The Ultimate Guide to Caring for Your Curls in the Winter

Shine a little brighter this winter with RevAir's ultimate guide to caring for curly hair during the coziest time of the year. The winter months are a season of togetherness, but for many curly haired beauties, we may be left wishing our hair would get itself together in time for holiday photos, ugly sweater parties, and nights out on the town. 

If managing your curls in the winter is at the top of your holiday wishlist, we have the perfect go-to guide for all of your curly hair needs. Get into the spirit of the season with revitalizing winter hair care for all curl patterns. The brightest star in the room this year? Your show-stopping holiday looks.

Keep it Cool

We know there's nothing more relaxing than a hot shower on a cold day. Unfortunately, extremely hot water can further strip away your hair's natural oils, leading to aggravated dryness, thinning, and breakage. There are a few ways curly haired beauties can go about tackling this problem in the dry winter months.

First, scale back on the frequency of your wash routine. Many can make the mistake of over-washing their hair during the winter, so their curls will be "fresh" for every event and gathering. However, too much hair washing actually has the opposite effect on your hair's integrity. Water, especially hot water, breaks down the keratin protein bonds in the hair and causes frizz, dullness, and thinning. Depending on your hair type, keep hair washing to every week, every two weeks, or even monthly with co-washing in between for Type 4 hair.

When it is time for a wash day, avoid using extremely hot water to wash your curls. This is where a detachable shower head can really come in handy! Alternatively, many curly hair beauties find success with using bottled water or filtered water for rinsing their lovely locks. Not only will this keep your curls cool, but filtered water is less hard and mineral-dense, which means it won't weigh your style down.

Do NOT Wash and Go

Creating a masterpiece takes time. Avoid rushing straight from the shower and into your day - specifically if the weather outside is cold and dreary. Washing your hair the night before is best for giving your curls the time they need to acclimate. In the morning, you can reactivate the products with a quick water and coconut oil spritz. Add some curl-defining gel and you're ready to dazzle!

For added protection for your freshly washed curls, consider investing in a humidifier for your bedroom. Humidifiers are a great way to combat dry air conditions. This will help to keep your curls from drying out overnight so you can wake up #flawless no matter the season.

Give Your Brush a Break

Let your  brush take the winter off this season. Managing curly hair in the wintertime is best done with gentle hair care strategies. That means sticking to detangling with just your fingers since the strands will be more fragile and prone to breakage. Smooth in the product while you run your fingers through and pull apart any knots rather than yanking them out with a brush or fine comb - if you do want to use a detangling tool, opt for a wide-toothed comb that will be gentle on your curls. 

Since manual detangling will be a big part of your winter hair care routine, consider working in a scalp massage. DIY scalp oil treatment improves circulation, which in turn stimulates hair growth to combat winter hair thinning and hair loss in curly hair beauties. Jojoba oil, rosehip, lavender, and geranium oil are a few DIY scalp oil treatments that will make your scalp feel like spring is in the air -- or rather in your hair.

Winter Wellness = Winter Hair Goals

Prioritizing wellness during the winter months isn't simply important for your mind and body -- it's an essential part of winter hair care. Type 3 hair and Type 4 hair are especially vulnerable to breakage when temperatures drop and dry air prevails. It's extra important to fortify those roots and ends when the environment isn't exactly helping your hair thrive.

The best winter hair care tips for curly hair are surprisingly simple. Start with staying hydrated! 

Remembering to drink enough water in the winter months can be challenging. Activity levels are lower, the weather is cooler, and we're often too busy rushing between holiday shopping, gathering with family and friends, and taking time for ourselves with a few cozy Netflix binges to get us through the season. However, staying hydrated is especially important during dry, low humidity conditions. Adequate water fuels the cells that makeup hair, skin, and nails. The Federal Institute of Medicine recommends women take in 2.7 liters and men 3.7 liters of water per day for optimal health and wellness. Remember that fruits and vegetables are 90-95% water! The extra vitamins and minerals benefit curly hair health in the wintertime.

Of course, if you find that your holiday diet is more sugar cookies and fewer salads, supplementing your daily intake is another simple wellness tip for winter hair care. If you remember to incorporate only two supplements during the cooler months, add vitamin C and D3 to your wellness regimen. These powerful supplements help us stay healthy when we're getting less sunlight and not taking in as many nutrients through fresh produce as we might during the spring and summer. Best of all, getting your core vitamins in keeps hair strong at a cellular level and maintains natural bounce and youthful elasticity for curly hair.

Consider a Protective Style

Faux locs are a great option for keeping your natural hair healthy over the winter months. The versatility and low maintenance appeal of protective styles make these looks a great choice for keeping curly hair radiant all season long. Best of all, protective styles typically last between 6 to 8 weeks. If you're g during the holidays, these styles will be your BFF. You can swim, work out, and enjoy the season all while keeping your natural hair from the elements. Locs, twists, braids, and more are essentials for the curly hair holiday lookbook!

Avoid the Naughty List of Hair Products

Don't let any uninvited guests sneak into your winter hair care party. Many shampoos, conditioners, and hair products come with sneaky additives that can wreak havoc on your hair in the wintertime. Even products advertised for curly hair aren't safe from these nasty fillers. 

The main ingredients to watch out for and avoid include sulfates, parabens, alcohols, artificial fragrances, and synthetics. These additives strip away the hair's moisture and dull the color and tone. You'll also want to steer clear of humectant during the winter. In the summer, humectants are great for pulling moisture from the air and feeding your curls to enhance volume and shine. However, once the humidity drops, the opposite effect takes over. Humectants will actually draw moisture from your hair instead, releasing it into the dry air.

Stick with simplicity and prioritize moisturizing ingredients during the cooler months over excessive styling products.

Moisturize to the Max

Deep conditioning your hair is the number one rule of curly hair care. Maximizing moisture is especially important during the winter. This means stepping up your deep conditioning routine. Make time for self-care with nourishing hair masks and consider treating yourself to a few professional deep conditioning treatments during the winter months. 

You can also indulge your lovely locks at home with rich butter and coconut oil treatments to bring out your festive glow. Try an overnight leave-in conditioner 2-3x per week between wash days.

Make a Heatless Curl Styling Resolution

We all know heat is damaging to our delicate curls, so go heatless or low heat this season by leaving your old styling methods behind. Instead of wrapping your hair in a towel after washing, opt for a microfiber wrap or scarf. Utilize styling products over curling irons and flat irons to sculpt your look and, most importantly, say goodbyes to your hairdryer and comb attachment.

RevAir's innovative reverse air technology means you can finally make a resolution you'll stick to. More and more curly hair beauties are leaving heat drying in the past as we embrace natural hair-friendly options that won't cause frizz, dryness, and breakage. Our Reverse Air technology is quick and efficient -- in fact, many glam goddesses find that this method takes time off their morning routine. With instant styling results, your RevAir can help sculpt your hair while it dries in one simple step - and the heat is low enough to avoid excessive heat damage and stress to your strands. If you're needing some heat to dry in a rush or for a special style - drying with RevAir Reverse Air Dryer is an ideal method for protecting your natural hair while freeing up time for you to enjoy the holidays.

Caring for your curly hair during the wintertime can be challenging, but with a few simple tips for managing your lovely locks, you can give yourself the gift of effortless hair care all season long. Stay merry and bright with a little extra shine this season and a little help from your friends at RevAir. 

Got more winter hair care questions on your holiday wish list? We're here to help! Reach out to our curly hair experts today and have a wonderful winter!