5 Tips To Keep Your Hair Healthy During The Cold Weather

You’ve probably noticed the winter months can be a bit rough on your hair and scalp health. Excess dryness in the air and cooling temperatures often require some tinkering with your established routine to keep your hair lush and healthy and keep you feeling confident in your locks through these increasingly harsh conditions.

Here are a few of our most essential cold-weather hair care tips for the upcoming winter season:

1. Keep Hair Hydrated and Healthy

One of the biggest keys to healthy winter hair is successfully combating the wind, rain, and snow with a hair care routine that locks in moisture. Dry hair can quickly become brittle and damaged, which is why moisturizing techniques like oil-based hair treatments and leave-in hair conditioners are so crucial to your cold-weather hair care regimen.

Lightweight leave-in oils are great for restoring damaged hair and can be applied for daily protection and rejuvenation throughout the cold season. Using a rich conditioner weekly can also help reverse any damage done by hot styling tools and cool temperatures, and protect your hair from dehydration with regular use.

2. Avoid Overheating & Over-Washing

Speaking of heat styling tools, it’s best if they can be avoided this time of year. Blow drying is one of the fastest ways to sap your hair of moisture and promote breakage. When possible, allow your hair to air-dry—even if that means showering in the evening and letting it dry overnight.

Rather than straightening or curling your hair in the winter with heated tools, consider styles that will protect your hair health. Braids, ponytails, buns, and heatless curlers are great ways to keep things fresh and healthy despite the cold.

Likewise, excessively washing your hair risks leaving it dry and unprotected. Try to avoid daily cleansing by using things like dry shampoo and texturizing sprays in between washes. The more days you can go between washes (within reason) the better! If your hair is excessively dry, try limiting the use of harsh shampoos or other products that might remove your hair’s natural protective oils.

3. Don’t Go Out With Wet Hair

You’ll want to make sure your hair is completely dry before stepping outside in the morning, since exposing wet hair to the cold weather is a quick road to breakage, color fading, and other damage.

Letting hair dry naturally can be a hassle, but there are several techniques you can try to help accelerate the process. Combing in conditioner while you shower on your hair-washing days, investing in a soft microfiber towel to avoid post-shower frizz, and perfecting the “plopping” technique can all make a noticeable difference in your winter hair health (and keep you from freezing as you rush out the door).

4. Get Regular Trims & Treatments

Even with a primo hair care routine, dryness and split ends can still creep up as the wintry days wear on. Trimming your hair every month or two keeps things fresh, and mitigates friction damage from cold-weather hats and scarves.

And while we’re on the topic of winter wear—don’t be afraid to wear a hat! Protecting your hair from the weather with hats can be beneficial when done correctly. Wool and cotton fabrics might be warm, but cause frizz and breakage if they aren’t lined with silk or satin. You can also use dry oil sprays to eliminate static and keep your hair soft and hydrated.

5. Learn More About Cold Weather Hair Care

Austin Kade Academy’s student salon* offers everything from basic trims and treatments to deep conditioning designed to shield your hair from elements this winter. Check out our blog for more information on healthy hair routines, and don’t hesitate to contact us to learn more about our cosmetology program*!

*All services performed by students under the supervision of licensed professionals.
*Financial aid is available to those who qualify.