As winter unfolds its chilly embrace, our hair (much like the rest of us) seeks warmth and care. During these colder months our locks often bear the brunt of harsh weather conditions, requiring your extra love and attention. Amid the cozy blankets and winter festivities, maybe it's easy to overlook the needs of your hair. Yet, caring for it in winter is akin to planting seeds for the upcoming seasons. Nurturing your hair and scalp now sets the stage for the growth and vitality down the line in the warmer months when you can (hopefully!) flaunt the results of all that effort. With the understanding that hair growth is a gradual process, taking the time to actually do winter hair care tips is a gesture of self-love and also – foresight, ensuring that your mane flourishes when the blossoms of spring arrive.
Thinking about proper hair care is impossible without thinking about your scalp – while your strands are exposed to harsh elements, your scalp needs extra care and attention as well.
1. Remember the warm hat, but...
Wearing hats in winter protects hair from harsh elements and helps retain moisture, especially with materials like wool. However, keep your hat clean – the potential for elevated temperatures can lead to dandruff issues. Microbes responsible for dandruff thrive in warmth – which emphasises the importance of regular cleaning of the hat itself. And to help your scalp, incorporating essential oils like tea tree and peppermint can combat certain types of dandruff, enhancing overall scalp health during the winter months. So while hats offer valuable protection, maintaining their cleanliness and utilizing essential oils to prevent development of dandruff and itchy scalp are key.
2. Trimming is more important in winter
During winter, central heating can lead to drier air, increasing the likelihood of hair brittleness and split ends. To combat this, consider implementing the "Search & Destroy" technique, addressing individual split ends without sacrificing overall length. Alternatively, opting for more frequent trims, every 6-8 weeks, helps prevent the escalation of split ends: especially if you're an owner of longer hair. Protective hairstyles, specifically braids, provide an additional layer of defence against environmental stressors, reducing the risk of winter-induced damage. Think regular trims and protective styling as both contribute to healthier, more resilient hair during the colder months.
3. Choose the right heat styling
Reducing heat styling during winter is crucial, given that central heating already makes the hair dry and that leads to - to dry hair, too. But air drying (letting your hair dry naturally) is also a poor option: walking around with wet strands takes it longer to dry in colder temperatures and weakens the tensile strength of your hair. This makes blow-drying on low temperatures a more balanced choice.
Maybe you want to look extra glam for the holidays and use high-heat tools like straighteners or curling irons – but they dry out the moisture that your hair needs. This can cause hair brittleness, worsening the impact of already dry winter conditions. Opting for gentle heat when blow-drying helps maintain moisture levels without compromising the hair's integrity. By minimizing heat styling, you mitigate the risk of additional dryness and brittleness, promoting overall hair health in colder climates.
4. Limit hot water usage
Hot water opens the hair cuticles, which are the protective outer layers of each hair strand. When these cuticles are opened, moisture within the hair shaft is exposed, leading to quicker evaporation. This rapid moisture loss makes the hair more susceptible to dryness, brittleness, and breakage. Additionally, the cuticle, when opened by hot water, loses its ability to lay flat, resulting in a rougher texture that further contributes to tangling and damage.
Lukewarm water, on the other hand, helps maintain the integrity of the cuticle, preventing excessive moisture loss and preserving the natural oils that keep the hair supple. By opting for lukewarm water during hair washing, you create a gentler environment that supports optimal moisture retention and overall hair health, particularly crucial during the dry and cold winter months.
Hot water and scalp health in winter
The adverse effects of hot water extend beyond the hair shaft to the scalp. The intense heat can strip the scalp of its natural oils, leading to dryness and itching. As the skin on the scalp becomes dehydrated, it tends to flake, resulting in the discomfort of a dry and flaky scalp. Therefore, choosing lukewarm water when washing your hair not only preserves the health of your hair strands but also maintains the well-being of your scalp, ensuring a balanced and comfortable environment for both.
5. Hydrate your scalp - inside & out
Ensuring adequate water intake during winter is crucial for maintaining optimal scalp health. Cold and dry weather can lead to dehydration, affecting not only your body but also your scalp. Well-hydrated skin, including the scalp, is more resilient and less prone to dryness and flakiness. Water nourishes the hair follicles, promoting healthier hair growth and preventing issues like dry scalp and dandruff. Additionally, staying hydrated helps regulate oil production on the scalp, preventing the overproduction of sebum, which can contribute to greasiness or scalp discomfort. In essence, increased water consumption during winter serves as a fundamental aspect of a holistic approach to maintaining both internal and external scalp health.
6. Scalp needs "extra"
Overnight scalp oiling with natural hair oils, such as castor oil for growth and sweet almond oil to prevent dryness, offers several benefits. Firstly, these oils penetrate the scalp, providing deep nourishment to the hair follicles and promoting overall hair health. Castor oil, known for its richness in nutrients, can stimulate blood circulation, encouraging hair growth and thickness. Sweet almond oil, on the other hand, acts as an excellent emollient, preventing dryness and maintaining the scalp's moisture balance. This practice also helps reduce frizz, improve the texture of the hair, and leave it with a healthy, lustrous shine. Incorporating overnight scalp oiling into your routine can be a rejuvenating and effective ritual for promoting both scalp and hair well-being during the winter months.
7. Slower hair growth in winter months
In the colder winter months, the phenomenon of slower hair growth holds a fascinating evolutionary perspective. From an ancestral standpoint, conserving energy during times of scarcity and harsh weather was paramount for survival. Slower hair growth in winter can be seen as an adaptive response, redirecting energy resources towards vital bodily functions in the face of environmental challenges.
While our modern lives may not depend on such adaptations, the echoes of this evolutionary trait persist, reminding us of the intricate ways in which our bodies have adapted to the ever-changing rhythms of nature. However this does mean that during winter months you will experience slower hair growth, which is why investing in hair growth treatment can be a good idea to support your hair follicles during their hibernation stage.
8. Don’t be lazy for scalp massages
Scalp massages during winter are not only a self-care practice but also offer tangible benefits for hair growth. The gentle manipulation of the scalp and the fibrous tissue underneath promotes increased blood circulation, ensuring that hair follicles receive optimal nutrients for growth. In winter especially beneficial, as colder temperatures can potentially reduce blood flow to the extremities. Moreover, scalp massages relieve tension, a key element in combating conditions like androgenic alopecia or perimenopausal hair thinning. By alleviating stress on the scalp, massages create a conducive environment for healthier hair growth.
Engaging in scalp massages before bed is also an excellent bedtime ritual. The relaxation induced by the massage not only promotes better sleep but also allows the oils (if applied during the massage) to work their magic overnight. This extended period of contact enhances the absorption of beneficial elements, contributing to improved scalp and hair health. Incorporating scalp massages into your nightly routine during winter serves as a holistic approach, addressing both the physical and emotional aspects of hair care in colder climates.
Sources:
Seasonal changes in hair growth, (1)
Heat-damaged evaluation of virgin hair (2)
