometimes change how we do things with our hair depending on the season and where we live. So today we are talking about 8 winter hair care tips!
We live in Florida and the humidity yesterday was still 78%! So, we are not fighting the same dry air that you might be. But I grew up in Ohio and know all too well what it can be like in the winter! Our weather does change so I will need to adjust how I handle my daily hair care routine. I must be honest; I would be happy to never see snow again! Lol.
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1. Change Your Hair Care Routine
Have you ever felt like your hair care routine isn’t working as well in the winter months? Well, you might be right! Depending on where you live your hair might need different things depending on the time of year. In the summer months, it is typically more humid so your hair will be getting more moisture in it from that. But during the winter months, the air is drier, you are inside more with the heat on, and it can dry your hair out. You may need to replenish the moisture back into your hair.
Talk to your hairstylist about whether or not you need different products this winter. Or I would love to help you also! I love the products that I use, I am a retired hair stylist, and you can start here by filling out a consultation form. If you have any questions, you can always contact me here.
2. Deep Condition
I deep condition my hair year-round by using a hair masque. But I typically step it up in the winter months and use a hair masque 2x a week instead of 1x. My favorite is one called Replenish Masque. During the winter months, our hair can become dry and brittle due to the dry air and being indoors a lot. Typically, hair masques will help to balance and protect your hair from the harsh winter months. It is always a good idea to choose one that will work best for your hair type and needs.
Hair masques are not like “your mom’s” hair masques. Most of them you can apply while in the shower, leave on for several minutes, and then wash out. They used to be that you needed to wash your hair, get out of the shower, put it on, and wrap your hair up. Leave it on for several hours. Not anymore! They have come a long way!
3. Oil Treatments
Another favorite thing of mine! This is a great way to help promote a healthy scalp! I did a blog post a while back, The Secret to a Healthy Scalp. You can read that here. I like to do an oil treatment the evening prior to shampooing the next morning. That way it gives it all night to hydrate & moisturize my scalp and hair. My favorite oil to use is Rejuveniqe Oil. I love it because it is a dry oil, a blend of 13+ natural plants and essential oils.
If you don’t want to do an oil treatment overnight, you can always do it during the day. Wrap your hair up in a bun or braid and throw a baseball cap or hat on! I like to do oil treatments year-round because they help promote a healthy scalp. But I do them more often in the winter months since the air is drier and our scalp & hair get drier and more brittle.
4. Lower Your Water Temperature Settings
Did you know that using hot water can have a drying effect on our hair and skin? I love a hot shower but if you are struggling with drier hair in the winter try turning down the water temperature in the shower and see if that helps!
5. Wash Your Hair Less Often
During the summer and warmer months, we tend to wash our hair more often. A lot of the time it has to do with sweating and we are doing more things outdoors. In the winter months, you may find yourself not having to wash your hair as often. You might get to go for an extra day or two! Just pay attention to what your body/scalp is telling you. Just because you are in a routine of doing it one way doesn’t mean you have to stick with it. Change is good! Lol!
I did a blog post a while back, How Often Should You Wash Your Hair? You can read that here.
6. Use a Leave-in Conditioner
I know some people have a negative view of leave-in conditioners. And I used to be one of them! I used to think that only people with thick, coarse, and dry hair could get away with using them. But that is not the case! I use one every time I wash my hair and I have fine hair.
During the winter months if you struggle with static in your hair using a leave-in conditioner may help with this! A leave-in can sometimes give us just enough hydration that we are missing.
7. Stay Hydrated
Just because summer is over doesn’t mean you can stop drinking your water daily! It is still important. Water helps to regulate our body temperature and it also helps contribute to keeping our hair and scalp looking good! Drinking water helps with hair loss, and hair fall, and helps prevent dry, brittle hair. It will also help your scalp to remain hydrated and healthy!
Another important thing to remember is to drink water throughout the day. Drinking your daily “requirement” all at once will not help you at all! Your body cannot process it and will just excrete it. So, try carrying a refillable water bottle around with you and spread it out. Yes, even in the winter!
8. Use a Humidifier
If you are going to be indoors most of the winter because it is cold and snowy, chances are the air is going to be dry. Most homes heating systems have humidifiers built into them. So, I would check to see what yours is set at. If your skin and scalp are feeling dry and itchy you might need a little more moisture in the air. The ideal setting for winter is supposed to be between 30 – 50% humidity.
If you need a boost in humidity during the winter, there are small personal humidifiers out there. A lot of people use them while they are sleeping. Too much & too little humidity in your home air is not good so try to find where your perfect spot.
So, do you change your hair care routine during the winter months? Please leave any tips you have in the comments below!
I have started using Moisture deep conditioning hair mask and I feel this is one of the best I have tried till now.