As you may know, as the weather gets colder, your hair reacts to the elements. The best way you can work to combat dry, brittle hair is to properly prepare and nourish your hair for the colder months. To ensure healthy hair growth and less shedding, you can adjust your hair regimen by:
Protective Styling
By styling your hair in a "long-term" style, you can save time and prevent breakage. Rather than changing your hairstyle daily, protective styles allow you to grow your hair without having to touch it everyday. Giving your hair a chance to grow without the constant tugging from a comb or "hand in hair syndrome," can help you to reduce breakage, maintain moisture and eliminate styling time daily. Examples of protective styles include: box braids, faux locs, marley twists & more. It is important to remember that although you don't have to touch your hair every day, you should still keep your hair & scalp moisturized.
L.O.C. Method
The L.O.C. Method is a product-layering system that encourages lasting moisture. This is particularly helpful in the winter since moisture can leave the quickly. The L stands for liquid or leave-in conditioner, which should be applied on clean hair. The leave-in should be water-based to ensure that the hair can have proper hydration before moving on to the next step. The O stands for oil, which is layered on top of the leave-in conditioner. This helps to seal in the moisture, which allows the moisture to stay in the hair strand for longer. The C stands for cream, which is a thicker styling product. This is used as a final sealant for your hair and it typically helps with curl definition. After this stage, you can proceed to style your hair as usual.
Keeping Hair Covered
In the winter months, the air is drier and the wind is harsher. People are often aware of the impacts that the cold weather has on their skin, but they don't usually consider its effect on their hair. Hair can be dried out in the same manner that skin can. Also, in colder months, people tend to wear more scarves and hats, some of which can suck the moisture from your hair strands. By reducing your hair's exposure to the elements and drying materials such as cotton, you can maintain moisture which can reduce breakage. The easiest way to do this is by simply putting on a satin scarf or bonnet underneath a hat. This can reduce the amount of friction that your hair comes in contact with and protect your hair from the dry, winter air.
Clean & Hydrated Scalp
As your hair & skin dries due to cold weather, this can also have a detrimental effect to your hair growth. When your scalp becomes dry, it can feel itchy & start to flake. Hair can only flourish if the scalp is healthy too. (Think of a flower trying to sprout in the desert; The flower won't be able to grow without proper nutrients, like water. On the other hand, a flower with proper nourishment in a well-groomed garden will bloom much better in these conditions.) By keeping your scalp clean and hydrated, you will have a better foundation for growing healthy hair.
Thicker products
As the temperature decreases, your hair sealants should increase. Products such as shea butter seal in moisture. By incorporating thicker products, you can create a winter-proof "barrier" on your hair that will make it more difficult for hydration to exit the hair strand. Jamaican Black Castor Oil can be used as a thicker oil to assist in fully sealing the hair.
By following the steps listed above, you can be prepared to deal with anything the winter has in store for your hair. The other aspects on winter like snow, on the other hand, are a different battle.
- Putting your hair into a protective style (a style where your hair isn't manipulated daily)
- Properly moisturizing your hair using the L.O.C. method (Liquid,Oil,Cream)
- Keeping your hair covered to prevent it from drying out
- Ensuring that your scalp is clean and hydrated
- Using thicker products to seal in moisture
Protective Styling
By styling your hair in a "long-term" style, you can save time and prevent breakage. Rather than changing your hairstyle daily, protective styles allow you to grow your hair without having to touch it everyday. Giving your hair a chance to grow without the constant tugging from a comb or "hand in hair syndrome," can help you to reduce breakage, maintain moisture and eliminate styling time daily. Examples of protective styles include: box braids, faux locs, marley twists & more. It is important to remember that although you don't have to touch your hair every day, you should still keep your hair & scalp moisturized.
L.O.C. Method
The L.O.C. Method is a product-layering system that encourages lasting moisture. This is particularly helpful in the winter since moisture can leave the quickly. The L stands for liquid or leave-in conditioner, which should be applied on clean hair. The leave-in should be water-based to ensure that the hair can have proper hydration before moving on to the next step. The O stands for oil, which is layered on top of the leave-in conditioner. This helps to seal in the moisture, which allows the moisture to stay in the hair strand for longer. The C stands for cream, which is a thicker styling product. This is used as a final sealant for your hair and it typically helps with curl definition. After this stage, you can proceed to style your hair as usual.
Keeping Hair Covered
In the winter months, the air is drier and the wind is harsher. People are often aware of the impacts that the cold weather has on their skin, but they don't usually consider its effect on their hair. Hair can be dried out in the same manner that skin can. Also, in colder months, people tend to wear more scarves and hats, some of which can suck the moisture from your hair strands. By reducing your hair's exposure to the elements and drying materials such as cotton, you can maintain moisture which can reduce breakage. The easiest way to do this is by simply putting on a satin scarf or bonnet underneath a hat. This can reduce the amount of friction that your hair comes in contact with and protect your hair from the dry, winter air.
Clean & Hydrated Scalp
As your hair & skin dries due to cold weather, this can also have a detrimental effect to your hair growth. When your scalp becomes dry, it can feel itchy & start to flake. Hair can only flourish if the scalp is healthy too. (Think of a flower trying to sprout in the desert; The flower won't be able to grow without proper nutrients, like water. On the other hand, a flower with proper nourishment in a well-groomed garden will bloom much better in these conditions.) By keeping your scalp clean and hydrated, you will have a better foundation for growing healthy hair.
Thicker products
As the temperature decreases, your hair sealants should increase. Products such as shea butter seal in moisture. By incorporating thicker products, you can create a winter-proof "barrier" on your hair that will make it more difficult for hydration to exit the hair strand. Jamaican Black Castor Oil can be used as a thicker oil to assist in fully sealing the hair.
By following the steps listed above, you can be prepared to deal with anything the winter has in store for your hair. The other aspects on winter like snow, on the other hand, are a different battle.