Top 5 Winter Hair Care Tips For Seasonally Affected Hair

Does your hair have seasonal affective disorder (SAD)? If so, you're not alone. The bleak winter weather can wreak havoc with hairstyles, leaving you with a fraying nest which is more Winehouse than Cole. This is nothing short of a disaster - you need your hair to look shiny, healthy and full of life for all those Christmas and New Year parties!

Look after your hair in the winter with proper hair care and some good quality hair care products, and your hot locks will set the tone for your Christmas period look, getting you off to a good start when it comes to making the most of the holiday season. Leave it to chance and you could find all those carefully selected outfits ruined by a disobedient barnet.

Here are the top 5 winter hair care tips to keep your hair well-behaved for winter.

Condition well

One of the main problems with winter is that it can strip the hair of moisture. It's therefore vital to use hair care products which will replenish that moisture and a good conditioner is the best place to start. Along with using the right type of moisturizing conditioner for your hair (ask your stylist which hair care products are best for your hair type), treat your hair with an intensive conditioning treatment twice a week. For best results, slather on the conditioner and wrap your hair in a towel for ten minutes - this creates a humid environment, allowing the conditioner to penetrate the hair properly.

Rinse with cold water

Rinsing with cold water after washing out hair care products is a good way to help lock in the moisture from your conditioner. It also gives added shine to the hair.

Don't go outside with wet hair

Going outside with wet hair in winter can lead to the hair freezing and possibly breaking, so try to make sure your hair is dry and protected before you leave the house. If you're going out in the cold weather, you also need to be wary of hats. If you want to wear a hat, make sure it fits properly and clean your hats regularly. Wearing a tight hat can lead to limp, greasy hair due to overworked sebaceous glands.

Avoid heating the hair

Any extreme temperature can lead to hair damage, so icy cold weather and central heating in winter is a troublesome combination for hair care, robbing moisture and increasing static. Try not to overuse any hot items on the hair in winter. Blow dryers and curling tongs, for example, can dry out the hair. Limit use of your hairdryer and, when you do use it, use a cool setting. This will take longer but it will be far less likely to contribute to the winter damage of your hair.

Don't shampoo too often

Winter weather and central heating will dry your hair meaning you need to shampoo less often at this time of year. Try to leave longer between washes - at least a day - and the natural oils will help prevent the hair drying out. When you do wash, use moisturising hair care products to help reduce dryness. Now - time to get ready for that party!