It’s that time of year again! The temperature starts to drop and frosty flurries start falling from the sky. But what does that mean for our curls?
It’s no secret that it gets a lil’ harder to maintain a healthy head of hair in the winter season. ❄️
The harsh winds and dry air make it difficult to retain moisture and can cause frizz, split ends and breakage. That’s why we’ve put together a list of five easy ways to winterize and protect ur curls this season.
1. Stay Dry
You’ve probably been told a dozen times not to go out with wet hair in the winter to avoid catching a cold. While wet hair hasn’t been directly correlated with a case of the sniffles, it can certainly lead to hair damage. When the cold air hits you, it affects your hair from the inside out. Since water expands as it freezes, the water molecules inside wet hair can cause the hair shaft to swell and cause the cuticle layer to lift.
This leaves it more susceptible to splitting, breakage and shock from extreme temperatures. So be sure to give yourself some extra time to air-dry or diffuse your curls before you wander out into a winter wonderland.
2. Bundle Up
Just because your curls may not ‘feel’ the cold the way your skin does, doesn’t mean they don't need to be bundled up too. Covering up your curls in the cold will help to keep them warm and protect them from climate shock. Tucking your curls away in your jacket, hood or hat will also shield them from strong winds. Just be mindful of the fabrics and material in your winter gear.
Knits, wool, and fleece not only steal moisture and frizz up your hair but are also prone to trapping individual strands of hair in the weaves of the fabric.
Stick with smooth synthetics or silk-lined winter wear to avoid unnecessary snagging and frizzing, your curls will thank you for it!
3. Step Up Your Deep Con Game
Here at LUS (Love Ur Self), we’re big advocates for a solid and consistent deep conditioning routine, especially at this time of year. In fact, when the cold weather comes in, you might want to start deep conditioning more frequently: perhaps every 1–2 weeks, depending on your hair health and wash cycle. The LUS (Love Ur Self) Deep Condition & Repair makes keeping a consistent routine easy-peasy, since it was designed to work within 5-15 minutes without the use of added heat.
BONUS TIPS:
Your deep conditioner is most effective when it coats every curl. Use a brush or wide-tooth comb to apply in sections and evenly distribute from root to tip. Check out this vid of our girl, Octavia, to see how it's done!
4. Seal It In
Once you’ve found your perfect wash and deep conditioning routine, it’s time to put all that moisture on lock. You don’t want to work so hard to maintain your moisture just for it get sucked right back out.
Oils are great for softening your curls and sealing moisture inside of them. Hot oil treatments can be used for quick repair while using a small amount of oil right after styling can help smooth out frizz and maintain moisture levels in between wash days.
Our Elixir Oil formula is an amazing blend of 7 pure ingredients plus vitamin E that help nourish and treat your hair with essential nutrients and, minerals. It's absolutely free of fillers, fragrance, dyes, preservatives, and is non-comedogenic. Perfect for not only fighting dry winter hair, but dry winter skin too!
5. Hit Refresh
With the dry winter season upon us, in the best interest of your curls, you should avoid washing your hair too often. Of course, how often you wash your hair will always depend on your hair type, but it’s important to keep in mind that every time you shampoo, you're removing natural oils that help nourish and protect your hair.
As a curly girl, trying to stretch your styles and have your curls last longer can be difficult. That’s where ‘refreshing’ comes in. By refreshing your hair, you can get slept-on curls looking fresh for the day while also buying you time between wash days. Like all curl routines, refresh methods can vary with each unique curl type. To find out what works for you, check out the LUS (Love Ur Self) How-To Page where we feature a compilation of curly girls from our community (each with different curl types) showing us how they rock their next day curls.
What Works For You
At the end of the day, it’s important to listen to your hair. Since every curly girl has her own unique head of hair, it’s important to experiment to see what works for you and your curls.
Each of these suggestions is subjective, and some may not apply to your hair type — that’s why we encourage everyone in our community to find their own custom curl routine.
