You want your hair to look and feel its best year-round. But the elements – both heat and cold – can all take a toll on your lovely locks. Factor in heat damage from blow dryers, curling irons and other styling tools, and it’s a recipe for a dull, dry and beyond brittle mane.
Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take to combat the cold, beat the heat and attain healthy, shiny hair that’s sure to turn heads:
Best hair care tips for damage prevention
Get regular haircuts. Frequent trims are the best way to eliminate dry, split ends and maintain hair health during winter and throughout the year.
Limit hair washing. It’s not necessary to cleanse your locks daily, especially during the winter. In fact, you should aim to wash your mane no more than three times a week. This will reduce the amount of time spent heat styling and help prevent your tresses from becoming dehydrated in cold weather.
Skip scalding showers. Although you may be tempted to turn up the heat when it’s cold outside, hot showers can harm your skin and scalp. To avoid sapping your scalp of essential moisture, stick to lukewarm baths and showers and limit them to 10 minutes.
Choose chemical-free shampoo. When it comes to caring for your hair and scalp, the fewer chemicals the better. So, try to select a shampoo, such as Alba Botanica® Drink It Up Coconut Milk Hawaiian Shampoo, which is free of parabens, sulphates and other elements that can strip your tresses of beneficial oils.
Condition with care. Also look for a moisturizing conditioner that doesn’t contain a long list of harsh chemicals. We recommend Desert Essence Coconut Conditioner, which fights frizz and nourishes dry hair with organic shea butter and sunflower oil.
Apply a hair mask. Once a week, use a hydrating hair mask to help restore any natural oils that have been stripped from your hair during winter. Andalou Naturals 1000 Roses Complex Deep Conditioning Hair Mask contains PhytoCellTec™ alpine rose stem cells, which “uplift resilience as rosehip and pomegranate oils condition to help smooth and shield strands from fading, split ends and frizz.”
Choose proper tools. To reduce damage during styling, choose tools made of ceramic, tourmaline or titanium. Ceramic is best for fine and delicate hair, titanium is recommended for thick, coarse hair and tourmaline is suitable for all hair types.
Use a thermal protectant. Always coat your locks with a heat protectant cream, spray or serum prior to heat styling. Consider using Alterna Bamboo Smooth Anti-Breakage Thermal Protectant Spray, which “is clinically proven to reduce breakage by 87%, instantly repairing and strengthening hair while providing maximum anti-breakage protection from chemical treatments and heat styling tools.”
Select the right setting. When styling, be sure to choose the correct temperature for your hair type. Fine hair, for instance, should be curled or straightened at a lower heat setting than thick hair, which may require (and can better withstand) higher temperatures. Please note that it is better to heat your hair for a few additional seconds than to raise the temperature of your tool, and temperatures should never exceed 400°F.
Apply hair oil. Oils such as Argan oil and coconut oil can provide much-needed moisture during cold spells. Ask your stylist which type of conditioning oil is best for your hair type.
Skip the ponytail. Sadly, this simple yet wildly popular hairstyle can cause additional breakage—especially when your locks are already parched from winter weather.
Wear a hat. Donning a hat is a wonderful way to help protect your hair from the elements.