Hair, just like skin, needs a little help with extra moisture during the winter months. The main cause of dry winter hair is not colder temperatures but the lack of moisture in the air. Losing moisture can leave you with locks that are dry and brittle. You may see split ends, frizzy hair and dry, itchy scalp. Protect your hair against seasonal climate change by replenishing lost moisture and by abandoning habits that suck the shine out of your lustrous strands. These tricks will smooth your way.
Don’t add to the dryness.
Limit shampoos to two or three times a week during the winter to avoid drying out your hair. Shampoos contain surfactants that clean your hair but can be drying. Stay away from styling products with alcohol that dry out the hair. Swap conditioners that contain silicones for silicone-free versions.
Lay off the hot water and use lukewarm or even cold water if you can stand it. Using hotter water when it’s cold outside will leave your scalp dry and itchy. Limit your use of hot styling tools. Switch to an ionic hair dryer to get the same effect while using less heat.
Lock moisture into your hair.
Add more moisture into your hair care with a hydrating shampoo and conditioner. Try Virtue’s Smooth Conditioner ($38) to smooth the hair’s cuticle and banish frizz. Dry your hair before leaving the house. Combining moisture in just-shampooed hair with cold air will further damage your hair by making it more brittle and drier.
Apply a leave-in product to dry strands for extra hydration. Thick, curly hair loves Davine’s Dede Hair Mist, while Biolage 3 Butter Control System Day Cream works wonders for fine, straight hair.
A hair oil like Oribe’s Gold Lust Nourishing Hair Oil can be used on dry hair to smooth and add shine to strands. This liquid gold for dehydrated or color-treated hair also can be used on wet hair after a shampoo and before a blow dry.
Deep condition with a mask.
Treat your hair once a week to a deep conditioning treatment or mask with hydrating ingredients like Garnier Fructis Coconut Extract 1 Minute Hair Mask. Using a mask is a quick and easy way to lock moisture into your hair.
Control split ends.
Regular light trims every six to eight weeks will reduce the chance of dry, splitting ends during the winter months. Use a split end binding cream for hair that looks healthier. Continuing use of Nexxus Promend Leave-In Crème for Split Ends helps fuse the split back to the strand. Also check out Virtues Perfect Ending Split End Serum ($40).
End static frizzies.
Lightly run a dryer sheet over your strands. Calm staticky strands by applying hand cream to your palms and smooth it over your hair. Sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase to retain moisture in your hair. (Cotton absorbs moisture and silk retains it). Wrap your head in a silk scarf before you don your woolly beanie or any winter hat.
Get moisture into your home.
Avoid space heaters that suck moisture out of the air. Invest in a humidifier to help stop your hair and skin from feeling dry.
Read More: Dry Winter Hair Is the Worst
