Should your hair care in winter be different from the one you provide to your strands during the rest of the year? It is certainly a time when your hairstyle needs special care – especially when it comes to moisturizing and protecting it. It is essential to reach for cosmetics that protect your
strands from the cold and changeable weather and strengthen their structure, as well as to develop habits that will allow you to take care of their healthy and beautiful appearance. Find out how to take care of your hair in winter!
Why is it necessary to take special care of hair in winter?
Winter is a difficult time for hair. What can harm them during this period? First of all, temperature differences (cold outside and heated rooms), severe frosts, inclement weather, humidity in the air, constant wearing and taking off of hats, scarves, thick sweaters, as well as smog and airborne pollutants. All these factors make the structure of the strands vulnerable to mechanical damage, cracking and dryness.
The consequences of this are easy to predict – the hair begins to frizz, electrify, becomes rough, stiff and dull, tends to become excessively oily and stick together in pods. Restoring their beautiful appearance in the spring can be quite a challenge. That’s why it’s so important to keep them safe and in good condition in winter as well. Despite appearances, your hairstyle can be beautiful even then! So how to care for hair in winter?
How do low temperatures affect hair?
The most important rule of thumb on how to take care of hair in winter is to make sure it is protected from the elements – cold, wind, snow. Low temperatures harm strands just as much as high temperatures. First of all, they have a very negative effect on hair follicles. When the scalp freezes, the blood vessels shrink, and as a result, far fewer nutrients reach the hair follicles. This causes the hair follicles to become damaged and even permanently destroyed, resulting in excessive hair loss, which does not happen immediately – it can start even a few weeks or months later in the spring.
Second, cold temperatures can cause permanent damage to the structure of strands. Human hair consists of as much as 10% water – if it starts to freeze or evaporate excessively, its structure will be damaged, cracks will appear in it, it will become brittle, brittle, rough and dull, and its ends will split. This is damage that is very difficult to repair.
How to protect hair from the cold?
In winter, therefore, the basis is to effectively protect the hair and scalp from the cold. This means, first of all, consciously choosing cosmetics, both care and protective. Bet on preparations that contain emollients – substances that form an occlusive layer on the surface of the strands, which is a protective film that protects them from the negative impact of external factors, temperature changes, loss of moisture, penetration of harmful chemicals (including smog and exhaust fumes), and also close the hair scales.
Many people also forget that cold weather and snow do not mean that hair is not exposed to UV rays. Meanwhile, they can be extremely dangerous in winter! Fresh snow reflects as much as 80% of the sun’s rays, which means they affect strands with almost twice the force. UVA and UVB radiation causes permanent damage to the hair structure, oxidation of melanin and is the reason for photoaging of the skin. That is why it is so important to use cosmetics that contain a UV filter or natural substances that perform this function, such as Shea butter, vitamins E and C.
What cosmetics will work well in winter? It is worth reaching for:
- emollient conditioners and masks, such as Bioélixire’s hyaluronic acid mask;
- silicone oils with a UV filter, which should be applied at the end of care – such as Bioélixire’s
- black seed serum;
- organic oils for hair oiling, such as Bioélixire olive oil.
Although silicone oils and conditioners and masks for hair in winter work very effectively, in severe cold and very harsh weather conditions they are not enough. Then the indispensable protection for the strands is a hat, underestimated by many people.
Is wearing a hat good for your hair?
Definitely yes! Although it is very common to encounter the myth that wearing a hat damages the hair, in fact, not wearing one has much worse consequences. A well-chosen headgear is the easiest way to protect your hair and, most importantly, your scalp from the cold and the negative
effects of the changing weather. However, it is worth remembering that the hat should be:
- loose, even too big – it must adhere to the ears, but must not put pressure on the scalp or hair;
- breathable – so as not to cause sweating;
- made of soft, natural materials – which provide good air circulation and are safe for the scalp.
To avoid electrifying hair, it is a good idea to wash the cap in an anti-static rinse before wearing it. It is very important to remember that after entering a warm room, the headgear should be removed immediately – overheating is also very bad for the scalp, can result in oily hair and even
the appearance of dandruff.
Why does hair get electrified in winter?
