Easy Ways to Protect Your Natural Hair in the Winter
Curious about how to take care of your natural hair in the winter?
Plus, some of the conventional methods of cutting hair don’t apply to women with curls. You probably already know you need to trim to have healthy hair, but it can be difficult to know when and how you should cut
Well first off, make sure you're NOT making these 10 Natural Hair Mistakes!
Let's be honest, trying to follow an elaborate regimen is probably one of the last things you want to do during the cold season.
It’s dark, gloomy, and there’s not a whole lot of energy to be found for wash day. You’d probably rather hibernate. The problem is, the more you let your hair hibernate, the more damage you’ll have to repair later.
So, what’s a curly girl to do?
In this post, you’ll find out all about easy winter haircare, so you can get the full and healthy hair you want year-round. If you’re looking for the best winter natural haircare tips, keep reading.
Curly Hair Craves Moisture
The way you take care of your hair in the winter can have a dramatic effect on the overall health of your hair. You may find that your hair grows slower and that it doesn’t feel as soft or pliable like it does during the warmer months.
The cold season often causes brittle hair and dryness, making it difficult to retain length. Your scalp may become drier and itchier too, hindering the follicles from creating strong, elastic hair.
Luckily, there are some things you can do to combat the winter hair blues and turn the dryness around. The key is to make your regimen easier by doing a few smart techniques.
If you make a habit out of these methods, you’ll soon have the gorgeous, long hair you want.
Deep Conditioning Your Natural Hair in the Winter
Doing weekly conditioning masks is one of the best things you can do to infuse moisture into your strands. When it’s cold and dark, you may not have tons of energy to cook up fantastic DIY products in your kitchen.
The easiest thing to do in the wintertime is to purchase a jar of deep conditioner and spruce it up by adding a few of your own ingredients.
Natural oils and humectants are two of the most moisturizing things to add to your deep conditioner. Here are three favorite additions:
- Avocado Oil. You’ll probably love the creaminess of this oil on your curls. Avocado oil is loaded with nutrition and it can penetrate deeply because its molecules are small enough to enter the hair shaft. Adding 1-2 teaspoons of this useful oil will feed the shaft nutrients during the week.
- Jojoba Oil. Jojoba is actually a wax that acts very much like your scalp’s natural sebum. As you probably know, sebum has trouble traveling the full length of curly hair because of the many coils. Jojoba does a great job of mimicking your sebum when you spread it to the end of each strand. Add a small amount to your jar of deep conditioner for extra protection.
- Honey or Glycerin. These humectants will draw moisture from the air and into your hair. They combat the dryness of winter and they will help to soften and condition the hair. They should always be combined with water or water-based products. Most deep conditioner brands list water as their first ingredient, but always check the label before adding glycerin. 1-2 tablespoons of honey or glycerin per 12-oz container of deep conditioner is plenty.
The LOC Method for Curly and Kinky Hair
Layering on products with the LOC method is one of the most helpful things you can do to keep your hair moisturized during the winter.
This technique consists of three steps: Liquid, oil, and cream. By applying your products in a sequence, you’ll withstand the harshness of winter.
Layering products onto your strands will be more effective than mixing and applying them all at once because you’ll have several layers of protective coats.
Here is a breakdown of the LOC Method:
- Liquid. Your natural hair care session should always begin with hydration. The hydrator can be water from a shower, aloe vera juice or gel, or a water-based product. Hair becomes softer, pliable, and more manageable when it has enough H20 infused into the shaft.
- Oil. A nutritive oil will help to seal in the hydration from the first step. Plus, you’ll find that oils are perfect for lubricating the strand enough to slide tangles apart easier. If you use a penetrative oil like avocado, coconut, or olive, you’ll be able to feed your hair nutrients too.
- Cream. Heavy and light creams are perfect for applying an additional layer onto the strand. This last step will help you style your curls and avoid frizz.
If you routinely do all three steps in method two or three times per week, you’ll likely have moisturized hair that is less prone to breakage.
Protecting Your Natural Hair from the Elements
Now that you know how to moisturize and seal each strand with a product, you can guard it even further by covering your curls.
Here are three of the best ways to shield your natural hair from harsh weather:
- Use Protective Styling. This type of styling is helpful for growing long, healthy curls. The idea behind it is to fully or partially cover the ends of the hair. Twists, bantu knots, and classy updos make great protective hairstyles. Want an easy protective style you can do quickly each morning? Use your Snappee hair tie to make a braided low bun. Wrap your hair with the Snappee to form a low ponytail. Close the Snappee, and then create a braid. Finish by tucking the end of the braid under the Snappee to make sure it’s well-hidden from the cold.
- Wear a Hat or Scarf When Outside. It’s simple, inexpensive and effective. Using a hat could save your hair this winter and make your wash days much easier. What if you don’t want to wear a hat all day long? If you purchase a satin-lined hat, you’ll be able to slide it on and off throughout the day without creating friction and tangles. Just put it on when you go outside into the cold and remove it when you’re indoors. A silk scarf is easy to wear and protective too.
- Nightly Satin Bonnet. It’s hard to believe that the way we treat our curls at night will affect the way they hold up during the day, but it’s true. You may not see broken strands on the pillow case, but the breakage will show itself on wash day if you don’t guard your curls. Satin bonnets serve to protect the hair from pillowcase friction and breakage and they help to keep moisture inside the strand, where it belongs.
Ready for healthy winter hair? There are a couple things to keep in mind. The winter hair care routine is not one-size fits all. Every head of curls is different.
Plus, your city’s climate can vary from day to day.
Do you live in a climate that has dry frost on Monday and high-humidity on Tuesday? Check the weather before you go out, so you can plan and adjust your regimen.
Above all, it’s crucial to experiment and see what your hair likes. Taking care of your hair and scalp during the winter months will help you to have healthy growth year-round.
Remember, make sure you're NOT making these 10 Natural Hair Mistakes or else none of the above will work for you.
Now, it’s your turn to discuss. How do you care for your natural hair in the winter?