Fall and Winter Dryness Begone: How We're Keeping our Hair Healthy 

It's no secret that as the days get shorter and temperatures skew cooler our hair can get a little less luscious. But who says we have to succumb to bad hair days until spring? Take action with these six healthy hair habits and you'll enjoy healthy hair all year. 

Skip the Air Dry

In the summer, warmer temps make for a delightful air dry that just isn't possible for fall. While it's great to skip heat damage on your hair when it's possible to air dry, it's important to get the dampness away from your scalp during cooler months. We recommend at least drying the roots with a medium temperature blow dry to help limit the potential for bacteria or dandruff on your scalp. 

This step is essential if you're stepping out into frozen conditions. Wet hair is more fragile, so making sure you have time to dry it before leaving the house in cooler months is important if you want to prevent damage.

Find Your Moisture Routine & Lock It In

Speaking of reducing damage, moisture is your fall and winter BFF! From a great conditioner to leave in products and hair masks-- we recommend stepping up this part of your routine during the cooler months to help nourish your strands and prevent damage. 

Finding a product that is well-suited to your hair texture like masks, oils, or serums and sticking to a regular routine will help prevent frizz, static, and split ends. 

Monitor Scalp Health 

Dandruff is normal and nothing to be ashamed of, but we certainly don't want to deal with it if we can avoid it! Monitoring how your scalp is reacting to the change in season can help you treat issues like a dry scalp, flaking, and irritation before it starts. 

You'll want to wash your hair according to how much oil your scalp produces. For some people this may mean backing off on frequency during the winter months and for others that could mean increasing it. Monitor your situation and adjust accordingly. 

Be Gentle (In Brushing, Styling, and Coloring)

Because hair is more prone to damage in the cold months, we want to exercise caution as we care for hair during this period. A great rule of thumb is simply to be gentle. With brushing, don't force a comb through your hair as it's likely to cause breakage. Brush out the ends gently first and work your way towards the root. Use conditioning products to help make this step easier. 

In styling, if you choose protective styles like braids or buns try not to put too much stress on your hair and choose your bands and accessories wisely to prevent damage from pulling or clipping the hair in a forceful way. 

If you color your hair, fall and winter is a good time to space out your appointments a little bit further apart or to try less overall coloring to help the hair recoup. Work with your clients to create a look that grows out well so they can reduce damage during particularly chilly periods and emerge in spring looking fabulous! 

Reduce Stress

This one is easier said than done, but stress does play a big role in our hair health and can even contribute to hair loss... scary! Do what you can to implement stress-reduction strategies and carve out moments of self-care, especially during the holiday season, so you don't sacrifice your strands to stress. 

Eat a Healthy Diet 

Finally, during the fall and winter months the sweet treats and holiday themed snacks seem endless and unfortunately our hair and skin can be sacrificed in the name of delicious cookie platters and almond roca. As with everything in life, moderation is key. Enjoy your treats but don't forget to partake in foods with the vitamins and nutrients your hair needs to maintain it's shine, too. 

Did We Miss Anything? 

Let us know in the comments what else you're doing to maintain hair health in cooler temps-- we're all hands on deck to keep the good hair vibes going 365 days out of the year!