Caring for your natural hair the right way in winter

Just as curls can frizz out on hot and humid days, the harsh winter air can also have a negative impact on curly hair as it draws out moisture, resulting in split ends and a dry, itchy scalp. Here are some of our tips for caring for curly hair during the colder months.

Shampoo less often
Ever wondered why you can go longer between washes than your straight-haired friends? Curly hair needs to be washed less frequently than straight hair because the natural oils from the scalp are slower to travel down the hair shaft. Depending on your hair type, aim to wash your hair every other day, or every three days at the minimum.

Opt for sulfate-free shampoo that’s designed for curls
Sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate are the two main types of sulfates used in shampoo. They are foaming agents, and the reason your shampoo lathers up so well. While they might be effective at stripping away dirt, grime and oil build-up on your hair and scalp, they also strip away the good oils you need, which add moisture.

Rinse your hair with cooler water
Since it’s winter, it’s tempting to take steaming hot showers, but the hotter the water you wash your hair with, the more it will dry it out – and this goes for your scalp too. However, it doesn’t mean you need to take cold showers but, when you can, wash your hair with the coolest water you can stand. Hot water strips moisture from the hair shaft, whereas cold water shocks your hair cuticles closed, resulting in healthier, shinier, and stronger hair. Likewise, hot water strips your scalp of natural oils.

Lean on leave-in conditioners
Leave-in conditioners typically contain humectants, which absorb moisture from the surrounding environment and deliver these water molecules to hair. This hydrates and softens dry strands, making them stronger and more elastic. To make sure you’re locking in moisture, look for leave-in conditioners that contain powerful humectants such as glycerine, propylene glycol and sorbitol.

Use gentle heat
You might be tempted to turn up the heat on your hairdryer to dry your hair quicker, but you won’t be doing your hair any favours if you do this. Excessive heat treatments will cause your hair to be dry and brittle, so try to use low heat settings as much as possible. To speed up the hair-drying process, wrap your hair in a microfibre towel or cotton T-shirt. Microfibre is more effective at soaking up moisture than other fabrics, and the soft and silky material won’t cause damage to your hair.

Seal hair with hair oil
Don’t assume your leave-in conditioner is enough to restore dry and brittle hair. Hair oils containing argan or jojoba oil are great for locking in moisture and adding shine. Since oil and water don’t mix, save your hair oil for the last step – warm up a few drops between your palms and gently apply to hair using the praying hands technique. Avoid putting hair oil near your roots as your scalp already produces natural oils and you can cause your roots to look greasy.

Trim your ends regularly
Frizziness and dryness starts to show in the ends of your hair first as they are the thinnest part of the strand, so if you’re struggling to repair dead ends with product alone, it might be time for a trim. Make sure to go to a stylist who specialises in curly hair, as curly hair needs to be cut dry and in layers.