10 Winter Haircare Tips

Winter is right around the corner, and if you want your mane to survive the season, you'll have to take some initiative. If you're game, this article will be a significant help. Keep reading for 10 simple haircare tips to protect your hair from the strong winds, chilly temps, and arid air that characterize the winter. Let's get right into it!

1. Get a Humidifier

When it's super cold out, we retreat to places with indoor heating. The problem with that is indoor heating systems pump out super dry air. This is one of the biggest reasons your hair feels dry, even if you haven't been outside. Humidifiers increase the air's moisture, consequently raising your hair's moisture levels. Get one or more of them and set them up in rooms you'll spend the bulk of your time.

2. Rinse with Cool Water

The thought of rinsing your hair with cold water might send shivers down your spine. But the benefits far outweigh the annoyance of doing so. Rising with cool water can lock in your hair's moisture and combat winter dryness.

3. Increase Deep Conditioning Sessions

Most people deep condition their hair once or twice a month, and that's usually fine for summer, fall, and spring. But in the wintertime, your hair is up against some of the most problematic conditions possible. So, give it a pick-me-up with more frequent conditioning sessions. Try deep conditioning 3-4 times a month. 

4. Limit Shampoo Sessions

Every time you wash your hair, you wash away natural and added oils and nutrients from your hair. You can limit moisture loss by washing your hair less often. Use a dry shampoo between washes to combat any scalp oiliness. 

5. Cover Your Hair when Out

It’s cold and drafty in the dead of winter, and these conditions are bad for your hair. You'll see evidence of this in the form of dryness, more tangles, more hair in your brush, and more. To reduce your hair's exposure to the elements, cover it up! Use a hood, a hat, a satin-lined cap, or anything else you can get your hands on.  

6. Use Hair Oils Regularly

Hair oils create a barrier between your hair and the outside environment. So, whenever you can, dispense some oil into your hands, rub them together, and then apply the oil to your hair. It's best to do this right after washing and conditioning your hair, but you can do it more often than that. The best oils for winter hair protection include argan oil, coconut oil, and olive oil.

7. Keep Static at Bay with Hydrating Leave-In

Staticky hair is one of the biggest complaints people have about their hair in the winter. This problem stems from the lack of moisture in the air and your hair. Luckily, you can combat this issue with a moisturizing leave-in conditioner. Daily Dose is a fantastic one to try.

8. Don’t Go Blonde

The wintertime is already harsh on the hair. So, the last thing you want to do is add high-lift color or bleach to the mix. Going blonde is incredibly harsh on the hair, so we suggest you avoid it altogether.

9. Limit Chemical Straightening Treatments

Letting your natural texture shine is always helpful in the winter. Given winter's harsh conditions, your hair doesn't need any extra opportunities for damage. If you normally relax or texturize your hair in the winter, try to stretch out the time between your sessions. Better yet, forego the chemicals if possible.

 10. Take a Break from the Heat

Sandwiching your hair between two piping hot flat iron plates is rarely a good idea if you want healthy hair. But it’s especially bad in the wintertime when your hair is already drier and less manageable than usual. Giving your hair a break from the heat gives it a better chance of weathering the winter.  

So, there you have it - 10 simple haircare tips to keep in your back pocket this winter. Here's to thriving tresses all winter long!

Author: Andrea Reyes

Andrea is a mother, wife, writer, and natural hair enthusiast of 15 years. Currently on her natural hair journey, she’s been trying countless products and techniques to understand and embrace her natural hair. She is the creator of NaturallyTextured.com, a new website featuring informative articles that share tips, tricks, and techniques aimed to help others learn to love their hair through proper hair care. She writes with the hope of making hair care easier to understand and implement.