Things You Should Be Doing to Protect Your Hair This Winter

You may associate summer’s dry heat with hair damage, however, winter is just as bad, if not worse, for your tresses, thanks to dropping temperatures and the simultaneous blasting of indoor heaters. While you may be well informed on how to take care of your summer locks, taking care of your winter strands is uncharted territory for some. To figure out the best way to protect hair in cold weather, Honey Artists hairstylist Corey Tuttle and Scott Waldman, senior stylist at Roman K Salon, shared their expert advice on how to save your tresses from what seems to be a colder-than-usual winter.

If you’ve been dealing with uncharacteristically frizzy strands, you’re are not alone. “Cold, dry air can cause the cuticle layer of the hair to lift, and going into a warm environment then takes the moisture out of the hair, leaving it dry and frizzy, says Tuttle. So how exactly do you remedy these less-than- ideal hair conditions? Waldman says it is of the utmost importance to “factor in the environmental changes” and “treat your hair and scalp appropriately.” Keep reading for Tuttle and Waldman’s six essential tips for protecting your strands this winter.

1. Invest in a Good Shampoo and Conditioner

Tuttle recommends using a "clarifying shampoo once or twice a month, with a moisturizing or hydrating shampoo the rest of the time." While Tuttle recommends Redken shampoos for fine to wavy hair, Moroccanoil's repair shampoo is another great option for those with thick natural tresses.

2. Wash Hair Less Often

One perk of cooler winter temps is that your hair tends to be less greasy, which means you can wash it less often. In fact, over washing your hair can lead to dryness. When it comes to washing your hair, Tuttle says the sweet spot is "two or three times a week as necessary." Living Proof Dry Shampoo removes oil and odor without weighing your hair down.

3. Use a Moisturizing Mask

If you are working with some majorly dry or damaged strands, Tuttle says to "use a deep moisturizing mask at least once a week to replenish your hair." While Tuttle suggests Pureology's moisturizing mask for all hair types, Ouidad's Curl Recovery Mask ($44) and Leonor Greyl's Masque L'Orchidéeare ($67) are life- savers for those with thick and or natural strands. If you have thin tresses, however, give Davines Minu Hair Mask ($36) a try, as it moisturizes fine strands without weighing them down.

If you find yourself in a pinch, apply coconut oil to your tresses just before bed for an overnight deep conditioning treatment.

4. Combat Dandruff

Both Walden and Tuttle agree that a dandruff shampoo is necessary for resolving dry scalp issues associated with colder weather. "An easy and affordable solution to this problem is to hit up your local drugstore and get yourself some Head and Shoulders," says Waldman. However he cautions us to use "this zinc- based economical product minimally (once a week at the most) until your problems go away," as "this product is not color-safe."

5. Tame Flyaways

When hydrating shampoos and masks don't cut it, Waldman recommends smoothing flyaways with lightweight sheets that "immediately get rid of all your unwanted static hair" while also "adding shine." In a rush? Waldman says a dryer sheet is a DIY alternative to tame unwanted flyaways.

6. Salon Treatments

If you want instant results, Waldman suggests in-salon treatments. While he typically recommends dual moisture and shine treatments, if you have extreme dryness, he says to ask for a Kerastase Chronologiste treatment, "a three- step in-salon treatment that really infiltrates the hair from the inside out, creating a very plush new texture." If you don't have the time or money for an in-salon treatment, this luxe Kerastase hair mask can give you similar results.

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