For many people on the West Coast, or anywhere in the Northern Hemisphere, Winter is a wonderful time to cozy up inside with the indoor heating systems fired up and warming our homes. If you’re adventurous, you may head outside in the cooler temperatures to enjoy a crisp walk in the forest, a trip to the snowy mountains or a frosty winter surf.

Unfortunately with freezing cold temperatures and excessive in-home heating, our skin tends to dry up and become irritated or flakey. It can also wreak havoc on our hair. You may have experienced a number of cold-weather hair woes in the past: Dry brittle hair, split ends, frizz, a tight or itchy scalp.

However, the solution to this may be simpler than you think. By combining the right habits as well as proper hair care, you can continue to experience the healthy, luscious locks you so desire throughout every season. Here’s how:

Brush Your Hair Before You Shower

This might surprise you as for many people, brushing their hair after they get out of the shower makes the most sense.

When your hair is wet it is more vulnerable to breakage. By brushing knots out when it's dry - preferably before you hop in the shower to wash your hair - you distribute the natural oils from your scalp down to the ends of your hair.

One great added benefit: post-shower your hair is already smooth and ready to style!

Be Aware Of Ingredients

It’s easy to be sucked into pretty packaging or cheaper prices when it comes to beauty products, but the key thing you should really be focusing on when picking out haircare (or skincare for that matter) is ingredients.

As you pick out your products, narrow down your options by looking for strengthening ingredients, which will nourish your strands. Search for products that include ingredients such as Nettle, which can help in making hair shinier and healthier, or Oat Protein which can reduce breakage and protect from further damage.

In our Organic | Botanical Shampoo we use a blend of ingredients such as Hemp Seed Oil and Horsetail Herb (as well as Nettle and Oat Protein) to gently soften and nourish your hair.

Choose products that are free from synthetic chemicals, artificial fragrances, chemical preservatives, sulfates and/or detergents.

Once you've chosen a shampoo that works for you, lather up!

Condition Your Hair With Care

It is important to make sure your scalp gets hydration as well!

If you use a lot of dry shampoo or other styling products (ie hairspray, gels, etc), your scalp might end up with quite a lot of build-up which can create itchiness and in some cases, may even slow hair growth. In other words, it’s important your scalp is getting just as much care as the rest of your hair. 

After applying your conditioner to the mid-shaft and ends of your hair, continue up to the scalp, leave on for 1-5 minutes and rinse. 

Take Time For Treatments

Our hair deserves a little tender love and care.

Just like you might put a mask on your face once or twice a week, your hair requires the same treatment. Exposure to the elements can contribute to damage, so it’s important to be wary of UV rays, free radicals, and other environmental contributors, such as cold temperatures. 

To keep locks hydrated and prevent frizz, use a replenishing hair mask or deep conditioner at least once a week. Try incorporating it into your self-care Sunday routine or more frequently if you use hot styling tools on a regular basis. 

Our Organic | Botanical Conditioner doubles as a hair treatment. Apply a generous amount from mid-shaft to ends, wrap your hair in a towel or a bun and go about your day. Leave on your hair for 1-3 hours or overnight depending on how dry your hair is and how your schedule looks. Rinse out with a gentle shampoo, focusing only on the scalp, and enjoy your soft luscious hair!

Trim Your Hair Regularly 

This may seem counter-intuitive but when it comes to growing long, healthy hair, you can’t shy away from frequent haircuts.

When you have split ends, the hair slowly splits up the shaft, which leads to breakage and slower growth. By going in for regular cuts, you can prevent this from happening.

Depending on how long your hair is and how long you want it to grow, you may want to book in for a trim every 6-8 weeks. If you’re hoping to continue growing your hair longer, specify to your hairdresser that you only want a trim, which will get rid of damaged ends but maintain the length. 

Avoid Styling With Heat Daily

Heat styling works by breaking down the hydrogen bonds in the hair. Whether this is for straightening or curling your hair, hot tools restructure and restyle your hair pattern. So, it may not be so shocking to hear that using curlers, straighteners, and blowdryers on a regular basis can do quite a lot of damage to your hair, causing fried ends and decreased moisture content.

To prevent too much damage from being done, invest in good quality tools from a reputable brand (many of these will be coated with protective films) and use a heat protectant on your hair. 

You can also limit the use of hot styling tools by planning out your hairstyles. You can try letting your hair air dry for as long as possible before blowdrying, then after styling using dry shampoo between washes to keep your hair fresh without the need for heat!

What are the hair growth tips that we need to know? Share your advice in the comment section below or tag us in your #luscioushair posts on Instagram (@tofinosoapco) if you try any of the tips mentioned above!

In addition to regular hair care routines, consider consulting professionals for advice tailored to your hair type and lifestyle, including recommendations on aesthetic medical services if needed. aesthetic medical services