So it’s that time of the year again; cold, breezy days, sipping on hot cocoa and wrapping yourself around a thick blanket. Yes, its winter! Goodbye to summer woes and hot humid days. But as wonderful as it all may sound, the winter season can be especially brutal to your hair due to the cold factor. The dry atmosphere brings a lot of trouble for your scalp and your hair. Say hello to the irritating dandruff problems, split ends, dullness and so on. However, there are plenty of things you can do to protect your tresses from the cold winter days.
Conditioners are your friends
Invest in a good deep conditioner during winter seasons. Due to the dry surroundings, your hair will need more help to retain the moisture it needs. Treat your hair once a week with a deep conditioner to replenish and lock in moisture in your hair.
Use a conditioner every time you wash your hair with shampoo. Choose oils that are non-greasy, always leave in for 15-20 minutes before washing it off with lukewarm water. If you suffer from extreme dryness, condition your hair after shampooing with a leave-in conditioner.
Washing Less Often
Yes, that’s right, as uncanny as it may seem, washing your hair regularly is actually a bad idea. This will not only wash away what moisture you have left but also strip your hair off the natural oils present in it. It is recommended to wash your hair only 2-3 times a week. If you have oily scalp and need to wash more, then try to wash only the scalp area and avoid the roots of your hair. Avoid over rinsing. Help your hair retain its moisture.
Avoid Hot baths
This is a difficult task to fulfil, with the cold mornings how does one have a bath without hot water? But if you want to take care of hair and prevent it from getting dry and brittle you have to avoid washing them with hot water. Wash your hair with lukewarm water for not more than 10 minutes and you will be able to avoid moisture loss.
Fight off the Dandruff
This is probably something most of us have experienced during the winter months. With the dry climate, your scalp tends to flake and dry up, leaving you with an itchy head all day and not only that, but dandruff. Gross right? Well you can prevent this, oil that scalp. Make sure you massage it thoroughly with oil. Using a hot oil treatment helps a lot too. For stubborn dandruff issues, you can make use of fresh lemon juice. Just scrub it on your scalp and massage with the tip of your hands before shampooing.
Trim Regularly
Split-ends is another issue during winter. This is usually inevitable since the surrounding is so dry and hair gets brittle easier since there is a lot of moisture loss to the hair. Apart from regularly conditioning, one must go for a trim every 6-8 weeks for your hair to remain healthy and strong.
Go Natural
During the winter season, avoid using your blow dryers, curling irons and straighteners as much as possible. There is already so much damage to your hair due to the weather. Go natural, be natural. If you care for your hair more you will be left with soft shiny natural hair; take care of them so you won’t find the need to use those things. But if you do need to use them, make sure you apply a leave-in conditioner or a heat-protective product first.
Now that you’ve read these few tips, make sure to follow them if you want to keep your hair shiny and bouncy. There are plenty of other things to keep in mind while trying to protect your hair. You just have to find the perfect remedy for yourself, everyone is different. And another tip for your hair this winter; cover your hair with a scarf when you step outside, this will not only keep you warm and protected from the cold breeze but will also help your hair in retaining its moisture.
And of course, the most important thing to keep in mind is to eat healthy. Your hair doesn’t get its nutrients mainly from shampoos and conditioners it gets it from your body. Make sure you have a healthy diet. Include fruits and vegetables to your meal every day. Drink plenty of water. Remember, a healthy diet means a healthy hair.