How to Have Fantastic Winter Hair
The last of mom’s stuffing is safely in my stomach and I’ve been listening to The Hotel Cafe Presents Winter Songs non-stop; yep, the holidays are definitely upon us. Although December is my favorite month (hello Christmas, my birthday, a month off from school!) I definitely don’t love what happens to my hair once the cold comes. Instead of voluminous, full-of-life locks, my hair turns to straw. What gives?! Suffering from similar hair problems? Here are some tips to having great hair, even in the winter:
Prep:
To have great hair, no matter the season, it must must MUST be healthy and hydrated. The easiest and fastest way to do this is by using a deep conditioner once a week. My favorite is Garnier’s Haircare Fortifying Deep Conditioner 3 Minute Masque ($8,) but I’ve heard great things about Neutrogena’s Triple Moisture Deep Recovery Hair Mask ($7 at a drugstore.) Although most products say to leave them on for 3-5 minutes, I tend to let deep conditioner soak in for a half an hour or more. If my hair is especially brittle, I’ll leave it on overnight! Don’t have any deep conditioner? Leaving your normal conditioner on for an extra 10-15 minutes can have a similar effect.
Along with winter wind and snow comes frizz. Frizz is another way dry hair manifests itself, and it always seems worst during the colder months! I use John Frieda Collection Frizz-Ease Serum Thermal Protection ($8,) before any other styling products, and it leaves my hair silky smooth. The fact that it also protects against styling tools makes this my saving grace.
For Straight Hair:
If you use a flat iron, always remember to use a heat-protecting spray! It can literally save the ends of your hair. A personal favorite of mine is Aveda’s Brilliant Damage Control (about $18.)
Another key to healthy winter hair is using your styling tools less often. If you’re the kind of girl that can blow dry her hair 95% straight in 10 minutes, try not to then flat-iron it. If your hair is like mine and will hold a wave no matter what, think about letting your hair air dry before plugging in your straightener. Try to leave the ends a bit tousled a la Olivia Palermo for a messy, sexier kind of look. Because winter brings the wind, spray a little flexible-hold hairspray in it once you’re done styling your hair… I promise that your locks will still be (mostly) pin straight after than 15 minute walk to Bio!
For Waves:
I’m a big fan of wavy hair in the winter: not only do you not really need to use any styling tools, but waves look their best after being blown in the wind. After showering at night and towel drying my hair, I put in some frizz serum and set my hair in a loose braid down my back. When I wake up seven hours later and undo the plait, my hair is in soft waves. For a wilder look like Vanessa Hudgens’, try three or four different braids. This look is especially great if you’re pressed for time or don’t want to use any styling tools!
For Curls:
Curls can be tough in the winter. Although it may be tempting to grab the blow-dryer and flat iron every day, curls do work this time of year!
If your hair is naturally curly, try to deep condition as often as you see necessary, even if that means twice a week. Again, a key idea to keep hair healthy is to use your iron or blow dryer as little as possible, so after I shower and towel dry my hair, I put a little curl cream in my hair before setting it in a bun at the nape of my neck.
Curl cream is a product that’s so personal – as all of us have different types of curls, no one product will work for us all. My advice is to try them until you find what you like. I’m a fan of Fekkai Luscious Curls Enhancing Lotion ($20,) while my mom likes Aveda Be Curly ($20). If my curls aren’t perfect in the morning, then I’ll turn my curler on at a very low setting and pick a couple of random strands of hair to curl. Again, for tighter curls, a few buns on the top of your head can give you perfect definition like AnnaLynne McCord!
Protect it:
In between classes or while you’re outside, consider wearing a hat to keep your hair from getting too damaged. Weather it’s a knit beanie, a fedora or a beret, that’s up to you! If you want some ideas, Michelle had an awesome post a few weeks back that included some great winter hats.
What do you guys think?
Do you have any other tips on how to have great winter hair? How do you help your hair survive the winter? Let me know in the comments!
Posted on on December 2, 2009 / Filed Under: Beauty & Hair / Tags: aveda, Beauty, conditioner, curl, fekkai, frizz, garnier, Hair, Hair Products, john freida, neutrogena, straight, waves, Winter
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woowoo27
hi, i’m a high school senior planning on going to a four-year university next fall. the only problem is that the school i am attending snows…alot….and i’ve never even been to the snow before. i have absolutely no clue what clothes and accessories i need to survive the freezing weather. i have been reading your posts (love them!) and was wondering if you can please do a post about your favorite winter necessities? thank you so much!
