Winter Hair Care: Do's and Don'ts
Winter is the season of togetherness. That's why we're bringing together all hair types for these winter wonderland-approved hair tips to get you through the dryness, frizz, and flyaways.
We know winter can be a challenging time for hair care. The environment isn't conducive to glowing, radiant locks. It can often feel like the life has been drained from your gorgeous summer hair when dullness strikes. Luckily, with a few easy hair tips for winter hair care, every hair type can stay sunny year-round.
Get the best hair tips for your locks with RevAir.
Don't Over Wash
When your hair is looking lackluster, it can be difficult to fight the urge to overcompensate with frequent washes. One universal mistake for all hair types is too much shampooing in the wintertime. Likewise, one of the best winter hair tips is to let your hair have a rest. With so much to do during the holidays, the pressure to keep your hair shining bright for every festive photo op can be intimidating. In fact, skipping a few wash days can feel like a hair care trust fall.
That's why we recommend going two weeks on a reduced hair washing schedule to give your new winter hair care routine a trial run.
For types 1 and 2 hair, experts recommend washing your hair every 2 to 5 days. If your hair tends to be more delicate and oil-prone, stick to 2-3 days. Hair that falls more in line with 2b-c (wavy, dry, some texture) should err on the side of weekly hair washing. Hair types 3 and 4 should opt for weekly, biweekly, or monthly wash days depending on your specific curl pattern.
A reduced washing schedule allows your hair time to retain its natural oils and minimizes frizz causing dryness. After the trial run, you may just find that your hair is sleeker, shinier, and ready for every holiday photo.
Do Build a Hair Product Wardrobe
Caring for your hair in the wintertime means getting to know your exact hair type a little better. After all, the best hair tips are the ones that work for you. Generalized hair care recommendations are great to have on hand, but there's no substitute for tried and true products that nourish your hair. Once you've found your best seasonal hair care products, it's time to start building your personal hair product wardrobe.
Dedicate a shelf or cabinet to your hair. Next, write down personalized hair tips on cards beneath each product. This will simplify your hair routine and remind you when it's time to switch products each season. Many DIY hair experts utilize more oils and serums in the winter months to lock in as much moisture as possible. Curlier hair types may avoid dry shampoo altogether to minimize flaking and scalp irritation, while thinner, oil-prone hair can benefit from a hydrating dry shampoo formula used no more than 1-2x between washes.
Lastly, dedicate a section of your personal salon booth to hair masks. Treating your hair to a deep moisture mask at least once a week in the wintertime is at the top of our hair tips list for all hair types.
Don't Wash With Hot Water
We know winter weather calls for hot showers, but we'd like to suggest a bath instead. One of the most common mistakes people make in the cooler months is setting their shower temperature too high on hair wash days. Hot water strips away your hair's natural protein and breaks down the keratin bonds that keep our hair and nails from becoming brittle. In the winter, this can be damaging and exacerbate dryness.
Do Lock in Moisture
It's important to protect your lovely locks as much as possible when the environment isn't the most favorable. Preserve your hair's moisture by using lukewarm water when showering. If the water in your area is particularly hard (or mineralized), opt for a pitcher of filtered water to rinse off in the shower.
If you're in need of a cozy evening routine, clip your hair up and treat yourself to a bath instead.
Don't Leave Your Frizz as an NYE Resolution
Too often when it comes to winter hair tips, we assume that frizz is unavoidable and focus on minimizing or styling our hair to hide split ends. However, frizzy hair is actually a sign of damage. Frizzy hair occurs when the cuticle layer (the outermost layer of the hair strand that protects the inner hair shaft) of the hair is raised, which allows moisture to pass through and swell the strands.
Do Protect Your Hair From Frizz Now
So why exactly does our hair turn frizzy in the winter? Well, as it turns out, cold temperatures cause the air to become dryer, which in turn causes our hair to pick up extra electrical charges. This results in extra frizz and static. When it comes to winter hair tips, it's important to be proactive in caring for our lovely locks.
Fight science with science by combating static! The best way to fight frizz is to up your hair's moisture intake, using products designed to help seal your hair's cuticles. This locks in hydration and keeps frizz out. Invest in a high-quality deep conditioner to get you through the winter months. Type 1 hair and type 2 hair may want to add hydrating hair oil during the winter as part of their seasonal care routine and reduce leave-in conditioner and oil treatments over the summer. Type 3 and type 4 hair can also benefit from leave-in conditioners and often benefit from using all-natural hair oils year-round such as coconut, argan, and jojoba oil.
Protect your hair when you venture outside by rocking a hat, scarf, or wrap. Opt for materials that don't create static like satin-lined beanies and hats made from loose-fitting, natural fibers.
Don't Neglect Your Scalp
Healthy hair starts at the top! Ignoring scalp care is one of the biggest winter hair mistakes many of us make. It's easy to wonder why your hair is dry and flaky when you've been following all of the recommended hair tips. Oftentimes, the real culprit behind lackluster winter hair is an itchy, irritated scalp. Build-up and dryness can stall hair growth and lead to brittleness and breakage.
Do Treat Your Scalp Right
Work scalp care into your winter hair routine. A relaxing oil massage 1-2x per week is a great routine for all hair types. If you find that your scalp is too oily between routines, scale back to once per week. Likewise, if flaking persists, opt for a more frequent clarifying and oil massage regimen.
Be especially mindful of scalp care if you lead an active lifestyle. Dry air and sweat can aggravate build-up. To manage this, brush your hair and scalp prior to showering. This will help loosen and remove any debris. Add a clarifying shampoo to your routine that is free of sulfates and designed to nourish your sensitive scalp. As always, finish your routine with a rich, hydrating conditioner and gently pat your scalp dry.
Don't Overdo It With Heat Styling
Heat styling and blow-drying is one of the go-to's many of us have on our winter hair tips list. While a little heat styling (like using the RevAir Reverse Air Dryer!) won't damage your hair, frequent heat styling and blow-drying can actually make frizz worse. Excessive heat exposure causes hair to become brittle and even leads to hair loss and thinning when the outside environment is harsh and cold.
Do Opt for a Healthy Hair Styling Routine
There's no better time to go more minimalist in your hair care routine than the winter months. Switching from your tired, old styling routine and adopting a healthy hair focused routine instead is a great way to refresh your style just in time for spring.
Start by trying to use less heat styling and blow-drying. Aim for using your flat iron or curling iron 1-2x per week. In the meantime, experiment with hair wrapping for heatless soft curls and different brushing techniques to style your hair without frying it. RevAir's amazing reverse air dryer allows you to dry, stretch, curl, and style in a healthy, natural way, without high heat or chemicals, and in a fraction of the time, it takes with traditional methods.
Of course, when your hair needs the extra flair of a full heat styling treatment, be sure to always protect your locks with a nourishing heat shield spray to minimize damage and keep your hair lively and bright.
Winter hair care is a tricky time for everyone. Every hair type struggles to stay on trend when the weather cools down and the outside environment seems set on ruining our style. If there's one thing to celebrate this season, it's that we can all gather together and enjoy healthy hair tips for the coziest time of the year.
What are your top winter hair tips? Let us know and share the love with our fabulous healthy hair community!
