Winter Haircare Tips for Busy Women
Taking care of ourselves in the winter can be hard. We’re suffering from coughs and colds, our skin is dry, our hair can seem dull and lifeless, and breakages and hair loss can be more common. But we’re busy. There’s always a lot going on at this time of year, and you might not have the time that you’d like to devote to self-care. But failing to look after your hair means that you might struggle to look your best, your confidence could suffer, and you might go into warmer weather with broken, uneven, and damaged hair. Here’s a look at some of the ways that winter might damage your hair, and what you can do to protect it and keep it shiny and strong, even when you are busy.
Can Winter Weather Damage Your Hair?
Yes, winter weather can cause damage and breakages, and leave your hair looking flat, dull, and lifeless. There are a few ways that winter weather can hurt your hair:
1. Windy weather can leave your hair knotty, which can mean that it breaks more when you brush it.
2. Cold weather can leave your scalp dry and flaky.
3. Wearing the same winter hat every day can make your hair greasy and reduce circulation to your scalp.
4. Wearing a hat can also make your scalp itchy.
5. Many of us are more stressed out around the Christmas holidays, which can cause stress-related hair loss.
6. Overindulgence in comfort food, alcohol and festive treats can make your hair oily and greasy.
7. A lack of humidity can leave your hair dry and frizzy, leading to split ends and breakages and reducing the risks of heat damage.
Find a Washing Schedule That Works for You
Most of us wash our hair too often. Over washing can leave our hair and scalp dry because it removes its own essential oils. It can also mean that more hairs fall out or break.
Many people will tell you that you only need to wash your hair once or twice a week and that once your hair gets used to less frequent washing it will stop looking greasy and grow stronger and healthier.
But in reality, this washing schedule isn’t for everyone. If you have very fine hair, you might find that it gets oily more quickly than thicker hair. But if your hair is thick and frizzy, washing less often might make it much harder to control.
If you work in a greasy environment, or you exercise a lot and get very sweaty, you may also need to wash your hair more often. Try to reduce hair washing if you are currently washing it every day, or every other day, but remember, no set schedule’s right for everyone.
Deep Condition Once a Week
Most of us don’t need to condition our hair every day. But using a deep conditioning treatment once a week can keep it hydrated, strong and shiny.
Dry Your Hair Carefully
Heat can damage your hair, so you might think that drying it with a hair dryer is counterproductive. But actually, leaving it wet can cause much more damage, especially if you are going to bed, or out on a cold day.
Use a heat-protection spray, avoid brushing your hair until it’s fully dry, and dry it slowly on gentle heat, instead of blasting it with high power and very hot temperatures.
Avoid Too Much Heat
That said, there is such a thing as too much heat. If you do straighten your hair, or use other heat styling tools, use a heat protection spray or serum, and use the lowest possible heat to achieve the results that you want, in the shortest time possible.
Turn the Shower Temperature Down
When you think about heat damage you might think about your hair dryer, straighteners, and curling irons. But actually, the water that you use to wash it can also cause damage. Try to turn the shower down for a few degrees and don’t keep your hair under hot water for any longer than you need to. If you can bear it, a quick cool water rinse can be a great way to keep your hair healthy and shiny.
Wear a Hat
If you go out in cold weather, make sure you wear a hat to keep your scalp warm and to protect your hair from the wind. This can reduce knots and damage and promote good blood flow to your scalp.
Wash Your Hat Regularly
If you are wearing a hat a lot, it will get dirty and spread dirt, bacteria, and grease. Make sure you wash your hat once a week, and if you can, have a few hats in different styles that you can rotate.
Go Natural
Having at least a day or two every week where you don’t style your hair or use any products but instead leave it natural can help to keep it strong and healthy and make it easier to style later.
Deal with a Dry Scalp
Dry skin is very common in cold weather and your scalp is no different. If you have a very dry scalp, a treatment can help. But if you are looking to prevent dryness, spend a little time massaging in a hair oil carefully before bed, and then wash out the next morning.
Get Treatment for Hair Loss
It’s normal to lose up to 150 hairs a day. But our hair follicles are all on a slightly different cycle, so you shouldn’t notice any bald spots or thin patches. If you do, it could mean that your follicles are struggling to maintain their usual cycles. This can be due to something simple, like stress, or it could be because you are suffering from female pattern hair loss, which is typically hereditary.
Either way, if you have noticed a lot more hair loss than usual, or you are worried about thinner patches, you should find a women’s hair loss treatment that helps to prevent hair loss in women while stimulating growth.
Don’t Brush Too Often
Brushing your hair is a good thing. It removes knots and massages your scalp while redistributing oils. But brushing also pulls hair out and causes breakages.
So, make sure you don’t brush too much. Typically, a thorough brush in the morning, once your hair is dry, is all that you need. If it’s been very windy, you might want to brush it again before bed to remove knots but make sure you use a gentle brush and that you aren’t too rough.
Eat Well
What you eat has a big impact on your hair and nails. A diet rich in vitamins and minerals, with lots of fruit and veg, can help to keep your hair healthy and easy to manage. Vitamins B, D, E, zinc, biotin, and iron are all great for hair growth and health.
Drink Lots of Water
Drinking more water is the easiest way to keep your hair hydrated and healthy. This can also reduce the risk of a dry scalp and help to prevent excess hair loss.
Looking after your hair over the winter can help you to avoid hair loss and breakages, while keeping your hair shiny, strong, and looking its best.
