Hair Care

How to Care for Curly Hair in the Winter

Most people love the wintertime for the holidays, the gorgeous snowy days, and being able to drink copious amounts of hot cocoa without any regret. However, curly-haired girls and guys are faced with one problem during this time. The dry hair has a nasty effect on the way these curls form. Your hair becomes even drier and the snow and wind work to make your hair ridiculously tangled.

Nonetheless, most of us can’t migrate from the cold for the sake of our hair. That’s why I have developed this guide to help you keep your curly hair looking great during the winter. I have included my best tips and tricks, so keep reading to find out more.

Wintertime Equals Low Dew Points

Before getting into how you can care for your curly hair during the winter, I recommend understanding why your curly hair takes a toll during this time. The low dew point is the cause for all your hair troubles during the wintertime. Your hair starts to release water anytime the temperate is below 35 degrees Fahrenheit.

You want to avoid your hair losing any water, as the result of this water loss is frizzing hair, split ends, broken hair, and flyaways. Your hair needs as much moisture as it can get during these cold winter months, which is why your hair care routine should be adapted. Nonetheless, I have some helpful tips to help you keep your hair in tip-top shape.

The Best Ways to Care for Curly Hair in the Wintertime

Now that you understand what curly hair does in the wintertime, I have some of the best tips to avoid these issues. Here are my all-time favorite tips to ensure that your curls remain fab while you’re enjoying the snowy winter holidays.

Applying Generous Amounts of Conditioner

Due to the cold temperatures causing your hair to lose a ton of moisture, it’s no secret that conditioner is going to be your best friend during these months. I highly recommend using a reasonable amount of conditioner when washing your hair. Now, I suggest using around 25 percent more than what you generally would.

In addition to this, a leave-in conditioner would also be an excellent addition to your haircare routine. This helps to add more moisture back into your hair. With that being said, all of these products shouldn’t include humectants in the top five ingredients. Humectants are classified as moisturizing ingredients, as these work to attract water molecules to the hair. However, this has the opposite in low dew points and can have a drying effect. Common humectants include:

• Algae extract
• Hyaluronic acid
• Honey
• Agave nectar
• Glycerin
• Sorbitol
• Fructose

A woman looking worriedly at her frizzy hair

Avoid Brushing or Combing Dry Hair

People with curly hair should avoid combing or brushing their hair when it’s dry. This is a general rule to follow throughout the year, but it’s even more important during the wintertime. If you find that you need a little extra help in the shower to get some tresses out and make sure every strand gets conditioner, you should use a wide-toothed comb. However, you should only do this when your hair is wet.

Skipping Heat

Using heat on your curls dries out your hair and can tarnish the way your curls form. For this reason, any hot tools should be avoided. Of course, you can’t avoid heat in some instances. You might be in a hurry and can’t have the time to air dry your hair. I recommend making these cases rare, but if do need to use heat, I advise using a diffuser and on the lowest heat setting.

Seal Your Hair

One step you shouldn’t forget when performing your hair care routine is to use oil. You should pay close attention to the ends of your hair. This is where your hair losses the most moisture during the wintertime. Using oil in your hair helps lock in moisture and any other products you’ve already used in your hair. In addition to this, it also protects your hair against the damaging cold conditions and nasty dry air during winter.

Moreover, I highly recommend using jojoba and argan oils, as these are lightweight and won’t weigh down your hair. When using these oils to seal your curls, you should apply a few drops and scrunch the product into the ends of your hair once you finish applying your other styling products. It’s vital to note that you should be applying these oils to seal your hair when it’s wet.

Using a Silk Pillowcase

There’s no doubt that you roll around when you’re sleeping, even if you only move around a little when you’re sleeping. This tossing and turning is a recipe for frizzy and broken hair, especially when you’re in winter when your hair is already sensitive.

However, you can avoid causing damage to your hair while you’re sleeping by using a silk pillowcase. One of my favorite silk pillowcases is from Tee-Owels and is a great option if you’re looking to sleep comfortably while protecting your hair from unnecessary frizz and damage.

Applying Hair Masks

Another product that we recommend incorporating into your hair care routine is a quality hair mask. While in cold temperatures, your curly hair needs as much moisture and protection as it can get, which is why a hair mask is an excellent choice.

The market is saturated with options, which can make it challenging to find a good one that gets the job done. I’ve got you covered with some of the best options out there. Some of my favorite hair care masks are Ecoslay Banana Cream Conditioner and Babassu Oil and Mint Deep Conditioning Mask.

Sleep with a Humidifier

Finally, a gift you can give your hair during the holiday season is a humidifier. Sleeping with a humidifier in your room is an excellent way to add moisture to your hair and avoid waking up with dry and straw-like hair. Doing this provides you with moisturized curls that are easier to manage and style.

Hati

Hi I'm Hati and my hair is naturally very curly, obviously! I have started this blog to share curly hair stories and what I use to manage my own hair. Hopefully you will find it useful! My other main passions are food, art and animlas. I have a little cat who I love very much.

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