With winter around the corner, now is the time to think about how we can keep our crowns moisturised and protected during some of the harshest months of the year. You’re probably wondering what’s wrong with the great routine you have going right now. Well, what works in spring and summer will probably prove less effective during winter.
Here are reasons why winter weather can be very trying for curly hair and 4 things you can do to keep your curls in good shape regardless of what winter throws at you.
WHY IS IT TOUGHER TO MANAGE CURLY HAIR IN WINTER?
So, what, exactly, does winter do to curly and coily hair? Well, first, you need to understand that curly hair is generally prone to dryness because sebum secreted by the scalp has a harder time spreading along the curls to the whole hair shaft as opposed to other hair types. So, even in friendlier weather, curly haired queens need to be intentional about maintaining the right moisture and oil balance for their tresses.
Now, in winter, curly hair is besieged by harsh, moisture-stripping conditions on many fronts. Outdoors, the air is much drier and any trace of moisture in the air is quickly whisked away by chilly winds or worse, trapped in an icy or near icy state. To make matters worse, the heated air indoors is also significantly drier than in summer and spring, sucking yet more moisture out of your hair. Add to this the drying effect of cotton or woollen winter caps and it should be pretty clear why you need a winter protection plan for your curls.
4 WAYS TO KEEP YOUR CURLY HAIR HEALTHY IN WINTER
1) GO DEEP!
Give your hair deep moisturising or conditioning treatments more often than usual. Moisture loss can be very drastic during winter. So, it makes sense that your moisturising regimen should be more intense and more regular to compensate. Some people do this as often as once a week. You could do yours every 10 or 12 days depending on what is convenient for you. What matters is that you apply a deep moisture treatment consistently.
2) GO FOR PROTECTIVE HAIRSTYLES
Winter is simply not the time to experiment with styles that can overwork or over manipulate your hair. Curls are best to be kept in protective styling during winter. To be clear, a hairstyle is protective if it keeps the hair in a neat, low maintenance do for a relatively long time.
Generally, when hair is in a protective style like braids, cornrows or braid buns, it won’t need to be combed or washed as often as usual, and less manipulation means there is less opportunity for pulling and stretching which can be damaging to your curls. When done right, a protective style can last from 2 weeks to 2 months and even longer, depending on how far you can go. Just remember to properly cleanse your hair and scalp while your protective do is kept in.
3) MINIMISE HARSH TREATMENTS
‘Keep it simple and protective’ should be the mantra for caring for your curly hair in winter. That means no extreme gel slick backs which can dry out your hair and stress your edges. It also means keeping heat exposure to a minimum. If possible, wash your hair every couple of days instead of daily and when you do wash your hair, try not to crank up the heat on your blow-dryer.
4) PRACTICE PROTECTIVE DAILY CARE –LOC/LCO
Finally, don’t neglect daily moisturising care even when your hair is in a protective style. You probably have a preference between LOC and LCO. Whatever the case, just be sure to do your LOC (Leave-in/Liquid – Oil –Cream) or LCO (Leave-in/Liquid – Cream – Oil) treatment daily to support your regular deep moisturising treatments. It’s all about quickly replenishing any lost moisture through consistent TLC.
I should add that one more thing you can do to protect your curly or coily hair is to get a winter hat that’s lined with silk or satin. Just like cotton pillowcases, cotton and woollen winter hats can lead to more moisture loss and friction which can damage the hair. A satin or silk lining solves both problems and will allow you to stay warm and comfy while outdoors this winter.
If you enjoyed reading this subscribe to our blog for more posts like this.