Source @twobwavy
Because of the snow-tinged frigid winds, dry indoor air, and skull-hugging hats, winter is not a wonderland for wavies. When the temperature dips outside, it is only natural to crank up the heat indoors. This dry heat saps moisture from your hair and skin leading to a dry, flaky scalp and even drier hair that is listless, dull, and flat. The cold air outside causes the same issues, but an increase in moisture in the air may also cause strands to swell and eventually frizz. Follow this how-to to zap your top wavy worries.
Dry, itchy, flaky scalp
If you want to get to the root of your hair woes, start with your scalp. If it is irritated and lacks proper moisture, do the following:
- Use a scalp brush every wash day to exfoliate your scalp and increase circulation. See Cristina’s Wash Day Routine video for more information on using a scalp brush.
- Avoid washing your hair with water that is overly hot because it can lead to additional dryness.
- Massage your scalp bi-weekly with a therapeutic oil or serum. Canviiy ScalpBliss Itch-Calming Organic-Based Serum will relieve the irritation and leave your scalp feeling refreshed.
Dry, limp hair that has lost its waves
Wind up your waves even in the worst weather with these tips:
- Add moisture to your sleeping environment. A humidifier is a great tool to help relieve dryness of your hair and skin. For winter, the warm mist models are best.
- Use a moisturizing masque at least once a week. SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Hair Masque will restore your waves and leave them soft and shiny. For best results, cover your hair with a thermal hair care tool like Thermal Hair Care Posh Hot Head.
- Clarify your waves as appropriate. Clarifying is an important part of any healthy hair regimen but it can be slightly drying if done more frequently than needed. If your hair is looking weighed-down, greasy, and stringy and regular washing doesn’t seem to help, clarify with a gentle clarifying treatment.
- Switch up your products. If you are using products with drying ingredients, or products that are weighing hair down, switch to water-based ones that contain moisturizing ingredients. Briogeo Curl Charisma Definition All the Way Curl Essentials Kit has everything you need to get gorgeous, moisturized, bouncy waves.
Frizzy, puffy hair
In addition to the moisturizing that you need to combat winter dryness, seal your hair with a moisture-rich pomade to increase shine and encourage wave formation.
Hat hair
If you are covering those curls and waves with a hat, try a more hair-friendly option like a loose-fitting head scarf.
Wind-blown waves
While a gentle-breeze can give you a fun, carefree coif, the howling winds of winter can totally wreck your waves. To arrive at your destination looking presentable, wash and condition your hair, or refresh it, and then use your favorite styler to create a cast. Do not break the cast before you leave. Instead, loosely pile your hair on top of your head, cover with a snood, and then with a loosely fitting cap or scarf. When you get where you are going, remove the snood and head covering and shake out and scrunch your waves.
Second-day lifeless hair
Second day (and beyond hair”> is much more difficult to deal with in the winter than it is any other time of the year. Who wants to leave the house with wet hair in sub-zero weather? If you’ve done all the sleep-proofing steps like putting your hair in a pineapple or t-shirt turban and sleeping on a satin pillowcase and your hair still hijacks your morning, refresh by misting your hair with water, and following it up with a conditioning refresher or foam such as Ouidad Curl Recovery Whipped Curls Daily Conditioner & Styling Primer to put the moisture back into your hair. Scrunch, and then allow the product to dry, and you are ready to go.
What are your favorite winter hair care tips? Let us know in the comments. For 20 Best Styling Products for Type 2 Wavy Hair click here.
