Mama Style || Guest Post Nuyu
With my hair already feeling the stress from constant rain, cold weather and heating at home, I welcomed a guest post from Nuyu, all about looking after our hair throughout the winter months. Whether you're suffering from extra frizz or dry straw like hair, read on for more on how best to care for your hair this season.
The winter months create a challenge for even the most committed hair care team members at NUYU. Although we love the cosy nights by the fire drinking hot chocolate, we are not so keen on the bad hair days created by the weather. There is not just the rain and the wind to contend with, but also the drying effects of central heating and the lack of humidity. Here we gather some of the more common winter hair issues together in one guide, and then some of our best solutions.
Hair feels like straw
Moisture levels fall in the winter. There might be a lot of rain and storms, but there is little humidity. The consequences of this lack of moisture in the air are dry and brittle strands of hair. You might suddenly feel straw-like locks, especially if you are curly-haired or if your hair is naturally dry anyway.
There are quite a few ways of taking on your straw-like feel. First, you should probably take a break from using any tools that work using heat – so your curlers or your hairdryer can exacerbate the drying problems you face. You should also include a moisturiser in your haircare regime. Using a hydrating shampoo in the winter is a great idea, as is the use of specific conditioning treatments. Buying products with coconut milk or Argan Oil can have a significant impact on your hair. Alternatively, for those days you don’t want to wash your hair, you can use moisturising hair mists, to attack some of that dryness.
A radical solution would be to avoid dyeing your hair during the winter months. However, if this is a step too far for your roots – then you might want to ask the stylist to apply a treatment before adding the colour to your hair. You want the treatment to protect from breakage that can occur because of the mix of dryness caused by the dye and the weather conditions.
Increased static
Another consequence of the lack of humidity in the air is static. The temperatures dip and the electrical charge rises. You may like the shocked look, as your locks voluntarily stick up on end. However, if you prefer a little more control, you should work hard to retain the moisture in your hair. Again, hydrating shampoo and conditioner are essential in the chillier months. Alternatively, you can rub some hand cream into your palms (which will also become dryer in these harsher months) and then rub your hands through your hair. A tip from the furniture store… use silk pillows rather than cotton pillows if you wish to avoid static in your hair.
Split Ends
When your hair becomes dry, it will also easily break and split. In all honesty, the only way to deal with those split ends once they arrive is to have a haircut. The stylist will make all your split-end woes literally disappear with a clip clip of the scissors. However, if you don’t want to go any shorter, there are creams out there that claim to heal split ends. These are binding creams that smooth out the hair. This will only ever be a temporary fix, and you will need a cut before long.
It is best to work from the premise of preventing split ends. Therefore, in the winter months, this all goes back to maintaining the moisture levels in your hair.
Matted and knotted hair
We are entering the season of the scarf, the high collar and the hat. Your hair is not a fan of this constant rubbing of material. It will start to resemble something close to a bird’s nest. You will get to the point that committing to a hat means really investing in that a hat – even when you are indoors at a friend’s house or enjoying a drink during a country walk.
The alternative to marrying your bobble hat for the whole winter period is braiding your hair. If you tie back your hair and hold it in tight locks, then your strands should remain tangle-free. You may experience a little peripheral static, but you can handle this with some products or extra moisturising. If you get bored of having your hair up the whole time, the other option is to pull your hair back into a ponytail before putting your hat on. You can then remove this band when you are indoors, having protected most of your hair from the matting impact of your clothing.
All this might sound like hard work, but remember the summer and the issues of the pool and the salt from the sea. The winter months are not so bad really.