Electrifying hair in winter is one of the most troublesome problems during this period. What is the reason for this phenomenon and why does it intensify at this time of year? It is due to the laws of physics. There are electric charges on the surface of strands: positive and negative. If for some reason the balance between them is disturbed and positive ions begin to predominate, they will repel each other, causing the hair to lift.
In winter, this phenomenon is particularly common. Positive charges settle on the hair along with dust particles, which float in the air much more intensely when heating is running and air circulation is occurring. They are also created by friction when taking off clothes and headgear
made of rough fabrics or wool, and they also “pass” onto the hair from objects made of artificial materials. Dry hair with damaged texture is particularly prone to their accumulation – normal or oily strands electrify much less often.
How to deal with electrifying hair in winter? First of all:
- make sure they are intensely moisturized, using conditioners and humectant masks – such as the mask from the „Essence of Nature” series by Bioélixire;
- wash hair in lukewarm water and rinse with a cool stream at the end to close the hair scales;
- apply silicone serums and anti-static cosmetics, such as silicone oil Silk + Vitamin A by Bioélixire, to washed hair;
- use a hair dryer with an ionization function (an ionizer produces negative ions);
- use a hair brush made of natural materials (e.g., boar bristles);
- wash all clothes in anti-static softeners.
Dry hair in winter – why does hair dry out in winter and how to prevent it?
If hair scales are too open (e.g., highly porous, damaged after chemical treatments, improperly cared for), high temperatures in heated rooms, dry air and cold weather outside cause excessive evaporation of water from the hair. These factors also contribute to the dryness of the scalp,
which can lead to a disruption in the secretion of sebum, a natural substance that controls the level of moisture in the hair. The result is dry, stiff, rough and dull strands prone to breakage and brittleness.
The way to deal with this problem is to take proper care in harmony with the hair’s natural PEH balance. Reach for protein, humectant and emollient conditioners and masks regularly (such as those from Bioélixire’s „Essence of Nature” series), include regular oiling of strands in your hair care routine and try washing your head using the OMO method (conditioner – wash – conditioner). Also choose mild shampoos free of aggressive detergents (e.g. SLS).
From one extreme to another – oily hair in winter
The effect of dryness of the scalp can paradoxically also result in oily hair. Right next to the hair follicles are sebaceous glands that produce sebum – its function is to moisturize and protect the scalp and strands. If the skin becomes too dry, the body’s defensive reaction is increased sebum production. If this is compounded by the additional factor of overheating the head (this happens if you don’t take off your hat in heated rooms), the glands begin to work even more intensively, resulting in oily hair and deterioration of the scalp, and even dandruff.
You can deal with this problem by making sure your scalp is properly moisturized and in good condition. You can reach for hair rubs, carry out regular oiling of the scalp, use scrubs and give it a massage to improve its blood circulation and nourishment.
To dry or not to dry?
Drying your hair usually causes more or less damage to its structure – but leaving strands to dry naturally when you plan to leave the house soon is impractical, takes a lot of time and can do more harm than good if they don’t have time to dry completely. That’s why it’s a good idea to set
yourself up to use your hair dryer regularly in the winter, but keep in mind the basics of drying your hair:
- always apply heat-protective cosmetics (such as conditioner or silicone serum) to your hair before blow-drying;
- use a cool breeze, which will not dry and damage strands;
- use a modern hair dryer with a ceramic heater and ionization function – drying will close the hair scales, increasing the hair’s resistance to damage and preventing static;
- try to shorten the whole process to a minimum – for example, by choosing a high-powered device.
In winter, take care not only of your hair, but of your whole body!
Proper care and the use of effective protective cosmetics are the basis for taking care of hair in winter. However, do not forget that the condition of the hair is also a reflection of the condition of the entire body. Winter is a time when the diet becomes poorer, we reach less often for fresh fruits and vegetables and more often for highly processed foods. This can result in vitamin and mineral deficiencies, the symptom of which is the deterioration of hair condition. Therefore, it is worth enriching the menu with products rich in vitamins: A, C, D, E, F and K and the B group, as well as minerals: iron, zinc, magnesium, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, copper, sulfur and antioxidants. A balanced diet and high-quality hair cosmetics will help you take care of a beautiful hairstyle even in winter!