WINTER HAIR Q&A

Now that we’ve tackled the major winter hair issues in our previous post, what about those pesky little problems that keep you from looking your fashion best during the dark and dreary winter months? Try these quick tips to keep your winter self in the summer fashionista style you’ve become accustom to. A Q&A on some common but seldom addressed winter style issues

Knots and tangles everywhere… “My hair knots and tangle on my bundled winter clothing”.

Wool and other rough weave fabrics are annoying and damaging to your hair. Hair gets caught up in the thicker weave causing friction and tangling. It is common to find a bit of breakage near the base of the back hairline in the months when you bundle up. A silk scarf against your hair helps, but the only way to avoid any damage at all is to keep your hair away from these types of fabrics.

What to do about hat hair… “I love wearing hats but end up with horrible hat head”.

There are so many ways to resolve this. The trick is to select a hat that works with your hair type. If you have deliciously wild curls a toque will not only confine them but squish them flat. A less constricting hat works well with curls (i.e. fedora or loose beret). Toques do however, work well with hair that lays smooth. A bit of 2^nd Day Clear Dry Shampoo sprayed on the inside of your hat helps with static.

 To air dry or not to air dry… “I air dry to prevent frizz, but just don’t have that kind of time”.

Air drying is less agitating to the hair but if you live in a colder climate it can be a bit more difficult to get out the door. Wash it the night before and twist it up in a loose knot (adding Dream Waves Beach Spray or Strictly Curls Curl Defining Lotion will help to bring out waves or curl). If you ‘must’ wash in the morning, speed up drying with a ‘hair towel’; the microfibers hold up to five times their weight in water and this efficiency helps to dry hair much quicker.

Lost that summer glow…“Since summer ended, my hair has lost that sun-kissed glow”.

We all miss our summer hair, but there is a way to keep it that is both simple and quick. Try Easy-Lites Instant Highlighting Spray; you just spray and flat iron. In the winter, a few soft highlights around the face or Ombre on the ends is just enough to remind you that summer will be back soon enough.

In a winter hair style rut… “Towards the later winter months I become bored with my look”.

The dark winter months seem to bring out the need for change with stronger urgency. The lack of moisture makes it hard to keep a good curl or add volume. If you don’t want to change your cut, small changes in your products and styling will bring you out of your rut. For example, if curly try a product that has more curl enhancing properties; if your hair is straight add some volume and texture; or try hot rollers which have a firmer hold during the winter months. Recommended: Strictly Curls Curl Booster or Dream Waves Beach Spray for texture.

THE BIG HAIR CHILL

Snowflakes, hot chocolate and cozy little fires give this season its comfy charm; but as winter moves in and the air gets drier it begins to show in your hair and scalp. Cooler months and lack of moisture make it easy for any ice princess to suffer from dryness and some very chilling hair issues – split ends, breakage, static and frizz, among other things. 

Fear not winter goddesses; Marc Anthony shares his dry hair solutions for a long winter at its beautified best.

DRY HAIR & SCALP

Winter’s lack of moisture can cause a dry, flaky scalp and as your scalp dries out so does your hair. The air around you (inside and out) also lacks moisture and as a result sucks it out of anywhere it can find it, including your hair. Hair becomes flatter and also begins to lack shine.

• Know your flakes: Be mindful of a dry scalp vs. dandruff. Dry scalp is caused by dehydration, dry heat and poor products stripping the hair, resulting in white flakes. Dandruff is actually a fungal or bacterial infection of the scalp. The flakes or skin cell clusters are large at times, greasy or waxy and are yellow or gray in colour. Anti-fungal shampoos can be horribly drying to those who don’t actually have dandruff.
• A winter cut: If you live in an exceptionally dry climate during the winter, speak to your stylist about tweaking your haircut as the lack of moisture makes your hair sit differently than it does in the more moist summer months.
• Wash less:  Dare we say this? Shampoo less to keep your natural oils where they need to be. If you need a bit of a boost try a dry shampoo to trap excess oil and add a bit of body without drying your hair out. Recommended: 2^nd Day Clear Dry Shampoo.
• Sans sulfate: Since sulfate free shampoos are less drying and less irritating they are much better at all times, but more so when the weather is dry. They are also good for those sensitive to allergies or eczema. Recommended: Oil of Morocco Argan Oil Shampoo - Sulfate Free.
• Moisture rich conditioner: Use a conditioner that not only conditions but adds moisture to help keep hair supple. Recommended: Oil of Morocco Argan Oil Conditioner.
• Hydrate your style:  Hydrate as you style to give hair lasting moisture.Look for styling products with hydration properties. For both straight or curly styles we recommend bye.bye.Frizz Keratin Smoothing Blow Dry Cream.

SPLIT ENDS & BREAKAGE

There are so many more reasons to have split ends in the winter due to the ongoing moisture issue. Hair is more likely to be dry which leads to more splitting and breaking.

• Quench those ends: The ends are the oldest part of your hair, the most fragile and the most likely place to break or split. Adding extra moisture on the ends is a good idea. A daily argan oil treatment is lightweight and penetrates easily to add moisture without feeling heavy or greasy. Recommended: Oil of Morocco Argan Oil Treatment.
• Air dry inside: Though going outside with wet hair is not good for your hair, it is much worse if it ‘freezes’ since it is more likely to break. In winter prep your hair early enough to have it dry mostly naturally. Hot tools can dehydrate hair more than usual in dry weather.

STATIC & FLY-AWAYS

This issue comes back to moisture (surprise). Dry hair rubs together causing static electricity and – as fascinating as that is – it is not conducive to a good look. Those charged particles float around waiting to mess up a perfectly good blowout.

• Moisture: Deep moisturizing helps to control static. Add a leave-in oil to your hair before putting on your hat. Recommended: Oil of Morocco Argan Oil Treatment.
• Spray for static control: Dry shampoo sprayed lightly all over your hair or on the interior of your winter hat is also quite good at helping to control static. Recommended: 2^nd Day Clear Dry Shampoo.

WINTER FRIZZ

It is important to avoid over-drying your hair at this time of the year. Summer frizz is caused by an abundance of moisture (humidity) that swells the cuticle keeping it open, but winter frizz is caused by a total lack of moisture.  When hair becomes overly dehydrated it becomes brittle causing the cuticle to become raised and appear frizzy.

• Balance moisture:  Hydration is good for frizz. You need a shampoo, conditioner and styler that delivers moisture and that are gentle. This helps to not only nourish your hair but keeps the cuticle closed, resulting in less frizz and tangles. Overly conditioning your hair in the winter can leave it limper than ever, so the product you use should still be lightweight in order to maintain a nice level of body.  Recommended: bye.bye.Frizz Keratin Smoothing Shampoo, Conditioner and Blow Dry Cream.