Tresses in distress?
Has winter taken its toll on your hair? SAM WYLIE-HARRIS finds out how to make it shine again
IF your locks are looking limp, you need to soothe your itchy scalp and fix those split ends, you’re not alone.
“It’s extremely common for people to experience hair damage in winter and the colder months,” says Nicola Wood, hair professional, entrepreneur and founder of Hair Made Easi.
“The cold weather during winter months can be extremely harsh on your hair – as temperatures reduce, the air gets drier, which results in your hair receiving less moisture.”
This can lead to your hair becoming dehydrated, brittle, dull and lifeless, she says. “Hair requires moisture and nutrients in order to grow and stay healthy, therefore the winter months can be detrimental to your hair health,” notes Nicola.
Here, experts reveal how to boost your crowning glory...
Get a trim
“The first thing is to have a trim to remove any split ends,” says Anabel Kingsley, consultant trichologist and brand president at Philip Kingsley.
“There is no cure for split ends, and cutting them off is the only way to get rid of them. This will give you a healthier base to work from – and prevent splits from moving up your hair shaft, causing further damage,” she warns.
To keep splits from re-appearing, the following steps will improve the health of your hair from root to tip...
Use an intensive hair mask
Increased heat styling can leave strands parched and brittle, says Anabel. To help restore hydration, strength and shine to hair, she says to use a weekly pre-shampoo deep-conditioning treatment to plump strands with moisture. This will also “seal the outer cuticle, giving a lovely reflective shine”.
Air-dry when you can
Try giving your hair a break from heated tools by air-drying whenever you can, suggests Anabel. “Embrace any movement in your hair by gently scrunching with a curldefining cream.”
Nicola adds: “I always recommend using an extra-absorbent hair towel to eliminate the need for a hair dryer.” Choosing one made from anti-frizz, gentle microfibre material is “perfect for fragile winter hair”.
If you do need to use a hairdryer, she says to avoid using the highest heat setting as this can cause damage and disrupt your hair growth. “Choose the lowest heat setting and be patient.”
“Other tools such as hair straighteners, wavers and curling tongs can also cause hair to deteriorate, so try to only use them when necessary,” advises Nicola. “And when you do, definitely use a heat-protectant spray.” Anabel suggests holding your blowdryer at least six inches away from your hair and use a vented brush to help with heat dissipation.
Give your scalp some extra TLC
Flaky scalps are common, but even more so in winter...
“Cold weather, blustery winds, central heating and stress can all aggravate our scalps,” says Anabel.
“Flaking of the scalp can cause hair loss, and also impact the quality of hairs we’re producing,” she warns. “Revive and refresh your scalp by using a weekly exfoliating scalp mask, and a nightly balancing serum.”