5 Things You Should Be Doing to Protect Your Hair this Winter

If you've ever thought about revamping your hair care routine, now is the time. The winter can quickly turn your hair from lustrous and manageable to dry and problematic. And in the worst cases, you could even end up with breakage and stunted hair growth. No one wants that - luckily, there are some measures you can take to avoid the worst, and that's where we can help! In this article, we'll share 5 things you should be doing to protect your hair this winter.

1. Get Yourself a Good Deep Conditioner

Deep conditioners are hydration powerhouses that give hair the hydration it needs to face even the worst winter. If you have type 3 (curly) or type 4 (coily/kinky) hair, go for a moderate to heavy cream-based deep conditioner packed with botanicals and oils that lists water as one of the first ingredients. For people with type 1(straight) or type 2 (wavy) hair, a lightweight deep conditioner will do the trick without weighing your strands down. Apply deep conditioner as often as you see fit. Some get away with using deep conditioner once every 2 to 4 weeks, but if your hair is already damaged or dry, increase that to every week.

2. Switch Out Your Harsh Shampoo

No one ever got gorgeous hair by stripping it of moisture, especially in the winter. Give your hair the best chance of thriving in these cold months by removing harsh shampoos and replacing them with gentle, sulfate-free options. Every time you wash your hair with a moisture-stripping shampoo, you leave it vulnerable to the weather and the problems that come along with it

3. Use a Leave-in Conditioner

Leave-in conditioners are an invaluable part of any hair care regimen, no matter the season. But in the wintertime, it's crucial to break out your favorite leave-in to keep the frizzies, dryness, and breakage at bay.

Ensure that you've got a quality leave-in - one that is water-based and has protective ingredients, like silicones. Silicones coat your hair with an invisible film to protect it from freezing temperatures, dry indoor air, and more. To get the most out of your leave-in, focus most of it on your ends and apply it as often as you feel your hair needs it.

4. Wear a Satin-Lined Cap

If you haven't heard of a satin-lined cap before, you're welcome in advance. A satin-lined cap is a seemingly normal-looking hat with satin on the inside of it. The hat's purpose is to protect your hair from external elements by preserving its moisture. And as a plus, it'll prevent frizziness no matter what the winter weather may bring.

5. Wear Your Hair in Protective Styles

Protective styles are essential for anyone who wants to keep their hair looking and feeling good throughout the winter months. These styles, as you probably expect, are meant to protect your fragile strands from daily damage. This is how they protect your hair:

• They don't require daily styling, which limits the amount of hair you lose to styling manipulation.

• They tuck your ends away to prevent them from rubbing up against things and becoming damaged.

• They group your strands together so they are less likely to break throughout each day - when it comes to hair strands, there's power in numbers.

Some of the most common protective styles include high ponies, buns, updos, braids, cornrows, wigs, etc.

We hope that you found this article to be helpful and that you have a great winter full of good hair days!

Author: Andrea Reyes

Andrea is a mother, wife, writer, and natural hair enthusiast of 15 years. Currently on her natural hair journey, she’s been trying countless products and techniques to understand and embrace her natural hair. She is the creator of NaturallyTextured.com, a new website featuring informative articles that share tips, tricks, and techniques aimed to help others learn to love their hair through proper hair care. She writes with the hope of making hair care easier to understand and implement.