Hair Care Survival Tips for New England Winters

There’s no use resisting it anymore. It’s getting pretty cold outside here in Massachusetts and winter is just around the corner. Halloween’s over, we’re staring Thanksgiving in the face, and soon Santa’s headed to the mall for some photos. But you’ll want to add something unexpected to your to-do list this winter: caring for your hair.

See, the harsh winter months can leave your hair dry, dull, brittle, or frizzy. You may suffer from split ends, faded color treatments, or lifeless locks. Fortunately, there are things you can do to prevent damage to your hair and take extra care throughout the entire winter. If you’re planning to survive the wintertime here in New England and still have picture-ready hair at all those parties, you might want to listen up. Now is the time to gear up and prepare for your winter hair care routine.

Habits to Avoid

The heating systems in our homes and the bitter cold wind can both contribute to dried-out hair. Making the transition in and out, hot to cold, and vice versa, strains the hair. To compensate for this increased stress to the hair, change up your daily routine by avoiding these Don'ts:

• Shampooing hair too often. Your hair and scalp are both more susceptible to drying out, so keep shampooing to once a day at the most. The cleansers and extra exposure to water can increase your risk of dried out hair. You might also consider using a dry shampoo every other day to avoid excess exposure to water.
• Using the hairdryer too often. Too much heat, applied directly to the hair no less, can damage and dry hair quickly. Try to blow dry your hair the bare minimum or switch to the 'warm' or (even better) the 'cool' setting. If you're not heading straight outside, consider leaving it a bit damp to dry gently on its own.
• Taking a steaming hot shower. The steam might feel great, but it will deplete moisture from your hair. Instead, use warm or cool water.
• Overbrushing. With your hair more brittle in winter, it's important not to stress your tresses. Avoid too much brushing or styling in the winter.

Habits to Adopt

Instead of indulging in poor hair care habits that will damage your beautiful tresses, decide to be proactive about protecting your hair. These tips, compiled from Hair Care Guide and Longlocks, will point you in the right direction:

• Cover your hair with a scarf or hat when you go outside.
• Use a moisturizing conditioner every day.
• At the end of washing your hair, rinse it thoroughly with cold water. This locks in moisture, according to Hair Care Guide.com, and gives your hair extra shine.
• Always dry your hair thoroughly before you go outside, since damp hair can freeze and break.
• Try a leave-in conditioner if you are going to use a curling iron, curlers, or a straightener.
• Fight static with a quick spritz of hairspray on your brush, then run it through your hair from top to bottom.
• Keep trimming your hair throughout the winter as normal. Maintaining the length lets hair fight to stay healthy much better.

By following these easy Do's and Don’ts of healthy winter hair care, you’ll be ready for photos anywhere, anytime during the cold winter months of the holiday season. It won't take much time out of each day to add a few of these tips to your routine, so don't wait until it's too late!