How to avoid Hair Damage in the Winter

Summer is gone- and gone are the chlorine, sun over-drying, saltwater and all the other issues that summer brings with it. At a first glance, you can breath in relief- your hair is safe now, ready to be shinny, fluid and as gorgeous as ever. But don't haste! If you thought summer to be your worst enemy, you haven't met winter yet. A moment of silence please- do you remember the frizz, the tangle, dandruff, oil excess? Yes, they can happen in the winter too- and hey, some of us know that winter can be even worse than summer. If in the summer your hair is mostly lacking it's moisture, winter brings twice as many problems- plus the fact that hairstyles have no chance in front of the cruel snow.

While summer is known for causing hair damage, winter is your secret enemy.

If you're looking for ways to keep you hair healthy and good-looking in the winter, then read on- we're listing the top hair problems winter is producing and listing the solutions for maintaining the perfect hair.  

But before that, it's a must that we share these universal winter hair tips:

First, it is highly recommendable that you only blow-dry your hair after it has already naturally dried around 70%. The combination of extreme heat and extreme cold is damaging for your hair. Therefore, you should try and keep the temperatures your hair is exposed to in acceptable limits. As well, never- but never, I mean it- use hair straighteners or curling wands on your wet hair- more so in the winter. This will simply burn out your hair and, besides the obvious damage, it will electrify your hair, causing statics- and this will add up to the statics caused by winter itself and you'll end up looking like a hedgehog. 

Second, don't keep your hair covered all the time- this can cause dandruff. And besides the fact that keeping your head covered all the time will flatten your hair, harsh materials such as wool can further contribute to hair damage, causing it to break. Instead of wearing hats or beanies directly on your hair, you can wrap a silk scarf around your hair and only after put on your favorite beanie. Silk will protect your hair and also, that extra layer can keep you even warmer.

Now that you've been informed, let's move on and list the most common winter problems and their solutions.

Frizzy hair

Yes, cold weather, rain, snow mean humidity and humidity means frizzy, awfully-textured hair. How can you solve this issue? Before leaving the house, make sure you've hidrated your hair and you've applied an anti-frizz product or, if you prefer something organic, oils such as coconut oil or castor oil. Then, you can protect your hair by covering it- use the scarf trick I mentioned earlier! This will keep you hair in place. Also, try opting for buns or braids as long as you are outside- like this you can keep all your hair under the protective umbrella of your beanie. Sure, you can shake it off the second you are outside.

Lack of volume

Wearing a beanie or a hat all day will totally cause your hair to flatten and well, no women likes her hair flat. A trick to avoid this is styling your hair before covering it- add some volume and fix it with cosmetic products and bobby pins if requested. Once you cover your hair, the heat created by the beanie/ hat will preserve your hairstyle and as it is more voluminous than usually, when you uncover your hair it will look just perfect.

Dried hair

Not only summer can dry your hair, winter can too. Cold air and wind will strip your hair of it's natural oils, leaving it dump and dried. The only solution for avoiding extreme dryness and keeping your hair shiny and smooth even in the harsh winter is conditioning and reducing the number of hair washes. Take it from the beginning: even if you are used to wash your hair daily, you should try washing it one to three times a week, depending on your hair type, but not more. The chemicals found in shampoos will dry your hair and in combination with winter, you'll get that over dryness. Also, if you can, try buying shampoos consciously- avoid the ones that contain alcohol as they will damage your hair. When it comes to conditioning, choose something that actions in depth and condition after each wash- that's a rule. You don't have to spend a lot of money on conditioners and hair masks, as you can create your own organic ones, with ingredients from your kitchen.

These are the main tips and tricks. Winter can be harsh, but there are always ways to maintain a gorgeous hair in any situation.