The 15 Ultimate Winter Hair Care Tips You Need To Know

If you live in an area with harsh winter weather, you will probably notice that the cold winter months can zap your hair of moisture and leave it feeling dry and parched. In the same way that your skincare routine needs to change for the cold season, so does your hair care routine. With the right care and products, you can avoid most of the damage that commonly occurs during the winter or bring dry hair back to health.

Read on for the ultimate winter hair care tips you need to know in order to keep your hair in top health.

Winter Hair Care Tips You Should Know

Avoid Frequent Washing

If you like washing your hair every day, winter is a good time to change this habit. Especially if you have a dry flakey scalp. Overwashing your hair strips your scalp and hair of the natural oils that keep hair moisturized and protected. Try extending the time between washes so that you only wash your hair once or twice a week. Using dry shampoo between washes can help keep it looking and smelling fresh.

Never Skip Conditioner

The key to keeping hair healthy during the winter is to keep it from drying out. After washing your hair, always follow with conditioner. This adds some much-needed hydration back into your hair after striping it of oils with the shampoo.

Use Microfiber Towels

Microfiber towels are extremely absorbent and, when used in place of a regular towel, will greatly cut down on drying time. And because they are also much more gentle on your hair than standard cotton bath towels, your hair will be less frizzy after using one.

Lower The Water Temperature

A long, hot, steamy shower on a cold winter day sounds like heaven but isn’t so great for your hair’s health. Hot water strips your hair (and skin) of its natural oils, drying it out and making it more prone to breakage.

Limit Heat Styling

If possible, limit how often you use high heat to style your hair. Heat tools cause damage hair by drying it out and causing split ends. Try exploring new heatless ways to style your hair, like braids and buns. If you must use hot tools, use a heat protectant spray to limit any damage.

Regular Oil Treatments For Your Hair and Scalp

Nourish your scalp, which can also become dry and itchy in the winter, with weekly oil treatments. Try massaging oil into your scalp and coating hair all the way to the ends. Let it soak in for at least 20 minutes before you shampoo it out. Even better is to leave the oil in overnight and then wash your hair in the morning. Because the oil can be messy, it’s a good idea to have a pillowcase dedicated to oil treatment nights. Coconut, argan, almond, and jojoba oils are all good options.

Buy A Humidifier

Cold winter weather and warm indoor heating dry out the air and evaporate the moisture right out of your hair, making it vulnerable to breaking. You can avoid this by placing humidifiers inside your home to add moisture back into the air.

Wear A Hat

Exposure to rain, snow, and cold air is a real stress factor for hair. Wearing a hat will minimize exposure to harsh weather and keep it protected. Although you want to keep your hair covered, wool, cotton, and other coarse fabrics can damage your hair. The best option is to find a hat with a silk lining or first cover your hair with a silk scarf before putting on your hat.

Reduce Static

Fighting hair static is a typical winter weather challenge. Keeping your hair hydrated is the best way to help prevent this from happening. A lightweight leave-in conditioning product will help hydrate parched strands and reduce frizz and static.

Don’t Go Outside With Wet Hair

If you go outside with wet hair in icy climate areas, hair can freeze and break off. If you don’t have the time to let your hair air dry indoors, it’s better to blow dry it first before heading outside.

Stay Hydrated

Just like the rest of the body, hair needs water to stay healthy. If you’re consistently dehydrated, your hair will be affected. Growth can slow down or even stop altogether, and the hair shaft can become brittle and develop split ends. The good news is that by drinking more water and staying hydrated while also taking care of your scalp with oil treatments to treat dry skin, new hair growth can start to grow, and hair health can be improved.

Commit To Weekly Hair Masks

Committing to a weekly hair mask can make a significant difference in your hair’s health. Not only can they reverse dryness, but doing regular treatments will help prevent future damage while keeping hair in optimal health all year long. Find a hair mask suited to your specific hair needs. Leave it in your hair for at least 20 minutes once a week for noticeably healthy, shiny hair.

Add Healthy Fats To Your Diet

Your diet is just as important to hair health as staying properly hydrated. A diet of fresh whole foods that include clean proteins, healthy fats, fresh fruits, and vegetables will provide the nutrients needed to grow strong healthy hair.

Get Regular Trims

Getting regular trims will reduce the risk of developing dry ends that will lead to breakage. Taking off the bottom 1/2 inch every 8-12 weeks is usually a good place to start. If split ends are left unmanaged, the hair will continue to split up the hair shaft causing further damage.

Brush And Comb Hair Gently

Dry hair tangles more easily. To avoid damaging hair, it’s important to untangle and comb your hair slowly and carefully. To reduce strain and possible breaking of the hair, start from the middle of your hair length and work downwards using a wide-tooth comb.

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