Winter Hair Wonders
Every winter, we tend to adjust our skin care routines to protect us from the colder ailments. We swap light textures and sheer formulas for richer, creamier lotions and potions — but what changes should we make for our hair? From stuffy indoor heating, to oil-zapping cold temperatures to overusing heating tools, the winter months can take their toll on our tresses. With a little bit of TLC and a few tactical changes, you can save yourself time, money and unnecessary hair dilemmas by the time the new year comes around.
WASH LESS
In icy temperatures, your hair produces less oil, which means you shouldn’t need to wash it as frequently as in the summer — over-washing can strip the natural oils and cause your hair to dry out. Valerie Patterson (above), owner of Dublin’s MASK Hair Salon, recommends reaching for the dry shampoo rather than over-washing to combat greasy roots this winter. “Use dry shampoos as they have the added bonus of giving the hair nice volume and body,” says Valerie. “It’s also worth cutting down on heat styling during the week — try braids, buns and twists. They look great when they are in, plus they give hair natural texture and volume when they are taken out.”
COLOUR CARE
For those with colour-treated hair, extra care is needed all year round but during the winter months, it’s especially important to keep the hair nourished and moisturised. “This winter, forget the platinum trend and opt for darker blondes, browns and balayage as this will help to maintain hair strength. Lighter blondes tend to be more fragile. If you can’t live without light blonde locks then you need to make sure your colourist applies a toner which fills and smooths the cuticle, keeping hair much stronger,” recommends Valerie. “You can also ask your colourist to use a bond builder in your colour/bleach. Olaplex, Wellaplex and Brazilian Bond Builder are my personal favourites. Olaplex
Hair Perfector No.3 Treatment, €36, is a takehome treatment you can apply weekly to continue strengthening your hair at home.”
SIMPLE STRATEGY
The trick to taking care of your hair this winter doesn’t involve a laborious 10-step routine nor does it include countless products that’ll bust your winter shopping budget. It really comes down to injecting moisture back into the hair and taking care of your overall health and well-being. “Apply a primer or leave-in treatment before blow-drying as it protects the hair while locking in moisture — you can also keep your hair healthy with a balanced diet that includes vitamins and omega 3,” advises Valerie.