8 Hair Care Mistakes to Avoid During Winter

Winter is a season marked by extremely cold weather, the change is significant enough that we make changes in how we live so we can adapt to the weather and survive. We wear warm clothing to preserve our body heat, get enough food, and stay sheltered. As much as we recognize the need to adjust in most areas of our daily living and care, it is very easy to neglect to make the necessary adjustments needed to keep our hair healthy.

Even though an overall healthy lifestyle is needed to have healthy, shiny, and voluminous hair, there are everyday practices that we must pay attention to during winter to keep our hair healthy and protect it from damage. Especially as the cold and dry winter winds can make your hair dry and brittle. Without the proper awareness of the effective practices that are needed for hair health in winter, we are prone to some common mistakes that can end up being disastrous for our hair. In this article, we’ll bring to your attention 8 common mistakes you’re prone to making with your hair in winter. This knowledge will help you know what to watch out for and the changes you need to make to your hair care routine and practice.

8 Hair Care Mistakes You Should Avoid During Winter

Showering With Hot Water

Winter is indeed cold, we completely understand the urge (or need sometimes) to take a hot shower or sit in a hot tub. But before you take that hot shower or shampoo your hair with hot water, understand that hot water can cause damage to your hair. Hot water can dehydrate your scalp, damage hair follicles, strip your scalp of its natural oils, and make your hair brittle. If you must take a hot shower, make sure to protect your hair from the hot water stream and try not to use hot water when shampooing your hair. You can use lukewarm water instead of hot water to protect your hair from dehydration.

Wearing a Hat For Too Long

Even though you need to wear some type of hat to protect your hair when you step outside in the cold, you should make sure to take it off immediately when you get indoors and there is no longer the danger of your hair getting damaged due to exposure to the elements. Wearing a hat for too long blocks your scalp from breathing which is not very good for your hair. You should also watch out for the material the inside of your hat is made of, try opting for silk as it won’t cause friction with your hair or affect it in any way.

Insufficient Cleansing

It is possible to want to shy away from washing your hair during winter or skip a few wash days, this is not advisable. Not keeping up with your washing routine during winter can cause a build-up of dirt, dust, and oil and lead to the clogging of scalp pores and hair follicles. Make sure to religiously maintain your washing routine during winter to keep your hair healthy and prevent problems like scalp irritation, itching, and hair fall.

Insufficient Conditioning

Conditioning does to your hair what moisturizing does to your skin. Conditioning gives your hair moisture and nourishment. Since winter is known for drying out hair, it is clear why improper or insufficient conditioning is a mistake you don’t want to make with your hair during winter. Regular and proper conditioning will keep your hair and scalp nourished and moisturized.

Not Completely Drying Hair Before Stepping Out

The normal procedure is to wash your hair, dry your hair, then step out if you need to. Sometimes you could be in a rush to step out and you skip the drying process or dry your hair just enough so you can go out. Try not to do this during winter. During winter, the cold air can make the moisture in your hair freeze, leading to a separation of your strands, which can then lead to breakage, split ends, and frizz. Make sure to dry your hair properly before stepping out during winter, and don’t forget to wear a protective hat too.

Chemical Treatments

The cold air of winter is already bad for your hair, it dries it out. Getting chemical treatments during winter is like adding fire to an already raging fire. Chemical treatments during winter can stretch the dryness that comes with the cold air further, weakening the roots of your hair and leading to breakage and hair loss. Completely steer clear of chemical treatments during winter months, your hair will thank you for it.

Regular Use of Heat Styling Tools

Frequently using heat styling tools like hairdryers, straighteners, and the likes causes hair dryness and hair breakage. Your hair is more prone to dryness during winter, so anything that will further pull moisture out of it should be avoided. If you have to use a hairdryer, use it at low temperatures and invest in a diffuser to reduce the impact and effect of the heat on your hair.

Not Using a Microfiber Towel

Most of us use the same towel we use to dry our skin to dry our hair and to make matters worse we tug and pull at our hair in a quest to get all the water out. Using the normal terry cloth towel used in drying the body to dry your hair can cause a lot of damage. The terrycloth towel causes friction, which can lead to hair damage and frizz. Get yourself a microfiber towel or a towel specifically designed for drying hair to keep your hair from getting damaged.

Not Drinking Enough Water

As we all know, what you eat and your overall health is an important factor in how healthy your hair looks and feels. Not drinking enough water during winter can lead to dehydration, reducing the amount of moisture your hair follicles get, and making it more prone to dryness, brittleness, and breakage. Make sure to drink enough water during winter so your hair follicles can have an adequate supply of hydration to replace whatever is lost to the cold and dry breeze of winter.

Conclusion

On the flip side of all these common mistakes are practices you can adopt to make sure your hair stays healthy throughout winter and beyond. All you need to do is pay close attention to your hair care practice during winter and make changes where necessary.