Cold, dry outdoor weather and the dry air created by indoor heating systems can wreak havoc on the best tresses. Winter hair care needs to take into account the specific conditions created by the cooler months. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to keep winter hair from becoming a mass of dried-out frizziness atop your head when winter rolls around.
Winter Conditions
Winter air is cold and dry, which can cause damage to hair by sucking away moisture. Add to that the transition into heated buildings, where hot dry air makes already struggling strands even more prone to breakage.
Problems
Dehydration is the biggest problem that hair faces in the wintertime. Dry hair can lead to characteristic symptoms such as frizziness, flyaway strands or static buildup whenever you remove a hat or slide a scarf around your neck.
Prevention
Keeping hair moisturized is key to preventing winter hair problems. Instead of using a blow dryer, which dries out hair even more, try towel-drying hair. Don't leave home with wet hair, though, since this could expose hair to freezing. When washing hair, avoid using extremely hot water and don't shampoo too often. Once a day should be fine, since any more than this can dry hair out even more.
Products
The most important product you'll need for winter hair care is a good daily moisturizing conditioner. You can also use a leave-in conditioner to help with flyaways. Deep conditioning treatments are another good idea to use a few times a week to keep moisture locked in and repair damage. You may have to try a few different products to find what works for your individual hair and for the winter conditions in your area.
Homemade Solutions
Mayonnaise and raw eggs are two popular homemade remedies for locking moisture into winter-dry hair. Aloe vera juice is another home treatment designed to protect hair from moisture loss in winter.
Tips
Aside from treating the hair itself, there are other ways to minimize the impact dry winter hair has on your appearance. Even the hat you wear can have an impact. Try using a cotton hat instead of a wool one, for example, because cotton is less prone to static buildup. Choose a hat that is somewhat loose, since a too-tight cap can hamper circulation in the scalp.
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