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Here are 10 tips that will
help you combat the cold and protect your hair:
1. Keep your hair clean.
Some people prefer not to wash their hair often or believe
that washing the hair in the winter time isn’t needed, but
the hair should still be washed at least twice a month.
Often, the hair isn’t as dirty because fewer products are
being used for styling and perspiration isn’t much of an
issue. Try washing the hair with shampoo the first week of
the month, then cowashing the third week of the month.
2. Allow the hair to dry
completely. There isn’t much sunshine to help dry your hair
once you leave home in the morning. Try washing your hair on
your day off when you can dedicate the time to sit under a
dryer. If you are apprehensive about heat, you can still dry
your hair using the medium setting on the dryer. Drying the
hair before you leave will seal in moisture that may
otherwise escape the hair when met with freezing
temperatures.
3. Use a Leave-in
Conditioner. Leave in conditioners are a great way to
refresh the hair. Just a little more substantial than plain
water, leave-ins misted on the hair a few times a week help
to liven up curls and keep the hair soft and manageable.
Leave-ins often contain oils and vitamins the hair needs to
stay pliable and for the scalp to remain healthy.
4. Tweak your nighttime
regimen. If you’re not used to tying or wrapping your hair
at night and don’t use a satin pillow case, it’s a good
thing to start doing so. A cotton pillowcase can snag your
hair and leave lint in it. Also cotton, like a cotton ball,
absorbs moisture. So even if you take good care of your hair
before bed, and lie down on a cotton pillow case, you are
defeating all the hard work you put into caring for your
hair.
5. Moisturize. Your hair
produces natural oils, but they can be depleted for many
reasons. In the winter months, it especially important to
keep your hair moist. The leave-ins are excellent in
refreshing your hair, then you can seal that with essential
oils. Olive oil is heavier and also inexpensive, and is a
great sealant of moisture. The vitamins in it and the
richness make the hair rich and soft. If you have fine hair
and wish not to use olive oil, coconut oil is light but
still fatty enough to nourish your hair.
6. Wear Protective
Styles. Protective styles can be twists, braids, buns, and
curls. Wear any style that requires little manipulation and
often hides the ends of the hair so they don’t become split
from hats, scarves, sweaters and coats. Twists and braids
help to retain moisture and wearing curls and buns are a
very professional look. If you set your hair while wet, you
will get a deeper curl or wave pattern that lasts a longer
time than if you set your hair while it is dry. Also, when
doing a dry set, you can achieve more volume, length and
shine.
7. Cover your hair.
There’s nothing like the freedom of a wash and go in the
summer, but in the winter, we have to protect our hair.
There are a number of head coverings you can wear that are
fashionable, professional and beneficial all at once. Hats
should have a satin liner to protect your tresses from
snagging, snapping, breaking and drying out. If you cannot
find a hat with a liner, you can make one by purchasing
fabric and sewing it inside of the hat or by purchasing a du
rag or satin skull cap to protect your hair.
8. Drink plenty or water.
It is important to increase the amount of water you drink in
the winter. A lot of times we decrease the amount naturally
just because it is cold and drinking cold water isn’t the
first thing on your mind in the morning. Moisturizing from
the inside out will keep your skin and hair healthy all
winter long.
9. Exercise regularly. A
good 10-minute stretch and some simple exercises for another
10-15 minutes will jump start your day. Exercise gives you
energy and promotes a stress free day. The less the stress,
the more hair you can keep.
10. Get plenty of rest.
Although it may be hard with a demanding schedule with kids,
work, school, running a business or caring for family
members, we often find that we are always tired. But take a
nap if you must and are able. Rest is as important as
nutrition, exercise and proper hair care. |
