Hello winter! Colder winter months always mean paying extra attention to our coily tresses. The dry air and cold wind affects the health and appearance of your hair. Just as we fight frizz during humid summer months, you want to prevent any damage to your hair during cooler dry months. Here are 10 winter hair tips for healthy, happy curls!
Add Moisture
Winter hair thrives on moisture. You can’t have too much. Winter can be a great time for curlies, as frizz-causing humidity plummets along with the temperatures. But the cold weather, along with indoor heating, also can wreak havoc on those curls and kinks in other ways, leaving them parched and brittle.
To battle the dryness, it is essential that curlies stick to a strict deep-conditioning regimen. Deep condition at least once a week (twice if you already tend to be very dry”> with a deep conditioner that provides moisture only. You can’t control the weather, but you can moisturize, adjust your product routine and do your best to keep the dry frizzies away.
Honey, Please
Honey is awesome when used in conjunction with a conditioner fortified with olive oil and avocado oil. If you are worried about the hair being too oily after the deep condition, use a light shampoo as a topper. Honey is a natural humectant and helps your hair retain moisture, making it a great treatment for dry, winter hair. Honey can be added to cleansers, conditioners, deep conditioners and oils. Honey also works well works when combined with other ingredients, so you can look for products that contain honey.
Get a Trim
Every 10-12 weeks, trim off what is dead to avoid choking the life out of your hair. When ends are split and frayed, nutrients don’t know where to go. Often stylists will recommend 6-8 weeks, but this is not necessary for curly hair (when you get a cut tailored for your type”>.
Avoid Protein
Drying shampoos that contain too much protein and not enough natural oils are not what winter calls for. When you use products that contain protein, your hair needs extra moisture so it won’t become dry and brittle. (sometimes an after-effect of using too much protein.”> Since you’ll be deep conditioning more make sure to pick one that is not protein rich, as too much protein can cause more frizz. A few great ones to try are: DevaCurl Heaven In Hair or Bumble and bumble Curl Conscious Nourishing Masque.
Natural Oils Are a Must
In the cold winter months, make sure to always seal hair with an easily absorbed oil before heading out of the house. Natural oils such as jojoba, rosemary and lavender are so important in the cooler months because they help keep your scalp and hair in good condition.
Avoid the Towel
Never use a regular terrycloth towel after you shower. The coarse texture of a typical bath towel can roughen up the hair’s cuticle and cause curl separation, resulting in frizz. Curlies need to use super-absorbent microfiber towels designed to reduce frizz and dry time while creating beautifully defined curls.
Wide-Toothed Comb
The wide-toothed comb is your friend; do not use your hands. It’s important to use a wide-toothed comb because it works through the hair more easily with less damage. Always start from the bottom and work your way up.
More Product
Indoor air is extremely drying to curls so make sure to use extra product this winter. Listen for hair to squish, to make sure there’s enough product in the hair. Remember, most curly hair is dry, so don’t be afraid of product.
Extra Gel & Scrunch
Since you are using more product on your winter hair, make sure to get the most out of it. Scrunching allows your product and curls to go further. Scrunch with a liquid-y gel to ensure equal distribution of the product. Scrunching product into curls allows for better distribution and removes excess product. Scrunching also defines curls and adds volume.
Diffuse
Wash-and-go is a thing of the past now so make sure you diffuse to set curls all day. Don’t be afraid of the diffuser. As long as it has prongs, it’s designed to bring out the best of your curly hair. Set it on high heat, low speed. This may take a while, but if you are patient, you’ll love the way your curls look!
