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, Kérastase Australia bring you 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?
Even the healthiest of hair comes with its seasonal challenges. In winter, humidity drops, and outdoor air is drier in general. These natural seasonal changes are then compounded by exposure to indoor heating and hotter showers. This can damage the hair, leading to increased dryness, dullness, brittleness and more breakage than usual.
Winter dryness can also disrupt the scalp’s oil levels, which may contribute to dandruff. You might also find that static and frizz is common in winter – this is usually the result of wearing winter clothing like beanies, scarves and hooded coats.
How to care for hair in winter
A tailored approach to hair care will help mitigate your winter hair concerns. You can also bolster your hydrating hair treatments with a few lifestyle adjustments to preserve moisture in your strands. Your seasonal hair care routine can include:
• A hydrating shampoo and conditioner
• Hair serums to nourish and curb breakage
• Hair oil to boost hydration and minimise frizz
• A regular hair mask to lock in moisture
• Lifestyle changes to combat dryness
Read on as we delve into these winter hair care tips in more detail.
Nourish hair with a hydrating shampoo and conditioner
The base of your winter hair care routine should be a hydrating shampoo and conditioner that delivers essential nutrients to the hair to soften strands and counteract damage. Remember, certain hair types – such as curly or coily hair – are more prone to dryness than others: so take our hair quiz to determine which shampoo and conditioner is best for you.
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 strands. Pair either shampoo with the Nutritive Lait Vital Conditioner to seal in hydration, detangle knots, and smooth the hair.
Use hair serums regularly
Hair care in winter can be bolstered by 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. Apply four drops of the serum onto a towel-dried scalp daily or as often as needed.
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. 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.
Introduce hair oils to your routine
Hair oils help to moisturise dry hair in winter and tame the appearance of frizz. Kérastase’s iconic Elixir Ultime Original Hair Oil is the perfect companion to your hydrating hair care routine to add another lightweight layer of nourishment. 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 on both wet and dry hair, as a styling product, and as a heat protectant for your lengths and ends.
Apply a hair mask once a week
Unlike 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 after washing. After shampooing and towel-drying your hair, apply Nutritive Masquintense for Dry Hair to your lengths and ends, massaging gently and evenly. Leave the mask on for three to five minutes, then rinse.
Make a few lifestyle adjustments
Now, you’ve given your hair care routine a hydrating overhaul – but how else do you fix dry hair in winter? Making small lifestyle adjustments can have a significant impact on the health of your hair.
Alongside your winter hair care regime, 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
Now that you have a better idea of how to care for hair in winter, explore how to target the effects of calcium buildup on bleach-damaged hair.
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