Cold Weather & Your Hair
Protect Your Hair
Our hair takes a seasonal beating; winter weather can cause dry and frizzy locks. Flyaway hair, split ends and static from the lack of humidity is what comes our way. Hair needs a thick moisturizer to coat each strand and protect it from blow drying and the outside air. Let's look at a couple things that can help.
Coconut Oil This is a miracle product that many people might not think to use on hair.
It smells great, it is loaded with vitamin E, helps control dandruff, contains lauric acid (an antimicrobial that can slow hair loss), and coats the hair shaft with proteins to build strength, repair damage, and improve shine.
Coconut oil becomes a liquid at 76 degrees. Just melt a couple tablespoons in the microwave for a couple of seconds (don’t overheat!), or use warm water to melt it down, then massage into your hair and scalp. Let it sit a few minutes, then rinse thoroughly. You can also use solidified coconut oil to tame frizz and add shine.
You can also rub your fingers on the coconut oil (just a little) and massage it into your dry hair and scalp. If your hair is thin, you might find coconut oil weighs it down, so use less and smear it on the hair but not the scalp.
Apple Cider Vinegar and Baking Soda Shampooing in general tends to strip hair of natural oils, and that’s why many people choose natural shampoos. Some use baking soda and apple cider vinegar exclusively to wash their hair. If you search online for “baking soda hair” or “baking soda shampoo,” you’ll find countless stories of people who say their hair is fuller, healthier, and stronger using these two natural ingredients. Use apple cider vinegar several times a week for dandruff. It works far better than any expensive shampoo.
Baking soda can be used as a wash by mixing one tablespoon in one cup of water. Place it on hair and let it sit a couple of minutes. Rinse with vinegar by mixing one tablespoon with one cup of water as well.
Once you first start using this regularly, your hair might actually react by producing more oil – but this is normal. Your hair is used to having all the oils stripped out by shampoo and then replaced with conditioner, so it might take several days, or even a few weeks, until it adjusts. Then it will balance out – and look amazing and much healthier.
Stay Hydrated
Keep drinking water when the temperature drops and try to develop a routine at work where you sip throughout the day. Aim for a full eight glasses by the time you go home. Once you adapt to this, try to extend the routine to the weekends.
No Hot Water
When the weather gets cold, it’s tempting to turn up the hot-water heater to make those showers extra toasty. Hot water actually dehydrates your skin and hair, especially in drier air. Soaking yourself in a hot shower is like cooking the moisture out of your hair, stripping it of natural protective. So keep it warm, not hot.