As the seasons change, so too should your skin and hair regimes. During winter your skin and hair become susceptible to damage because you are frequently exposed to colder weather. Colder weather causes your hair to become dry, weak and brittle, and your skin to turn dry and flaky. RY has developed a few simple tips for looking after your skin and hair in winter to ensure both remain glowing and healthy.
The secrets to shiny, strong hair in Winter
1) Use shampoo and conditioners which focus on protecting and nourishing your hair. It is important to use ones which are more moisterising than you would normally use. Using a moisterising hair treatment every week or a nutrient-rich oil as a daily styling aid (instead of heat protectants) will also protect against the winter woes. Try this natural macadamia oil treatment and other products in their range to keep your hair shiny and nourished.
2) Try not to not wash your hair every day. This is because the natural oils produced by the scalp will be stripped away and your hair will become more prone to dryness, breakage and splitting. Using a shampoo and conditioner which focus on dry hair will ensure your hair and scalp is nourished in the best way possible.
3) Do not be tight with conditioner. Conditioning is vital to creating a shield against the harsh winter weather. Conditioner enhances the strength, shine and elasticity of your hair minimising dryness, splitting and breakage. Now is also the perfect time to invest in a leave-in conditioner to ensure your hair is protected all day long.
4) Have regular trims to eliminate split ends and ensure your hair remains healthy.
5) Colour is also prone to fading during winter months, so be sure to keep up your treatments to avoid dull looking hair.
6) Avoid leaving the house with wet hair because this can influence the hair to become very cold and become prone to breakage. Wearing berets or beanies can protect your luscious locks. However, wearing them correctly is critical. If they are worn too tight they can restrict your circulation and induce your oil glands to work overtime and leave your hair too oily and greasy.
7) Although we love hot showers in winter, try to settle for luke warm shower instead. Hot water can leave your scalp dry, itchy and flaky and prone to dandruff.
8) We tend to heat-style more in winter so we can feel warm whilst making ourselves presentable for the day. However, heat styling makes our hair more prone to damage and it is crucial to give your hair some time off. Avoid using dryers because in winter the effects of brittle, dry hair is even worse. If you must dry your hair, use the cool settings on your dryer. Although it may take a little longer to dry, the shine in your hair will be well worth the wait! It is also important to be careful when towel drying your hair as well. Avoid vigorous rubbing and instead gently blot your hair dry and focus more on air-drying. But remember to not leave the house with wet hair! (see tip 6).
9) Static is also common during winter because of low levels of hair moisture. The best ways to avoid this are through:
– using natural brush bristles, as opposed to plastic
– avoid products with too much alcohol content
– use anti-static sprays on your hair and also apply to scarfs, beanies and hats
– do not comb your hair when it is wet and try to use a wide tooth wooden comb
– after styling, spray small amounts of hair spray on your hair brush and brush it through from top to bottom
The secrets to glowing Winter skin
10) Exfoliation is a must! This will remove the layers of dead and dry skin and foster the development of new skin cells.
11) The cold winter wind evaporates the moisture and natural oils off your skin more quickly during winter, forcing your skin to become dry more frequently. Moving from windy areas to enclosed heating areas dramatically dries out the skin. This is why it is important to moisterise your face and body in the morning, before leaving your house, and at night before bed. It is also common for us to neglect our chest and neck areas. These areas are also prone to dry skin, so if you are wearing a top which exposes your skin to the cold, it is important to wear a scarf where possible to protect your skin in these areas and prevent dry skin. It’s also a good time to use lotions which contain ingredients such as green tea, coconut oil and macadamia nut oil.
12) Chapped and splitting lips are also common irritations which occur during winter. Again, it is extremely important that you create a protective barrier for your lips to reduce the impacts of exposure to cold air. Applying a moisterising and protective lip balm should become a set step in your daily skin care regime to ensure your lips are absorbing moisture and eliminating the possibilities of painful chapping and splitting.
13) Continue to indulge in a balanced diet and drink enough water to ensure you remain hydrated on the inside and outside. Your body needs hydration and the necessary nutrients to ensure your skin and hair remains glowing and healthy. Australian supermodel, Miranda Kerr stresses the importance of a balanced diet and drinking lots of water; ‘It’s really important to drink a lot of water. I drink from 1.5 to 2 litres of water each day… I tend to follow an 80 per cent healthy and 20 per cent indulgent rule’.