This is what winter weather is doing to your hair

With freezing temperatures outside, and dry, overheated air indoors – not to mention blasts of rain and snow to contend with – no wonder our tresses are stressed at this time of year.

So, is there anything you can do about winter wreaking havoc on your hair?

We asked experts to explain why our locks suffer so much during the colder months, and how you can counteract common issues.

The frizz factor

“Frizzy hair isn’t just a problem for the summer – 80% of us have frizzy hair which is also exacerbated by cold weather and central heating,” says Anabel Kingsley, trichologist and brand president at Philip Kingsley

Hair turns frizzy due to moisture changes in the air, she explains: “This causes the protein bonds within the hair to expand and contract – and this can happen numerous times throughout the day, depending on how often you go outside.”

READ MORE

Debunking five common diabetes myths

How to take a break from social media for mental health

Coffee may cut severity of fatty liver disease in diabetics

The best way to prevent frizz is to ensure your tresses are thoroughly hydrated, so moisture can’t re-enter the hair shaft.

Turn down the heat

While long, hot showers are great for warming you up on chilly days, they’re not good news for your locks.

“Hot water can dry hair out and leave it lacking moisture,” says Vera. “I recommend a lukewarm water temperature while rinsing your hair, or even better, treat hair to a burst of cold water at the very end of your shower, to close the hair cuticles and minimise frizz.”

Similarly, because it’s too cold to let your hair dry naturally in winter, you might be blow-drying it more often, and using straighteners or curling tongs to create party-season styles.

“Such tools use extremely high temperatures and can dry out the hair, leading to further breakage and split-ends,” Kingsley says.

Soothe your scalp

“Many individuals with Afro textured hair often complain about dry scalps, which can be exacerbated in winter,” says Bello.

“Cold air, dry indoor heat, low humidity levels, harsh winter wind and even drinking less water in the colder months can all lead to moisture loss on the scalp, causing it to become tight, itchy and flaky.”

She recommends using a cleansing clay or a sulphate-free shampoo once a week to “strike the right balance between keeping the scalp clean without excessively stripping the hair fibre of its much-needed oils”.

Combine this with an exfoliating or clarifying shampoo with sulphates once a month to “thoroughly lift away flakes and any accumulation of dead skin cells”.

And avoid very hot water when rinsing: “This can damage and dry out the scalp, and disrupt hair growth – lukewarm water is about right.”