Shay
Aussie 3-minute mircle is my favorite leave-in conditioner, It’s very inexpensive, too. Only like five dollars max.
I’m totally going to try the loose braid idea. I’ve tried to do the same with a whole bunch of little tiny braids, but I think the loose braids will give me a really nice texture. A definate change from what I’m used to.
Great article :)
Ellen
I’m going to be freshmen next fall and I need CF help!
Since I’m only 5?, it’s always be a hard time finding clothes and look good and match me. Could you please tell me how short (small) girls should dress? What types of clothes would look good on them?
Carol
I´ll try your products… I´m having a hair crisis right now, everything I use is crappy :(
And I´d looove to have a beret too *_*
Ashley
Don’t use products with glycerin. Combined with the dry, winter air it will suck the moisture out of your hair.
Cassandra
TBH, my hair seems to be better during winter than it warmer times … it becomes softer and shinier in cold, and bristly in summer. but sometimes the hair seems to behave different than the rest of my body :P
Leave in conditioner is a lifesaver, though, be it actual leave-in or just conditioner left in. I like putting my hair up in a showercap and wrapping a towel around my head while the conditioners working for more heat.
elle
straight
wavy
curls
not the only hair types
what about girls with course hair? relaxed hair?
EmilythePanda
i don’t have much to say, except that this is something I’ve been neglecting for winter… keeping my hair healthy and fantastic!
All Women Stalker
Thanks for posting this… this is good stuff. :) I’ll surely try the products you recommend.
Rani
Use less shampoo!!! Shampoo is the ULTIMATE drying factor in your hair care routine. Try to shampoo as little as possible, and believe it or not, your hair will look and feel better! The natural oils in your scalp are great for dry winter conditions.
Madeleine
I am so glad you used Vanessa as an example for wavy hair…I just love her hair so much, if I could get that look EVERY day I would be in heaven.
Kelvin @ Cheap Halloween Costumes
I like this blog which shares us the idea of taking of the hair during the winter season. As for girls most important thing is to look after their hair. I love reading wavy hair care because my girl got a wavy hair and I will like to say some of the tip which I got from this blog to her to take care of her hair during winter. Hmm for me, we guys take care of our hair too but not the same as girls take care. We avoid wearing tight cap and things like hairdryers and hairbrushes. We use a wide tooth comb for combing our hair and work out tangle to avoid damage to your hair and hair follicles.
Anyway thanks for the nice and interesting blog.
Anna
What I do (if there’s time :P) I shower. then put mousse on an all-plastic brush and go through the hair, esp the roots, pulling it back. I blow it 80 % dry. then I divide the hair into two. Make one loose braid with the hair on the top of your head and one with the hair on the neck. Sleep on it, then letit out. Spray, mess it up, spray. Keep doing this until your satisfied. Aaand then spray some more.
Brand fashion clothes
I will try your advices. In winter i have hair crisis. It is something terrible! I look terrbile inspite of fashionable stule brand name clothing i wear. Could anybody recommend anything special, please???
M
Seriously, sometimes it’s like you guys can read my mind. I’ve been thinking since the skin post that you guys should do one on hair!
I second the rec for John Frieda’s Frizz Ease Serum Thermal Protection. That’s what I use and it leaves my hair so soft and smooth. Will check out the deep conditioners you recommended. I only style with heat on really special occasions (e.g. for all of 2009, I only straightened my hair three times), but my hair still gets really dry, especially during the winter.
Wondered if you have any suggestions about hair tools? As in combs vs. brushes? My hair is super thick, so I’ve always thought that brushes are the way to go, but my entire family uses combs instead. And does material make a difference? I’m a cheapskate, I’ll admit, and have been using plastic versions, but my hair has been falling out a lot and I’m wondering if there’s something I can do differently…
1950 fashion
straight hair, flat iron, a heat-protecting spray , it always simple and trendy for thoose who are in a hurry.!
Dryad
Hey,
Will someone please tell me if poker straight hair is / will still be in fashion through spring-summer ’010? I’m planning to get mine thermally recondtioned, so I’d like to know if I’m gonna look like a fashion victim (though I just might not mind;)
<3 from India