1. Cover your hair with a hat!
It is SUPER important to cover your hair during the harsh months of cold to protect it from dry air, snow, wind, and rain! I know we all hate the dreaded hat hair but these harsh elements dry your hair out, making it more fragile and brittle. Keep in mind wool, cotton, and other materials can cause breakage as well, so make sure to line your hat with silk or satin to help prevent damage! For the inevitable hat hair and its static and unruliness use a dryer sheet for static!
2. Keep up with regular cuts!
Trimming your hair every 2-3 months is a good way to maintain hair health and keep your locks looking fresh. Even just a half inch off the bottom to minimize your chances of developing dry, split ends. Keep in mind that those split ends will never seal again and you can end up developing hair loss!
3. Use less heat on your locks!
We all know allowing hair to air dry is best, even though it really sucks to wait for hair to be fully dry. Using the blow dryer draws ALL that moisture out of your hair increasing the chance of breakage. Heat-less drying helps keep your hair shiny and healthy. Try switching to evening showers if you’re short on time in the morning so your hair can dry a bit before you head to sleep. (Make sure your using a lower temperature!) Hair is already quite delicate in winter, and heat styling amplifies the issue and steals moisture right out of your strands. Use this time to learn and discover new hairstyles such as braids, ponytails, and buns.
4. No wet hair outside!
Wet hair is a lot more vulnerable to damage than dry hair. Walking outside in winter with a damp head can cause hair to freeze and break. While air drying is best, it’s better to blow dry your hair than go outdoors with a saturated mane.
The water penetrates the hair shaft, and when the water freezes your hair it will expand in volume, forcing the hair shaft to expand, lifting the cuticles, and leaving the hair exposed to environmental damage. Your hair will also stiffen which then makes it more easy for the hair to snap and break off, and you end up with uneven, split ends all over the head, which can cause your hair to look very uneven and damaged.
5. Hair masks as needed!
Just like we do weekly face masks for our skin concerns, weekly hair masks can make a significant difference when it comes to winter giving you dry, damaged hair. They can reverse the harsh effects of winter while making sure your hair is protected at an optimal level!. They are packed with tons of hair health benefits and are effective in under 20-minutes. Hair masks offer benefits like softening, hydrating, and adding shine. Remember to look at your labels for products that contain proteins so you can avoid protein overload!
6. Don’t Overwash!
If you’re washing their hair every day, it’s time to switch things up. Overwashing hair strips it of its natural oils that keep hair moisturized and protected. This is especially important in the winter when those oils are much needed. If you are washing your hair every day then try a switch to every other day. If you find your hair is feeling dry still, try every three days. Remember dry shampoo is a good friend to keep around!
7. Eating healthy!
Foods rich in protein are beneficial for hair health. Having a good diet of all essential vitamin-rich foods like carrots, eggs, pumpkins, and berries, will make a bigger difference than you may think! Try to follow a balanced diet that combines vegetables, leafy greens, dairy products, omega-3 fatty acids, and meat to keep your body and hair healthy!
8. Invest in a Humidifier!
The sudden transition in temperatures can zap moisture from your luscious locks during winter. A room heater may provide warmth when the temperature drops, but it also dries the air inside your room, damaging your hair. Keeping a humidifier will help balance the moisture levels inside the room to prevent dryness.
