While winter weather is a great time to get cozy with a cup of hot chocolate, you can’t forget the dry and dreary weather can be harsh for your hair and skin. It’s harder to retain moisture in your hair so it can become brittle and prone to breaking. Frizz and static also occur more in the winter. The cold temperatures make your scalp become drier and itchy to the point of flaking. Follow these six cold weather tips to keep your hair healthy in the winter.
1) Try to wash less by adding a dry shampoo to your routine.
Winter temperatures can make your hair and scalp become dry and damaged. Instead of using wet shampoo every day, take a break every few days and use dry shampoo, like Monat’s Champ Dry Shampoo, which will help condition your scalp and give your hair some volume. Also, choose a hydrating shampoo like Monat’s Renew Shampoo to add moisture back into the hair.
2) Condition your hair and add a hair masque.
Protect your hair from the winter cold by applying a great conditioner after every shampoo. A great leave-in like Monat’s Restore Leave-In Conditioner will not only restore essential nutrients but it also tames frizz and flyaways. For extra nourishment add in Monat’s Rejuveniqe Oil as a scalp massage & hair treatment a few nights a week.
3) Be careful when using heat!
When your hair is already combating dryness due to cold weather, be careful when using hot tools to dry and style your hair. After washing, use a hair towel to remove excess water to shorten your drying time. I use a Norwex hair towel which removes 75% of water from your hair reducing the amount of heat you would need to dry you hair with a hair dryer. Use Monat’s Blow Out Cream for extra heat protectant and shine! The Blow Out Cream will protect your hair up to 300 Monat Global’s Thermal Protectant Spray will protect your hair up to 450 degrees.
4) Make sure you hydrate from the inside out.
The most important thing we can do for our body is drink water. In the winter, many men and women don’t drink as much water because the cold temperatures don’t leave you thirsty like in the summer. Water makes up almost 25% of the weight of a single strand of hair. Drinking at least two liters of water a day will help the strength of your hair, increasing growth. I like adding supplements to the water I drink. One of my favorite supplements is Collagen Key. This is a vegan collagen alternative giving my body the vitamins needed to produce more of my own natural collagen. Collagen aids in healthy hair growth.
5) Use a humidifier in your bedroom.
Indoor heat from a furnace causes the air in your home to be dry. That dry air has a low humidity level that will absorb moisture from you and everything inside your home. A humidifier will help rehydrate the air and help keep your hair moist.
6) Avoid steaming hot showers.
While hot, steaming water may feel good when it’s cold outside, it isn’t good for your hair or skin. Hot showers strip away your scalp’s natural oils. With less of your natural oils on your scalp, you may notice dry flaky scalp, irritation and itchiness. Hot water makes your roots weak by removing the sebum from your scalp, leading to hair loss and fizziness.
Winter weather is harsh on all hair textures and types. Just like skin, hair needs protection from the cold to remain soft and healthy. Defend your tresses from arctic air, whipping winds, static electricity and even indoor heat. You want to have lovely locks to show off when spring comes! Follow these tips and with a little extra effort, you can keep your hair hydrated and looking great this winter. Check out other posts on our blog for more hair care advice.