Solve Winter Hair Woes

Dry, lack-luster locks, breakage, static and itchy scalps are just a few troubles of the season. Here, some healthy habits and tips to keep your tresses looking their best.

Go gently. Hair tends to be drier and more brittle this time of year, and thus more prone to damage. Take it easy with the hairbrush and styling tools, and use caution with hairpieces and extensions since they can pull on your hair and scalp. If you have long hair, pulling it back too tightly and for too long can cause damage and hair loss. Generally, the less you do to your hair, the better off it will be.

Still think you need to 100 strokes a day to keep your hair healthy? It’s a myth, experts say, and will cause more stress and static.

Wear a hat. A hat or headscarf will shield your locks and scalp where earmuffs and headbands leave you vulnerable to the ravages of the wind, cold and sun.

Worried about the dreaded “hat head”? Push or pin your hair back before you don the cap — but in the opposite direction to your style. If you’re worried about damaging or pulling on your hair, sew in a silk or satin liner.

Get a trim. A trip to your stylist every 4-6 weeks will help to prevent split ends and breakage. Left untended, split ends can travel up the hair shaft and do even more damage.

Refresh your colour. The faded pigments of treatments gone by and light summer hues may make your skin look washed out in winter. If you love your highlights, try including a darker “low light” to keep your hair from having that bleached-out summer look.

If you’re worried about “frying” your hair, take heart: a complete colour job isn’t necessary. Try a glaze or rinse to brighten your hair instead.

Choose the right conditioners. Think your hair needs a good deep conditioning treatment? It depends on your hair type. Experts recommend a spritz of a conditioning spray for fine hair because it won’t weigh down it. If you have thick, heavy hair a deep conditioning mask is most appropriate. Either way, give your hair a little extra conditioning once a week to keep it in top shape.

Winter is also a good time of year to try a leave-in conditioner (if suitable for your hair type) to help provide some weight and control.

Swap products. Just like skin, hair is different in the winter, so why use the same products as in the summer? For example, beauty experts suggest a styling cream instead of gel to add moisture and elasticity so your hair is less likely to break. Still using a plastic or silicon brush? Try a natural boar bristle one or a wooden comb instead to distribute oils and prevent static.

What should you avoid? Anything with harsh chemicals or alcohol — they’ll dry the hair out.