It’s getting cold outside! Despite the cold, we still need to keep our hair clean. During the colder and drier months, it is quite useful in changing up your natural hair wash day routine to ensure you keep hair moisturized and protected. Cleansing our natural hair is one of the most important regimens we do for our tresses. For obvious reasons we need to cleanse our hair to remove pollutants, dirt, product build-up and in some instances smoke and odors. It’s a part of good hygiene but ask any natural and she will tell you it’s the best way to maintain healthy, happy hair.
Most of us need structure in our lives so we have a routine or a schedule we follow on how often to wash our hair but do we need that schedule in the colder months? Yes, you do! Check out these simple tips to take to ensure the harsh temperatures will not harm your tresses!
Add Glycerin To Your Regimen On Wash Day
Use Glycerin Or Thicker, Richer Conditioners because colder months are drier months and we don’t want that dryness transferring to our hair. Your hair shouldn’t be any dirtier than in warmer months and actually some climates get a small reprieve from the hot sticky weather. One of the best and easiest ways to add glycerin to your routine is adding a few drops to your spray bottle. I use lavender oil and distilled water in my spray bottle but during winter, I add a few drops of glycerin along with Kinky-Curly Knot Today Leave In Conditioner/Detangler.
Use sulfate-free shampoo on Wash Day
Many naturals have ditched regular shampoos on wash day but they do serve a necessary purpose especially if hair is overly dirty. You may be using a cowash regularly and clarifying shampoo when needed but during these drier months, a sulfate-free shampoo is a good idea. Using a sulfate-free shampoos makes sure you are not being too harsh on your hair while still cleaning it properly.
Now, if hair is super dirty or filled with silicones, then cleanse with a clarifying shampoo but make sure to follow up with a deep conditioner (which you should be doing on every wash day) with heat. One of my favorites sulfate-free shampoo is Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen, Grow & Restore Shampoo.
Enlist the aid of an humidifier
I know, most of us only use them when sick but a humidifier in your bedroom will combat the dryness indoors as we crank up the heat in our rooms. Use a humidifier to combat the dryness you have indoors as we shield ourselves from the cold with our heaters. Adding humidity to the house will help keep moisture around and directly and positively affect your tresses. Your hair will thank you!
Wash Your Hair Less & Try A Dry Shampoo
As too much washing can strip hair of the much needed moisture that the colder temps and drying heat from indoors tends to cause dryness. Be careful of creating product build-up so washing less is tolerable and know that often we are over-washing anyway. Washing less even by one week will be helpful. Feeling like your hair needs a slight cleansing? Try using a dry shampoo in-between regular wash days to keep hair fresh longer. Didn’t know black women used dry shampoo? Well, we do and a couple of faves are Girl and Hair Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse and Bumble and Bumble Pret A Powder Dry Shampoo.
These are simple tips that won’t require much extra work on your wash day, but will alleviate common dryness from winter. All too often neglecting this common problem makes for a bad spring with breakage and regret. Even if you only try a couple of these tips you will see a huge improvement in your hair’s moisture and health so enjoy winter in a smarter way!
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How often do you wash your hair during winter Naturals? Share below!
Sabrina
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