Hey babes. This here article was submitted by Cosmetology & Spa Academy. Their mission is to get more people enrolled in beauty school, which I 100% stand behind. Beauty School is a great way to get yourself trained up for an incredibly fun and inspiring career in a recession-proof industry where you get to be social and creative and a scientist all at the same time;)
Located in Illinois, CSA is a beauty school with over 30 years of experience in the cosmetology, esthetics and beauty industry.
Today, they share with us their tips for protecting you hair in the winter months.
Protecting Your Hair in the Winter Months
The winter months can really put a strain on beautiful hair. The inclement
weather causes serious damage to our sensitive follicles. Of primary concern is
the dry air of winter. It dries out hair, zapping it of moisture and softness. Just
about everyone will testify to the fact that their locks aren’t the same during the
winter.
Dry hair feels coarse and it doesn’t have that lovely texture or sheen that we’ve
come accustomed to. By modifying your hair care regimen you’ll be able to
retain the moisture that is essential to your soft hair. Let’s take a look at some
ways to prevent dry hair during the winter months.
Apply A Deep Conditioner
One change that you can make is to incorporate a deep conditioner into your
hair care routine. Don’t merely utilize a deep conditioner for the winter months.
Use it year round and you’ll notice that your hair feels much softer and has
more elasticity.
Deep conditioners contain a special mixture of oils and other unique
ingredients that coat your hair. They also penetrate deeply into the follicles.
Once you apply the deep conditioner, you’ll notice a big difference in your hair.
If you adopt this alteration, don’t give up your usual shampooing routine. The
deep conditioner should be used to complement your shampoo, not to replace
it.
Don’t Skip The Moisturizer
A quality moisturizer nourishes and hydrates hair follicles. It doesn’t merely
run along the surface of the follicles. It actually delves deeply into the hair
shafts to infuse much needed moisture into your dry winter hair. Be sure to pick
up a moisturizer that is water based. If you opt for a moisturizer without water
such as an oil-based moisturizer, it’ll merely function as a sealant.
Oil isn’t enough all by itself because it operates to seal moisture within the hair
follicles. It doesn’t actually provide the actual moisture. Aside from water, your
moisturizer should also contain emollients, humectants and occlusive
components. For some people, moisturizers that are heavy in butters and oils
will be ideal. It all depends on the unique characteristics of your hair. If you
have thick hair strands and a full head of long hair, a light moisturizer likely
won’t be enough. To learn more about the characteristics of hair, consider
enrolling in a cosmetology program.
Style Matters
The style that you choose and the manner in which you create it will impact the
quality of your hair. If you don’t need definition and are content with a full
look, you can actually use your moisturizer as your styling product. Those who
want a highly defined hairstyle will need a styling product that offers a
significant hold. It should be a gel or a cream-gel. Beware that gels and cream-
gels are not all created equally. Be sure to pick a styling product with oils,
butters and humectant.
Apply your gel over your moisturizer and you won’t have to worry about
whether your styling product contains an overabundance of glycerin
and humectants. As long as it is added after the moisturizer, you’ll have nice
and soft hair during the wintertime.
Wash Your Hair Less Often
Don’t wash your hair every single day during the winter months. It’s
unnecessary. Doing so dries out your follicles and zaps them of their oils. Also,
don’t leave the house with wet hair when it is cold outside. Moist hair exposed
to cold temperatures becomes extremely brittle. Instead of rushing through your
morning routine and exposing your wet hair to the elements, wake up earlier
and build in more time to prepare yourself for those nasty temperatures.
Give yourself time to apply a nourishing hair oil after you’ve shampooed your
hair. It’ll make your hair soft and give it a shiny appearance.
Shampoo Combing Followed By Oil
Another strategy to consider is combing dry shampoo from the roots of your
follicles to an inch or so down. It will pick up product that has accumulated in
your follicles that may be responsible for dryness. Cap off the technique by
applying oil to the ends of your hair. Those with especially thick hair will need
more oil than those with thin hair.
Trim Your Hair Regularly
A regular haircut will keep your hair in optimal condition. Get your locks cut at
least once every two months, even if it is a minimal trim of the ends. This will
prevent split ends and general dryness.
Utilize A Humidifier
Those who are highly concerned with preventing dry hair should pick up a
humidifier. It is fairly cheap and will boost the moisture level of your home or a
specific room. Use it on a daily basis to increase your hair’s moisture. You can also
get yourself a Q-Redew!
Protect Your Hair
Don’t expose your hair to the wrath of the cold air. Always wear a hood or a hat
when the temperatures dip. Consider a satin lined hood or take up do-it-
yourself style project and line your hats with your own satin material.
Protection will guard your hair from dry air, snow, wind gusts and rain. If you
are concerned about hat hair, wrap your locks in a silk scarf before putting on
your hat or beanie. It’ll hold your hair’s shape. But more importantly, it’ll guard
your hair from the damage that is created when the hat rubs against your
follicles. Also, don’t forget to protect your hair at night when you are sleeping.
