How to moisturise your hair in the winter

During the winter months, plummeting temperatures and windy conditions can take their toll on your hair.

Adapting your hair care routine to counteract the change in weather can help to protect your locks from becoming damaged when the weather turns cold.

Let’s find out a little more about why the winter months can be so harsh and what you can do to keep your winter hair looking healthy.

How does cold weather impact natural hair?

Ever wondered why your hair seems to have such a hard time when the weather turns cold?

Well, this because environmental factors like temperature and humidity directly impact the condition of your hair. When winter hits, there is less moisture in the air, which can cause winter hair to become dry and brittle.

As well as the cold dry air outside, your hair is faced with the dry indoor air caused by central heating. As if this wasn’t enough, many people are also guilty of using hair dryers and other heated styling tools more regularly during the winter months when it is more difficult to air-dry hair.

If your hair is very dry, brittle, and in poor condition, then the harsh, cold winter winds will cause it to become tangled very easily, resulting in further damage and breakage.

The main culprit causing all your hair’s suffering during the winter months is the distinct lack of moisture in the air. Taking steps to add moisture to your hair during the winter can help to keep it looking healthier.

Common winter hair concerns

It’s not unusual for the winter months to cause hair to become unruly, bedraggled, or lacking in lustre. Some common winter hair concerns include:

Dry hair - It’s common for the colder winter months to cause hair to become drained of moisture. This can then lead to a whole host of other hair complaints, including:

Dull hair - Dry hair tends to lose its shine and bounce, becoming dull and lacking in life.

Hair loss - As well as dry hair, the cold winter months can also cause a dry scalp, leading to increased hair loss. Brittle dry hair is also more prone to breakage, causing hair to appear thinner.

Split ends - Dry hair is brittle and more prone to splitting and breaking.

Static - Dry, winter air can cause irritating static hair that clings to everything and just won’t sit right.

Tips to keep your hair healthy during winter

Use these five simple tips to keep your hair nourished, hydrated, and healthy this winter.

Use nourishing natural hair care products

One of the simplest things you can do to care for your hair during the winter is to check the ingredients list on your shampoo and conditioner bottles. Make sure that they contain natural and nourishing ingredients and not harsh, synthetic ingredients that could further dry out your hair. Some key offenders include sulfates, sodium chloride, and ingredients with ‘prop’ in their name like isopropyl and propanol (these are usually alcohols that will dry out your hair.)

Don’t leave the house until your hair is fully dry

Leaving the house with wet hair when the weather is very cold can cause some serious damage to your locks. This is because when your hair is wet, the water penetrates the hair shaft. If this water reaches freezing point it expands, stretching the hair shaft, lifting your hair’s cuticles, exposing it to environmental damage and making it more prone to breakage.

Have your hair trimmed regularly

Dry, brittle hair is more prone to splitting and breaking. If you have a lot of split ends, then over time these can lead to more serious damage and breakage. Being strict about having your hair trimmed regularly during the winter months can help to reduce damage to your hair.

Use moisturising treatments

If you don’t usually treat your hair to deep conditioning or moisturising treatments, then you might want to up your game during the winter months. Using leave-in moisturising treatments, deep conditioning masks, or hair oils regularly can help to inject a bit of moisture into your hair when it needs it the most.

Wear a hat

Tuck your hair into a hat or scarf to help to protect it from the elements and very cold temperatures during the winter. This will help your hair to retain its moisture and reduce damage.

Products and ingredients that help hydrate hair in cold weather

Even the healthiest hair is likely to need a little help to stay moisturised during the winter. Here are our top products for hydrated hair.

Use natural and organic hair care products

We recommend using shampoos and conditioners that are carefully formulated and packed full of natural ingredients that will nourish and moisturise your hair from the inside out.

Look for haircare products that are free from the silicones, parabens, sulphates, and other harsh chemicals that you find in a lot of high street shampoos and conditioners. They only serve to  exacerbate the problem if your hair is feeling dry or brittle.

Hair oils

Natural oils like argan, coconut, almond, jojoba, olive, and grapeseed oil can do wonders for injecting some moisture and nutrients into your hair. The best natural oil for you will depend on your hair type. Some oils will need to be applied to the hair for 30 minutes or so and then washed out, others may be used as an overnight treatment and washed out in the morning, whilst argan oil can be left in the hair.

Leave-in conditioners

Leave-in conditioners often have additional benefits, such as doubling up as styling products, protecting against heat damage, providing UV protection or even moisturising your hair. Check the ingredients list carefully to ensure that the product uses natural ingredients and contains no harsh synthetic chemicals.

Deep conditioning masks

Whilst there are plenty of deep conditioning hair treatments and masks you can buy, sometimes the simplest DIY hair masks can be the most effective. Read our blog ‘do homemade hair care treatments really work?’ to discover our favourite deep conditioning masks and ingredients.

 

Looking for ethical, natural, hair care products to help look after your locks this winter?

At Nereus London, we offer a natural hair care range containing luxurious, hydrating, spa-quality products without all the chemical nasties.