How to Treat Dry Hair in Winter
When winter approaches, you’ll probably notice a number of changes to your hair. Strands can feel dry and brittle, more split ends appear, and your mane might have a lacklustre appearance overall. With so many elements coming together to remove moisture from the hair and scalp, it’s important to boost hydration with nourishing products.
So – how do you fix dry hair in winter?
Below, we’ve curated our expert advice on how to expand your winter hair care routine to include serums, oils and masks to achieve glossy hair – all year round.
Why is my hair extremely dry in winter?
If your hair is extremely dry in winter, there could be several explanations, including:
• Cold temperatures and low humidity
• Frequent, continual exposure to indoor heating
• Longer, hotter showers that disrupt your scalp’s natural oil levels
• Winter clothing (beanies, scarves and hooded coats) that contributes to static and frizz
When these seasonal changes compound, it can damage your strands, leading to increased dryness, dullness, brittleness, and more hair breakage than usual. You might even find that you are more susceptible to dandruff in the winter months.
6-step winter hair care routine
A tailored approach to hair care will help mitigate your winter hair concerns. For dry hair, the primary focus is boosting moisture retention and keeping strands supple and protected from external elements. You can also bolster your hydrating hair treatments with a few lifestyle adjustments to further preserve moisture in your strands.
To find out how to fix dry hair in winter, follow our six-step hydrating routine below.
1. Wash your hair with a hydrating shampoo
Having dry hair causes strands to become weak and brittle, so the first step of your winter hair care routine should be a hydrating shampoo that delivers essential nutrients to the hair to soften, fortify, and moisturise strands from root to tip.
If your hair is only slightly dry in winter, we recommend Nutritive Bain Satin for Dry Hair to gently hydrate the hair, amplify shine, and improve moisture retention. Key ingredients – such as niacinamide and glycerin – work together to lock in hydration, while a fusion of plant-based proteins feed the hair with essential nutrients.
If your hair is very dry, opt for the Nutritive Bain Satin Riche for Very Dry Hair, which provides intense nutrition and reinforces the strength of your dry hair.
2. Nourish your ends with a hydrating conditioner
Conditioner plays an essential role in smoothing the cuticles, which helps preserve moisture and promote shiny, silky hair.
After washing your hair with a shampoo for dry hair, follow with the Nutritive Lait Vital Conditioner to seal in hydration, detangle knots, as well as smooth and de-frizz the hair. Work the conditioner through your lengths and ends, then wait three minutes before rinsing.
3. Apply a scalp serum
Scalp care is especially important in winter since our natural balance of oils can be easily disrupted by hotter showers and drier air. In addition to your hydrating shampoo, you can support scalp care with a nourishing hair serum to target your dehydrated scalp and manage dry, brittle strands.
Nutritive Scalp Food Hydrating Scalp Serum harnesses the power of niacinamide and essential vitamins to deliver nutrition at the follicle level – promoting a healthier, nourished scalp and a thriving environment for new hair growth. Simply apply four drops of the serum onto a towel-dried scalp daily or as often as needed.
4. Use a leave-in treatment on your ends
As well as hydrating the scalp, it's also important to take care of dry ends.
Apply Nutritive Fibre Food Hair Serum for Dry Ends as a leave-in treatment for dry hair. This serum helps replenish dry and split ends, lock in nutrition, and – by forming a protective layer over the hair shaft – increase suppleness while minimising breakage.
For overnight nourishment, apply the Nutritive Magic 8H Night Serum onto either dry or towel-dried hair, smoothing through the lengths and ends – no rinsing required. This night serum for dry hair is powered by niacinamide and a blend of five hair-loving vitamins – including vitamin E for hair vitality. By morning, enjoy visibly softer, more manageable hair with a satin-like feel. For optimal results, use two to three times per week.
5. Introduce a hair oil to your routine
Hair oils help to moisturise dry hair in winter and tame the appearance of frizz.
Kérastase’s iconic Elixir Ultime Refillable Hair Oil is the perfect companion to your hydrating winter hair care routine to add another lightweight layer of nourishment to dry hair. Formulated with three powerful oils – marula oil, argan oil, and camellia oil – this product helps reinstate the hair’s vitality and seal split ends.
Elixir Ultime Hair Oil is suitable for all hair types and can be used daily or as needed on both wet and dry hair, as a styling product, and as a heat protectant for your lengths and ends.
6. Apply a hair mask once or twice a weeks
Unlike some daily hair oils and serums, a hair mask can be used one to two times per week as an add-on to your winter hair care routine.
So, what is a hair mask – and how is it different from a conditioner?
A hair mask has a richer consistency and is designed to be used once per week (in place of your standard conditioner) to deliver extra nourishment to dry hair following a wash. After shampooing and towel-drying your hair, apply the Nutritive Masquintense Hair Mask for Dry Hair to your lengths and ends, massaging gently and evenly. Leave the mask on for three to five minutes, then rinse.
How to care for dry hair in winter: bonus tips
Now, you’ve given your hair care routine a hydrating overhaul – how else do you fix dry hair in winter? Well, even the smallest lifestyle adjustments can have a significant impact on the look and feel of your hair.
Alongside your winter haircare routine, you can help prevent further dehydration by:
- Avoiding excessively hot showers that dry out strands
- Investing in a humidifier to combat dry hair exposure
- Limiting your indoor or central heating usage where possible
- Opting for loose hair styles and silk hair wraps and scarves to reduce breakage
- Consistently using heat protectant and cutting back on heat styling tools
We know that dry hair is a common winter concern, but other seasons can also usher in their own challenges. Next, explore our top tips on how to get healthy hair for all seasons.
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