What Not to Do With Hair in Winter
Not only can cold and dry winter air be problematic for your skin , it can also cause some unwanted changes in your hair and scalp. This means that we may need to change our hair care routine to better protect it throughout the season. And part of that is avoiding certain treatments and styling practices that can cause additional damage to your hair. Here’s what you need to know.
What happens to your hair in winter?
When the temperature outside drops and the air inside is dry, as well as static electricity, harsh water treatment chemicals, and hat hair (i.e. friction) to deal with, you may notice that your hair and scalp feel different. than in warmer weather. .
“You have to treat your hair like a cashmere sweater,” says dermatologist Dr. Wilma Bergfeld of the Cleveland Clinic. “Remember, hair is a fiber.” And while everyone’s hair is different, she says it’s important to treat it with care this season, especially with fragile, damaged, or thin hair.
What not to do with hair in winter
Instead of focusing on finding products to address winter hair problems, physicians such as Bergfeld and Dr. Jeff Donovan , a Vancouver board certified dermatologist, recommend avoiding certain cold weather treatments and practices, including the following:
Heat styling
“The first rule of thumb is to limit how often you fluff [your hair] by burning it with a flat iron, overheating it with a hair dryer, or applying harsh chemicals to it,” explains Bergfeld . Specifically, Donovan recommends limiting flat irons, blow dryers, and/or curling irons to a few days a week, and when absolutely necessary, make sure your hair is 70 percent dry before styling.
Wearing an unlined hat
Donovan explains that this curly, static hair, known as “hat hair”, is the result of wool, cotton, or other coarse fabrics rubbing against the hair strands and absorbing moisture. People with curly or wavy hair are especially prone to wearing a hat, which can potentially lead to breakage, so he recommends wearing silk or satin-lined hats or using a scarf as a shield.
Coloring and bleaching
While some hair coloring substances and methods are safer for your hair than others, Bergfeld says it’s best to avoid hair coloring during the winter months. This is because in order to remove the pigment from your hair, color treatments must penetrate the hair strands, breaking down essential fatty acids and proteins. This happens all year round, but in the winter your hair needs more time to recover from this process.