Winter dry hair is a real problem for most of us. OK, not making jokes but some of us are suffering from severe natural hair dryness and sick of trying to figure out why. I cannot tell you how often naturals complain to me about how dry their hair is and that includes my sister. If this sounds like you, then know you are far from alone.
5 TIPS FOR ROCKING WASH & GO NATURAL HAIR THIS WINTER
Natural hair or naturally curly, coily or kinky hair tends to run drier than other textures because the sebum from the scalp has a harder time getting to the middle and bottom of our hairs. That means we have to boost our moisture to keep hair pliable, hydrated and healthy. If you feel you are doing what you can but STILL suffer from dryness, then you are probably suffering from one of these reasons listed below.
Winter dry hair is from inside AND outside elements
This is just common sense. As seasons change so does the moisture levels and when it is cold outside like during winter, many suffer from cold and dryness. Couple that with our heaters being cranked up and soaking up all the moisture in the house, we are seeing our hair suffer as a result. We are also wearing heavier clothing including wool and that also whisks away moisture from our strands. Here are some solutions to winter weather dryness:
Drink more water so you are hydrating your hair from the inside out.
Get a hair steamer to increase the moisture the dry weather is stealing from your strands.
Keep your hair off your clothing and when wearing hats make sure it has a satin lining or wear a satin bonnet or scarf underneath.
These tips will change your hair game drastically as you hydrate your strands and keep them from all that dryness which can cause damaged, brittle strands.
Deep conditioning (DC) regularly prevents winter dry hair
My sister was suffering from this. While we can certainly get away with not deep conditioning on every single wash day during warmer months, don’t even think about doing it during the colder one. We should be doing it every single, solitary, wash day as deep conditionings temporarily bring back moisture, pliability and strength to your strands.
10 CHEAP & POPULAR DEEP CONDITIONERS YOU NEED
DCs counter the harshness of washing hair and all the manipulations we put our hair under during regular styling, not to mention hair coloring and heat styling. DCs penetrate the hair shaft to imparts those much needed ingredients into the hair and to strengthen and moisturize our delicate strands. So make sure every wash day you have one on hand and use it to combat winter dry hair.
Deep conditioning long enough or with heat
Slapping a DC in your hair for five minutes is just not going to cut it Naturals. Sorry, but it won’t. DCs should be thoroughly applied and left in the hair for at least 15 minutes but 30 or 45 minutes is even better. No one says you have to wear it overnight (and that longer time really won’t make it penetrate any better) but leaving it in for 2 or 3 minutes is not enough time for it to fully penetrate the hair shaft and nourish the hair’s cuticle.
BENEFITS OF A STEAMER FOR MOISTURIZED WINTER HAIR
Applying some heat really does help with the penetration so a plastic cap, a hooded dryer or a thermal heat cap are great ways to get maximum benefit from your DC and you will quickly notice the dryness melting away.
Not using products that cater to color-treated or heat-styled hair
There are real reasons why using products for color-treated or heat-styled hair than keeping your color or keeping heat-styled hair from reverting. Those particular products usually have ingredients our hair needs since we are compromising the hair with chemicals and/or heat. color-treated products will have extra moisturizers or proteins to help strengthen and/or moisturize your strands. Heat-treated products like heat-protectant help to protect your hair from the high temperatures. If you are not using them then your dryness may be a result of not getting all the moisturizers and protection needed and this only gets worse during the colder months.
Not protecting your hair at night (or ever)
Protecting your hair and protective styling are not the same thing so even if you rock a protective style, that does not mean you are fully protecting your hair. Protecting your hair means protecting it from drying or damaging things like cotton pillowcases which whisk away your hair’s moisture. You can fix this by sleeping on a satin pillowcase or sleeping in a satin bonnet or scarf. Winter weather will only make a bad situation worse so to stop or prevent winter dry hair, make sure to protect your hair when sleeping as cotton pillowcase rob your hair of it’s much needed moisture.
Neglecting your hair under hair extensions/wigs/braids
As I stated above…protective styling is not enough to protect your hair. Hair under wigs, weaves or braids still need to be moisturized, cleansed and conditioned. When your hair isn’t properly cared for it can become dry, damaged, matted and tangled and a nightmare to deal with when extensions are finally taken out.
5 TIPS ON CARING FOR YOUR NATURAL HAIR WHILE WEARING WIGS
All that neglect can turn to dry, damaged strands and will take some serious TLC to get strands back to a healthier state. By pass the drama and keep hair clean, moisturized and conditioned so when you take out your extensions, your hair only needs a break!
What do you do to keep hair from becoming too dry during winter months?
Sabrina
I sometimes uses natural oils aside from hair conditioner.
Informative and helpful post! Thanks for sharing this wonderful post.
What a great post! I really like the tips you shared. I love your advice and such a helpful post. Thanks for sharing.