How Winter Impacts Your Hair

Wondering why your hair looks and feels different in the winter? The winter season can have an effect on your hair and scalp, but thankfully, there are ways to protect it. We'll detail some common challenges with hair during the winter and ways to prevent them. 

Dry Hair and Scalp

The cool and dry climate during the winter can take the moisture out of your hair, leaving you with a flaky scalp and dry ends. You may notice your scalp is more itchy than normal and see flakes in your hair, even if you just washed it. 

To combat this, switch to a sulfate-free moisturizing shampoo which will soothe and hydrate your scalp and leave your hair feeling soft. Applying hair oils and using a leave-in conditioner can also help. All of these will leave your hair more moisturized which is the main trick to lessening the static in your hair. 

Static 

The dryness of the air can also lead to having lots of static in your hair. Since there is not much moisture in the air, there is little water to “absorb” the electrons from your hair. Winter hats and earmuffs also rub on your hair, creating friction. 

To combat this, use deep conditioning hair masks and other moisturizing products mentioned previously. Using a heat protectant or hairspray can also help lock in the moisture after using a hair mask. If your hair still has a lot of static, you can try switching to a non-plastic comb and switch to a wooden or metal comb which won’t spread more static to your hair. 

Split Ends

It is also very common to have more split ends than normal in the winter months due to dryness. Central heating and portable heaters inside the home can also lead to more split ends. 

To combat this, use a silk pillowcase or silk bonnet. This will protect your hair from breakage during the night and leave it more soft and shiny in the morning. When shampooing, only shampoo your scalp and let the suds slide down to the ends of your hair. You can always book a Split End Treatment with us to repair damage! Also try to limit your use of hair dryers and hot tools during the winter months, but if you use them frequently, make sure to always use a heat protectant before and try to turn down the heat setting if possible.