It’s no surprise that winter doesn’t do our locks any favours! The cold weather encourages dryness, fizziness, breakage and leaves our hair lacking any sort of volume whatsoever. 

Along with winter comes the cold air and harsh elements – it’s our hair’s worst nightmare!

So, you might be wondering, “what can I do?!”

For all our girls enduring these cold-weather climates... don’t stress, we’ve got you covered! 

We’ve compiled our favourite tips and tricks to protect your strands this winter and keep them looking beautiful all year round!

The fewer washes, the better

While this tip might seem totally counterintuitive... over-washing your hair may actually be stripping the vital natural oils that help protect your hair and maintain its moisture. 

Extending the time between washes will allow your scalp’s natural oils to replenish those dry strands.

If you’re someone who likes washing their hair every day, we recommend switching it up to every other day, then down to every two days. And, with a little help from some dry shampoo, the time between washes doesn’t have to leave your hair feeling too greasy! 

An extra tip... if you find that after a few days your roots aren’t looking too oily, try skipping the shampoo completely and wash your hair with extra conditioner.

Keep it cool

We admit, there is nothing better than enjoying an extra warm shower on a chilly day. 

But, we hate to say it, this guilty pleasure might just be hurting your hair more than you think!

Using hot water on your hair regularly can strip your scalp of its natural oils, leaving your hair feeling brittle, dry, and overly porous. 

We recommend switching to either warm or lukewarm water... or if you’re feeling extra brave, adjust the heat to cool before finishing up your shower. This will help seal the hair follicles, locking in that much needed moisture! 

Turn down the heat

While the cold air does not do us any favours... neither does excessive heat! 

We always recommend using a heat protectant product to protect those strands from the heat damage that hot tools can cause. 

Or even better yet, tuck your styling tools away for the winter months. Opt to let your hair air dry instead and challenge yourself to try more heatless hairstyles!

This winter, let’s get creative with some stylish twists, buns, braids, and ponytail options.

Baby, it’s cold outside

Now that you’ve put away the blow dryer... let’s be extra careful to stay indoors while our hair is air drying! 

When hair is cold, the hair shaft expands - causing breakage and quicker colour fading. With damp hair, the cuticles are open, leading to the cold air literally freezing your strands like icicles... YIKES. 

Our tip... if you normally wash your hair in the morning, switch to a nighttime hair care routine during the winter months. This way, you’ll avoid the temptation to blow-dry those stands in a rush! 

Although, if you absolutely must leave with wet hair, always be sure to protect your mane from the harsh elements with a hat or scarf. 

Oil is your best friend!

During the winter, both the combination of indoor heating and cold air can seriously dry out our hair and scalp. 

Applying a few drops of your favourite nourishing oil to the end of your strands each day can help to replenish its moisture, leaving your hair shiny and soft. 

If you experience a dry or flaky scalp during the winter, we’d recommend a heavier oil treatment – try working the oil from root to tip, letting it sit for 30 minutes (or longer), and then continue with the rest of your hair care routine.

Deep conditioning is a MUST!

This winter, let’s put our best hair forward! One of the best ways to do that... deep conditioning treatments. It’s like your regular conditioner but on overdrive. 

Once a week, try setting aside time for some much needed self-care. Pour yourself a glass of wine, press play on your Netflix, and lather your hair in your favourite high-quality nourishing hair mask. 

Apply a small amount of product to dry or damp hair, focusing on the ends rather than the roots. And, for best results, leave it in overnight and rinse it out the next day.

We suggest opting for a more oil-based and higher concentrated product during the winter months. Doing this once a week will help replenish your strands by sealing the moisture within the hair follicle.

Accessorize to your advantage!

The best way to protect your hair from extreme weather conditions is with a thick hat or wrapped up in a scarf! 

Keep in mind, materials like wool, acrylic, or other harsh fabrics can cause static. So, we recommend purchasing anything primarily made from fleece or cotton. 

A little secret of ours... try wrapping a silk scarf around your hair and underneath a hat for that added protection. 

Switch to the dark side

There is something a little more to the whole trend of going dark for fall and winter... 

Bleach is notorious for stripping our hair’s moisture and causing breakage. 

And, since the cold air is already harsh enough, it might be worth cutting down on the number of times that your hair requires bleach throughout the winter months. 

You’ll be very ON trend, all the while keeping those gorgeous locks healthy and thriving.

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With cold weather comes the need for that extra TLC to keep our manes looking silky smooth throughout the year! 

Which one of these tips will you incorporate into your winter hair care routine?