If he’s not busy nipping at your toes, Old Man Winter can usually be found whipping up some chaos among your precious locks. There’s no avoiding the environmental stresses of winter, but you CAN give your hair the best chance it has of surviving the colder, harsher months.
Now, before you go, “Whoa! Don’t bring up the W word,” bare with us for a second.
We know winter might not be on our doorstep just yet (at least for us here in Southern Ontario), but if you start incorporating these tips and tricks into your hair care routine now, your hair will be at peak Amazonian Warrior Princess strength for when it needs it most.
Now, onto the goods…
- Don’t leave out the Leave-In!
Leave-In Conditioner is your first line of defence when you step outside that door into the Winter Wonderland. A well-formulated Leave-In Conditioner will work like a parka for your vulnerable strands. It will protect your hair against the cold winds and prevent fly-aways that happen, thanks to dry indoor and an increase of static. - Avoid the urge… the urge to heat surge!
If you can give your hair a break from heat styling, DO IT! This is the number one thing that keeps my curly, dry-prone hair healthy, no matter what colour I dye it (More about hair dye in the next tip)! In fact, the only time I heat style my hair is to occasionally straighten my bangs (or just getting them under control – they like to curl up too and it never looks right- LOL). I opt for giving into my hair’s natural preference for being a curly hippie-esque mane. I do that by letting it air dry and adding just the right amount (and right type) of natural styling products.
- Dying to dye? Stain instead!
Lifting agents in conventional hair dyes are one of the fastest ways to strip and damage your hair. Combine that with the dry air of winter and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a frizzy, fried frenzy. Ditch the dyes this winter and give your hair a chance to relax and repair.“BUT I’ve got greys that I’m not down with if you catch my drift.”No worries- I’ve got you, girl!Opt for a hair stain if you’re in need of a colour boost this season. Unlike hair dyes that cause damage when they enter the hair shaft and deposit colour, a hair stain will coat your hair in colour, often protecting it and treating it with enriched ingredients. Hair stains are semi-permanent, which also makes them a great solution for Radiant Rebels who love to change up their colour on the regular.
- Don’t be afraid to fire your shampoo!
Conventional shampoos are notorious for containing ingredients that strip your hair, and there’s a BIG difference between clean hair and raw hair. Ingredients like SLS, SLES, PEG and alcohols are commonly found in shampoos and are known for their stripping abilities (and other unhealthy properties). They’ll leave your hair unprotected and feeling weak (hello breakage). Green shampoos won’t contain detergent based ingredients like those mentioned above. Instead, they use ingredients like organic castor oil to “wash” your hair without leaving a film, while letting your hairs’ natural oils do what they’re meant to do. - Give your styling products a round in the interrogation room too!
Just like your shampoo, styling products can be damaging due to questionable ingredients. Hair sprays, gels, mousses, and pomades can also contain ingredients like dimethicone and silicone, both of which create an unhealthy barrier on the hair that won’t allow for nourishing ingredients to get at the hair shaft where it needs to be. Alcohol is also commonly found in hairsprays and can dry out your hair in a snap. Natural styling products will also coat your hair, but the difference is that this barrier can be washed away with ease, allowing your hair to breathe and soak in the ingredients it’s hungry for. They’ll still protect your hair from the elements, but without clogging your hair and follicles.
Do you have any winter hair care tips? We’d love to hear them! Be sure to share them with us over on our Facebook Fan Page.
With love & radiance,
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