Cold, windy and wet, wintry weather can wreak havoc with hair texture. It’s also a time when we’re more likely to expose our hair and scalp to extra heat through hotter showers and blow-drying our hair more often. This can cause static electricity: hair picks up an electrical charge that makes strands repel each other, causing frizz and flyaways. To help combat this, choose a moisturising shampoo and conditioner and, for an extra boost, incorporate a weekly hydrating mask into your routine.
A great hairdresser hack to boost your mask’s effectiveness is to add a few drops of hair oil. And to combat frizz when blow-drying, hold your dryer above your head so the hot air flows down the cuticle and keeps hair looking smooth. To finish, use your dryer’s cool-shot function to seal the cuticle.
Winter can also exacerbate scalp conditions, so try using a salt scrub once a week, working it over with a scalp massager. This will help remove product build up and reinvigorate a dry, flaky scalp.
Colourist Damien Rayner has another suggestion. “Applying leave-in conditioning products to damp hair helps create a barrier against the elements, as well as protecting against the heat effects of hair dryers and straighteners,” he says. “This helps to prevent the friction that causes hair breakage.”
To enhance shine, Rayner also suggests a monthly in-salon gloss treatment followed by a professional blow-dry.
Winter is also a great time for a colour refresh. Rayner suggests going for a “softer version” of your current shade. “For dark brunettes, add some very fine, lighter highlights or balayage to reduce the
heaviness of the colour.”
For blondes, he suggests softening the colour by adding some cool vanilla streaks. “And for ‘bronde’ [brown-blonde] hair and coppery tones,” he concludes, “go for golden-toned highlights combined with a finishing gloss treatment.”
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