Given the weather we've had over the last weekend I thought I'd do a blog post about winter haircare, my hair is feeling dry and ruffled after all that wind I bet yours could do with a little TLC too. I've got a lot to say so get yourself a cuppa and a choccy biscuit and snuggle up in your favourite chair. Here goes:
Cold, dry air, harsh weather and everything that comes with it can dehydrate your hair. Wind tangles it causing wear and tear, making it more prone to breakage. If your hair feels dry and brittle try these tips to keep it healthy and hydrated.
Shampoo! Leaving it out some of the time allows the natural oils of your scalp to distribute and condition your hair for you, helping to nourish and moisturise. You can use conditioner in place of shampoo, apply to the scalp and really work it in to loosen dead skin cells, remove dirt and oil and to massage your scalp promoting blood flow. You need to be doing this for a few minutes - until your arms ache! - then rinse well and follow up with a good quality conditioner on your mid-lengths and ends. Don't have your water really hot either.
Moisture. Adding moisturising products into your hair care routine this time of year will help it to become less unruly. Tame the mane bring it under control again and lessen the static. I recommend the Nutritive range by Yellow Professional, available from me. The whole range contains Argan oil and coconut oil, and a formula called Aloetrix which contains aloe and protein to help strengthen and hydrate your hair. The coconut oil and Argan oil add moisture, and nourish the hair from root to tip. You can choose from shampoo and conditioner, a mask for weekly treatments - really gorgeous stuff, makes your hair feel amazing- and a protective oil which you use like a serum, adding a drop or two to damp hair. It seals as it moisturises giving you a barrier against humidity.
3. Conditioner. Don't skip it! Conditioning is an important step in any haircare routine whether you like a rinse out one or a leave in, finding the right thing for your hair can make a world of difference to your locks. Conditioner doesn't just add moisture and nourish your hair, it smooths and detangles, and it makes sure your cuticles are closed and pH is returned to where it should be. Finish with a cool rinse to promote shine. If you need help deciding whats right for your hair, ask me. When you apply concentrate on the midlengths and ends, and use a wide tooth comb or your fingers to detangle, leaving it on for a few minutes helps it do its job.
4. Heat. Air dry if you can, blowdrying, curling and straightening especially with too hot tools can wreak havoc with your hair. It can damage it, making it brittle and crispy, or cause yellowing. Always protect your hair with a good heat protection spray such as Yellow's Multibenefit spray. This has It is a leave in serum based product enriched with Keratin-HT and Amaranth oil and belongs to the Liss family of Yellow products. If you only buy one thing try this one. it *deep breath* has 10 in 1 benefits- thermal protection, anti frizz, anti humidity, detangling action, UV protection, taming effect, anti static effect, prevents split ends, helps seal the cuticle, and gives shine. You can use it on damp or dry hair. Think of heat protector as an oven glove. Your tools get up hot hot, to say 200c you wouldn't put your hand in an oven that hot without an over glove would you? Don't do it to your hair!
5. Cold. Frosty weather can cause breakage if you go out with wet hair, the water molecules freeze and swell inside your hair shaft causing it to become weaker and damage can occur. Allow it to dry or dry it before you leave the house. Wearing a hat helps protect from cold and damp.
Some other things to help your hair which you can do all year round are:
- Keep up with regular trims, don't let the split ends get away from you! If they have, book in for a split end treatment, you'll be amazed how much better it feels afterwards.
- drinks plenty of water, if you're hydrated so is your hair. Hair and skin are at the end of the line with the nutrition train and are the last to get the goodies, eating and drinking healthily gives you better skin and hair! Which leads me to
- Eat healthy fats to replenish the oils in your hair. Have you ever tried fat free or low fat and noticed your hair feeling dry? You don't have to eat loads, a spray bottle of olive oil to use in cooking is great, you get the nutrition without loading on the calories.
- Vitamin C is an antioxidant which repairs damage caused by free radicals, for your hair it helps protect against splits and breaks. It can be found in citrus fruits, cranberries, and dark green leafy veggies.
-Give yourself a scalp massage with a nice hair oil. A plant based oil rather than a mineral oil has smaller molecules so it will absorb into your hair and scalp better, rather than sitting on the surface and locking your skin. I like sweet almond oil with a drop or two of essential oil for mine. Use your thumbs and finger tips in small circles all over your scalp using as much pressure as is comfortable. Grasp handfuls of hair and tug gently, this helps stimulate blood flow and helps to relax the muscles underneath. Finish by running your fingers through holding them straight and together the give a little tension. Your hair will appreciate you leaving the oil in place to allow it to soak in, use it at night and wash out in the morning to hydrate.
- Deep conditioning masks once a week help nourish and moisturise your hair. Choose on suited to your hair type and leave in for a few minutes to get to work. Wrap in a plastic cap and a towel for added heat. I have a colour care mask, a smoothing mask, the nutritive one I mentioned earlier, a curly mask and a repair mask, so lots to choose from. Pop in to see me about which would help your hair best.
I hope this has helped you with your hair. Any questions don't hesitate to ask. All products mentioned are available on the salon, and will be on my website shortly.
