Winter is as much a time for wonder as it is a time for wrecking your hair. Cold, dry air, harsh weather, and everything that comes with it can make your hair dehydrated and more prone to breakage than in the warmer months.

Cold and dry air can cause the cuticle of the hair strand to slightly lift. As a result, moisture doesn’t stand a chance of naturally staying locked into the hair shaft. When exposed to high winds, hair becomes more easily snagged and tangled. When going to brush and detangle your hair, the yanking action of the brush can cause further breakage and split ends.

The dryness and breakage that comes along with winter weather also aren’t doing your hair color any favors either, especially if you have color-treated hair. This is because dry weather causes the hair to lose its sense of vibrancy and shine.

If you’ve ever brushed your hair out in the morning, only to have it stand on end as if you’d just rubbed a balloon all over it, then you’ve experienced winter’s not-so-fun hair punishment: static. It’s that combination of dryness and tangles that creates the perfect conditions for hair static.

 

Sounds like a lot of damage, right? Well, all of this damage can be easily avoided with a few hacks!

top winter haircare tips

Hats

Wool, cotton, and other fabrics can cause breakage as well, so make sure to line your hat with silk or satin to help prevent damage. Fight static electricity under your hat by using a dry oil spray. Dry oils are weightless and contain natural oils that moisturize hair, bringing back its shine.

Avoid Heat Styling

Allowing your hair to air dry is best. Blow drying draws moisture out of your hair, increasing the chance of breakage while heat-free drying helps keep your hair shiny and healthy. Embrace your natural hair and air-dry whenever possible. Don’t have enough time to air dry? Try taking your shower in the evening so your hair can dry naturally overnight - you can use a silk pillowcase or cotton t-shirt to prevent overnight static.

Wet Hair = Indoors Only

Wet hair is more vulnerable to damage than dry hair. When hair is wet, the proteins form weaker hydrogen bonds than when hair is dry. The structure of the hair strand changes, causing it to stretch and become thinner. Thus, walking outside with a head of wet hair can cause hair to freeze and break. While air drying is best, if in a hurry, it’s better to blow dry your hair than leave it to air dry in the cold.

leave-in conditioners for winter hair

Rehab Balm uses coconut milk and cupuacu butter to provide deep conditioning, aloe, and marshmallow to promote hair growth, and mango and quinoa to provide protection and strength - after all, protection is what our hair craves during the winter.

Muku Milk utilizes chlorella to assist in tissue regeneration, a high concentration of amino acids to build collagen, and carrot to provide moisture - an array of ingredients to combat any winter storm.

SHOP ALL WINTER HAIR & SKINCARE NOW

 

Psst - you can read this and more on our Ultimate Holiday Guide, out now!