You might not know this, but much like your wardrobe, your hair care routine should change with the seasons. As the weather gets colder, your hair can become frizzy, brittle, and completely unmanageable in the fall and winter air. But don’t worry; a few tweaks in your hair care regime will keep your locks silky and tame throughout the year. Here are a few tips you should add to your routine as soon as possible.
Get a trim
A summer of sun exposure can leave your hair damaged and fried, and longer hair is especially susceptible to breakage. As soon as you can, book yourself a hair appointment to get rid of all those split ends; maybe you could consider a new style altogether. It’s also a good idea to get your hair trimmed every two or three months, so book another appointment once the stylist has completed your new look.
Wash less often
There is no magic number for the amount of times your hair should be washed ; that’s something you need to figure out with a lifetime of experimentation. However, during winter, the more you wash the more expose your hair to the drying effects of water. This will affect how brittle your hair will feel throughout the day. Fortunately, dry shampoo once again comes to the rescue. Even though you’re limiting your hair washes to around once or twice a week during winter, dry shampoo will help keep that greasy feeling at bay for much longer.
Boost your moisture
Cold air really drains the moisture out of your hair, so this is the time to stock up on hair masks, or moisturizing shampoos and conditioners. Look for extra moisturizing ingredients like jojoba oil, shea butter, and buriti to secure hydration in your tresses. Make sure to use a quality cleanser that washes away normal wear and tear from the environment like pollution and smoke, but does not strip your hair of its natural oils and lipids, which are now more essential than ever. A bi-weekly moisturizing hair mask treatment can fight all the static and tangles that are a side effect of cute winter scarves and hats.
Consider a darker style
As much as you might adore a sun-kissed look in the summer, when fall hits it might be time to upgrade to a slightly darker look. Your highlights are going to fade anyway, so you might as well make the decision yourself and make a dramatic statement. Coloring it darker allows the transition from sun-kissed to dark brunette to happen easier and evens out the color. I would offer a word of caution about going dark when you are a blonde…I did this once and I was so miserable that I couldn’t get back into the salon fast enough. I had just gone too dark for my skin tone and every time I look in the mirror it kind of freaked me out. If you really are determined to do it, don’t let me talk you out of it, just allow yourself a little time to get used to it.
Avoid extreme temperatures
Unfortunately, you will go through a lot of extreme temperature changes every time you step through the front door of your house, workplace, or anywhere else. Try to minimize this exposure by not taking a hot blow-dryer to your icy wet hair after your shower. Remember, any type of extreme temperature can cause your hair to break off. Instead, wrap it in a microfiber towel and leave it to dry.
Whether you’re looking forward to the cooler temperatures or not, your hair is going to benefit from the break in sun exposure, so take advantage of healthier, stronger hair and have fun with some new techniques and styles. I recently cut some bangs into my hair for a couple of reasons: I wanted a change to make my current style and little more hip, and also because I had used a flat iron that was too hot and there was some damage in the front of my hair…it took me a minute to get used to, but I am loving it now!