Winter Hair Health

Yep, you guessed it––winter takes as much of a toll on hair as it does on the skin! 

 

This means that just as you swap your summer skincare for a winter-adapted routine, the same should go for your haircare. In the same way high humidity affects hair, too little humidity (as in what happens during the winter months) can make hair dry, flat, and brittle. As a result, this can lead to split ends, static, dandruff, and overall dullness.

 

In order to counteract these undesirable effects, here are a few DO’s and DON’Ts for your haircare this season: 

 

DO…EAT FOR HEALTHY HAIR

 

High-protein foods are crucial for hair health. Meats, tofu, and beans, and an increased intake of all essential vitamin-rich foods (think leafy greens, carrots, eggs, berries, omega-3 fatty acids) will help keep not only your hair but your body and mind healthy.

 

DO…SWAP TO BETTER LINENS 

 

If you haven’t made the switch yet, winter is the best time to swap cotton bath towels for microfiber ones. Not only are they gentler on hair, but they have a higher water-absorbing capacity and help reduce friction and hair drying time.

 

This also applies to cotton pillowcases; we highly recommend switching to silk or silk blend pillow cases as cotton blends can create tangles, frizz, and flyaways.

 

DON’T…LEAVE THE HOUSE WITH WET HAIR

 

Cold air expands the hair shafts, making them prone to breakage. This can also cause color fading. We highly recommend giving your hair time to air dry or take the time to blow dry on the cool setting before heading out the door!

 

DO…LOWER THE HEAT

 

Lowering the water temperature when you shower and avoiding heat styling as often as you would in the summer months is highly recommended.

 

Since it’s hat season anyway, it’s a great time to try out some different looks! We also recommend getting a silk-lined beanie to help prevent static on snowy days. 

 

DO…OIL TREAT

 

The scalp gets dry and itchy due to the lack of moisture in the air. This may lead to dandruff, scalp irritation, and flakiness––potentially causing hair fall. An oil scalp massage is a great remedy and way to rebalance the pH of your scalp.

 

Applying oils (like the AG Hair The Oil Smoothing Oil) to the tip of your strands after showering is also the best way to lock in moisture and protect against breakage on your hair dries.

 

LASTLY, DO…INVEST!

 

Regular trims are one of the best investments you can give your hair. Removing split ends caused by damage promotes healthy hair growth and stops the spread of split ends through the strands. This allows long-term hair health with less need for expensive products or conditioners.

 

Investing in a good deep conditioner during the winter is also a great idea. This helps maintain long-lasting moisture, detangle hair, decrease frizz, boost shine and increase smoothness at a higher level. We currently love the R+CO On A Cloud Baobab Oil Repair Mask, as well as the various formulations made by Davines for each hair type (such as the Davines Love Curl Mask).

 

Until next time, take care of those strands––and check out our new Haircare section while you’re at it!

 

The BSE Team