Chicago winters are brutally cold and long, and we know that all that cold, dry air can take a toll on our hair! Relieve your stressed out tresses with these simple winter hair care tips!
Drink Water!
The #1 stressor to our hair during cold winter months is not actually the cold, but the dryness. Cold air holds less moisture outoors, and dry air heating our indoor spaces make for dry air virtually everywhere we go. Hydration starts from within, so drink plenty of water to encourage hair and scalp healh. Stay hydrated stimulates a healthier scalp, prevents dryness, itchiness and flaking, and helps encourage hair growth and health from root to tip!
Wash Your Hair Less Often
Cut down hair washing to 2 or 3 times a week to avoid stripping it of moisture even more, and consider switching to a more moisturizing shampoo and conditioner during the winter. Make sure to moisturize conditioner into your scalp to help reduce dry scalp and flaking.
Replenishing & Moisturizing Treatments
Though washing less often with moisturizing shampoo and conditioner can help, our hair often needs a little extra TLC in the winter. Use a leave-in conditioner or oil to keep hair hydrated, and consider a once or twice-weekly moisturizing hair mask. Some creams and treatments even help reduce staticky hair from dry heat and wearing hats and scarves.
Dry Hair Thoroughly Before Going Outdoors
Your hair is at its weakest when it's wet, so make sure your hair is completely dry before going outdoors, or well covered up if unavoidable (we recommend using silk scarves and silk-lined hats to protect hair even further). Having frost or little icicles form on your hair will weigh it down and cause it to be even more fragile and prone to damage and breaking.
Trim Your Hair
It's important to keep up with trims year-round but especially during very cold or hot months. Regular trims help maintain the overall health of the hair by removing split ends and damage, and make hair appear to grow healthier, longer and faster!
Invest In A Humidifier
Humidifiers add moisture back into the air, which helps soothe your parched skin and hair. It will also help reduce static electricty which can cause fussy, flyaway, staticky hair.
Avoid Heat Styling
When your hair is already in a weakened state from cold, dry air, heat styling sucks moisture from your strands even more, making it even more fragile and prone to damage and breakage. Air dry whenever possible, and experiment with heatless curls and waves to style your hair.
Ditch the Bleach; Opt For Darker Hair Color
Bright hair colors are fun and beautiful, but the bleaching required to get those gorgeous colors is quite damaging to hair. It's always a good idea to give your hair a break from bleaching and other heavy processing treatments. Leave your roots darker and go with a darker semi- or demi- permanent hue. It will be easier to maintain, much less damaging to hair than repeated bleach and coloring treatments, and is more on-trend for fall and winter.