[Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on December 25, 2014 in The Coco Magazine.]
Winter is here! While the snow blanketing the streets makes for great holiday pictures and sets the perfect scene for drinking tea while snuggled up next to a fireplace, your hair is not so thrilled about the climate change.
To prep your hair for winter survival, check out these hair care tips and products.
1. Protect your strands with silk lined everything
For many of us, wintertime magically gives us better hair days. This is usually because the low humidity outside isn’t tampering with your style. Now, it’s okay to wear your hair out once in a blue moon but if you thought that your cotton pillowcase was drying out your hair, imagine the damage done by your wool coat.
Stay warm while protecting your delicate strands with silk products. Silk has the added benefit of also keeping you warm without adding bulk to your clothing. Hop on over to Pretty Antoinette’s and check out her “silk hair lingerie” for different options from scarves to hats. If you don’t want to replace your current hats, then opt for the silk beanie to wear underneath your hats.
2. Switch to a heavier oil to seal your moisturizer
Light oils like jojoba and coconut are perfect for summer time hair sealing. (Side note- I love coconut oil, I use it in my hair and on my body). But, for the colder weather, reach for heavier oil like Jamaican Black Castor Oil. Besides, if you’ve ever owned pure coconut oil then you know that it solidifies at lower temperatures.
3. Hair vitamins
Bears aren’t the only things that hibernate in the winter. Your hair growth rate also slows down during the colder months. To combat this natural effect of the winter weather, start taking a vitamin supplement that has biotin, pantothenic acid, and MSM.
4. Invest in a humidifier
With the blizzard like temperatures outside, we’ve all cranked up the heat inside the house. The increased heat leads to dry air inside your home. Dry air will rob your hair and skin of its much needed moisture. Enter the humidifier.
A humidifier adds moisture to the air in your home. The added moisture in the air replenishes your hair and skin and eases problems caused by dry air. Don’t worry; you don’t need to get an expensive humidifier that covers your entire house to reap the benefits. A portable room humidifier can be used in your bedroom while you sleep.
5. Less shampooing, more co-washing
Even the gentlest of shampoos can strip your hair of much needed moisture. Cut back on how often you use shampoo and opt for co-washing instead. Just remember to thoroughly rinse off the conditioner from your scalp to avoid scalp buildup and itchiness.
What’s your winter regimen must have product?