Now that the start of fall has officially begun, it’s time to start preparing for colder weather. Unpacking your winter sweaters, buying new tights, dusting off your favorite cold weather boots, and determining if there are any gaps in your scarf collection. One thing you might not be preparing for, but definitely should be is hair care.
As we enter the cold-weather season, taking care of your luscious locks is incredibly important. Cold weather brings with it dry air, and just as you moisturize your skin to avoid winter dryness, so too must you care for your hair. You may be wondering why your hair needs more attention in the winter, especially since you don't have to worry about heat or humidity anymore, but cold weather dryness can cause your hair to become dry and dull.
So how do you care for your hair as we prepare for the approaching cooler weather? Easy! Simply follow these Best Beauty Finds tips, and your hair will stay silky all season long.
Moisturize, moisturize, and moisturize some more
Some of my favorite things about the fall season are running around outside in the brisk autumn air, going apple picking with friends, taking my favorite fur-buddy for a walk in the park, and picking out pumpkins to decorate my porch. My least favorite thing about Fall? How dry my skin can get on a blustery, cool day. Dry skin is a whole-body issue, that includes your scalp.
A dry scalp can make for an unmanageable mane. How best to make sure your hair stays moisturized? Start at the beginning of your hair care routine: shampoo. Make sure that your shampoo is hydrating and moisturizing. You’ll want a shampoo that includes certain moisturizing ingredients, such as Glycerin, Shea Butter, Panthenol (also known as Vitamin B5), or Jojoba Extract.
Why these particular ingredients? Glycerin is known for binding water together to help moisturize skin, including your scalp. Shea Butter contains Vitamin A and can physically hold in moisture. Vitamin B5 is particularly beneficial for hair as it is capable of penetrating individual hair strands to improve moisture retention. Finally, the Jojoba Extract is molecularly similar to the natural oil produced by the scalp called sebum. No, I did not just misspell serum. Sebum is the oily substance secreted by the sebaceous glands under your scalp, which helps keep your skin and hair moisturized.
Now that you’ve had your daily dose of beauty-related science, let’s list some products that contain these moisturizing ingredients. Fuel Hair is selling Pure Hydrating & Purifying Shampoo for an amazingly low $11.99. This shampoo contains active ingredients, including Glycerin, that gently removes impurities from all hair types while replenishing it with essential vitamins and nutrients. By having moisturizing ingredients, this shampoo can help restore your hair’s elasticity, strength, body, and shine.
If you are like me and don’t take the time to wait for your hair to dry naturally, having a hydrating shampoo is essential for your hair’s protection while using a blow dryer. Blowpro’s Hydra Quench Daily Hydrating Shampoo is perfect for parched hair. The shampoo includes an active ingredient called Phytokeratin, which helps to prevent hair breakage, giving you smoother blow-dry results.
Finally, another way to help protect your hair from heat is to extend your hairdo for another day or two with dry shampoo. Using dry shampoo can help clean up excess oil and give you another perky ‘do for days two and three without having to re-wash your hair. Why not get a dry shampoo that’s hip to the moisturizing game? Kashmira Professional’s Baobab Oil & Biotin Dry Shampoo is a must-have for cold and dry weather. This dry shampoo has baobab oil and biotin, leaving your hair free of oil buildup but still moisturized.
Conditions for your conditioner
You know how they say summer bodies are built in winter? Well, the same is true for hair. If you don’t take care of those strands during cooler weather, you may be needing a shorter haircut in the spring — which, A-Line bobs are one of my favorite haircuts, and I am always tempted to shed a couple of inches come spring. However, if you want to keep your hair on the longer side, you need to strengthen those strands.
Strength training your hair in the winter doesn’t have to be a complete drag. Hair masks are wonder-products meant to strengthen your hair in a single dose. In addition to hydrating your hair from root to tip, masks can help cleanse hair and rejuvenate lifeless strands. During the winter, I like to use a hair mask every other week, ensuring my hair is silky smooth for holiday outings.
Sky Organics has a hair mask made with mud from the Dead Sea, the Organic Purifying Dead Sea Mud Mask. I know what you must be thinking: mud?! In my hair?! I thought I washed my hair to keep dirt off of my scalp! But this mud from the Dead Sea is special mud, made up of Jojoba Oil, Aloe Vera, and Shea Butter, meant to hydrate and soften the scalp as it cleanses. The cool thing about this mask? You can use it everywhere, it’s perfectly safe for every body part, from your hair to your toes. It’s like taking a mud bath but for the mere price of $12.99.
If you like the idea of a hair mask but aren’t sure about the mud part, try Best Beauty Finds’ 3-Piece Power Hydration Kit. This Hydration Kit includes an Amino Masque, Leave-In Conditioner, and Infinite Edge Serum. You can give your hair a mask treatment that is infused with amino acids, sea salt, and essential oils. If you don’t have time for a mask treatment, use the Revitalizing Leave-in Conditioner, a spray that moisturizers your hair post-shower. The Infinite Edges Serum helps to protect your hair and prevent breakage around your hairline. My secret trick with serum: I put a pea-sized drop on my palm and work it through my hair after I’ve blown my hair dry. This protects my locks as I use other heating tools, like curling irons.
Serum is especially important in dry weather. It helps reduce frizziness and gives your hair a bit of shine. If you want a serum that is both nourishing for your hair and is sulfate- and silicone-free, look no further than the Brazilian Tech Silicone-Free Awapuhi Hydrating Styling Serum. This serum is safe for all hair types, including color-treated hair, which is great for fake-blondes such as myself.
Self-Care for hair
As you treat yourself to another salted caramel mocha, remember to treat your hair, too. Bundle it up under a hat on particularly windy days. Give yourself a head massage and remember to really work your scalp. Use a serum, hair masks, and give your hair a break from heated tools occasionally. Most importantly, moisturize your hair. Enjoy the cooler days ahead. I personally cannot wait for sweater weather.