Emily’s Conditions for Good Winter Hair
Winter is a beautiful but cold time of the year. The plummeting temperatures and dry air can dehydrate your skin and hair! Hair is a wonderful thing, and TikTok and Instagram are making it a huge topic. Discussions such as what ingredients you can use and how to get that 1970s shag hair prove that hairstyling is very much personal to every individual.
Ingredients can be subjective for each hairstyle: something that may work for one person, might not work for others and vice versa (Psst: silicones are not always bad!). Even selective hair ingredients are better for styles such as a sleek blowout, prom hairstyles and everyday looks. You can use different ingredients to make sure those styles look and stay the way you want.
For little problems, switching your routine once a week can be very effective. If your hair has build-up, using a clarifying shampoo once a week or once every two weeks will improve the overall feel of your hair. In turn, if you’re having trouble keeping your hair curled, this can help improve that problem while also making your hair shiny and maintained. If your hair is dry or dehydrated, using a deep conditioner twice a week will improve its texture. If you have an itchy or sensitive scalp, however, try not to use anything with scents or fragrance, and switch to products like Cliniderm which has minimal ingredients and is completely fragrance-free. These are very easy and cheap alternatives to keep smaller problems at bay.
During winter, the climate is colder, so changing your hair products can and will make a huge difference. You might notice your hands or face drying out more easily, and the need for moisturizer increasing–your hair needs the same love! The harsh winds and cold climate of winter causes hair breakages, so making changes to prevent further damage is important. These changes should be made every time you wash and style your hair, rather than once or twice a week. Adjusting your routine can be as simple as adding in an anti-breakage formula (which takes about 4-6 weeks to really begin to work). After that time you’ll notice stronger, more manageable hair. Another great thing to do is to avoid going to bed with wet hair, because hair is more fragile when it’s wet, so making sure it is completely dry before your head hits the pillow will help to maintain length and shine. It’s also good to cover your hair with a hat and scarf before heading outside on windy days, so the cold wind doesn't blow it all around.
Style during winter is also a lot easier than during summer; there’s no need to worry about the humid weather de-styling your ‘do again. However, in the winter, static can be an equal issue; layering clothing and more drastic temperature changes from indoor to outdoor increases static. To keep that at bay, dry your hair with warm or medium-warm air—NOT hot. The style will set better and last longer, and avoiding too high of temperatures will also cause less damage to your hair going forward. Drying and using rollers will also cause less damage (bonus: the rollers will keep your style all day). Use heatless curling techniques if you find your curling iron curls are falling too quickly, such as the TikTok robe curls that you sleep in or braids, to get a lived-in texture. For the perfect sleek straight look so your normal routine and add the end add light hair oil to seal it in and keep a brush in your bag. Using anti-frizz styling products and a light hold hair spray will also keep style at bay as it will seal your hair down.
Winter hair is all about shine, light textures, and keeping it healthy. Hair (like most of your life during winter) is still beautiful and exciting. If you keep it hydrated, tangle-free and brush it lightly, you can keep your hair healthy. Once spring pops up once again your hair will be longer and ready for patio weather. All hair goals can be achieved within your own budget from beauty supply stores, drug stores, and larger retail locations. December is also the best time to buy hair products because of sales. Here’s to a safe and happy winter season, full of good hair days!