Not everyone is a fan of winter weather for many reasons, one being because of the number it can do on your hair — especially if you have kinky or curly hair [1]. Truth is, curls already have a tendency to dry out faster regardless of the season (you can thank the natural oils from your scalp, which have a harder time travelling down a spiral strand than they do straighter types, for that), so when you pair that with the cold, moisture-sucking air that tends to come in the winter months, you're bound to experience even more dryness than usual.
That said, much like you might tweak your skin-care routine in the winter to make sure your skin is staying hydrated and healthy, there are also a handful of changes you can make to your hair-care regimen to ensure your curls retain as much moisture as possible [2].
If you're currently looking for ways to winter-proof your curly hair-care routine [3], read ahead for a few pro tips.
Tip #1: Moisturise Your Hair Often
"The most important thing you can do to protect your natural curly hair in the winter is to make sure that it is properly moisturised [4]," Annagjid "Kee" Taylor [5], owner of Deeper Than Hair Salon [6] in Philadelphia, told POPSUGAR. You should be doing to your best to moisturise your hair during all seasons, but as Taylor points out, it's an easy problem for people to forget about in the colder months: "Moisture is key for healthy hair. The moisture helps create a barrier between your strands and the cold weather."
A few of Taylor's favourite products for moisturising and sealing the hair include the Deeper Than Hair Resurrection Masque [7] ($23) because it's "fortified with proteins, moisturising ingredients like jojoba, and other extracts to improve moisture and prevent breakage," the E'tae Natural Products Buttershine Moisturising Hair and Scalp Cream [8] ($20), and Daily Dose Miracle Moisture Spray Leave-In Conditioner & Detangler [9] ($18).
Tip #2: Stay Away From Harsh Scarves and Fabrics
The heavier clothing you typically wear in the winter to stay warm is often made with harsher materials (like wool) that can snag on your hair and cause it to break. So, it's important to be mindful of how your clothing can affect your hair.
"One of the most significant things I notice with my clients in the winter is the amount of breakage on the backs of their heads," Taylor said. "This is due to the materials of warm winter clothes like scarves, hats, hoodies, sweaters. The fabrics are really harsh on the hair, pulling on the strands and causing them to break off, particularly at the nape."
To prevent this from happening, Taylor recommends using a silk or satin scarf to create a barrier between your hair and your scarf or sweater. "Honestly, avoid wool altogether, unless your hair is wrapped in silk," she added.
Tip #3: Sleep On a Silk or Satin Pillowcase
Speaking of fabrics, if you don't have a silk or satin pillowcase — like the Slip Satin Zippered Pillowcase [10] ($89) — we highly recommend investing in one since these are much easier on your curls than a regular, cotton pillowcases. "Sleeping on silk pillowcases is always a good idea for your hair, especially in winter when you want to retain as much moisture as you can," Taylor said.
Satin pillowcases aren't always cheap, so alternatively if you're not ready to spend the money on one, or even if you feel like you want some extra protection throughout the night, you could always buy a satin scarf or head wrap to sleep in that'll work just as well.
Tip #4: Wear a Protective Style
Other than moisture (or lack thereof), breakage and over-manipulation are two more problems you should be mindful of in the winter. A good way to get ahead of both of these things is to spend a few weeks wearing a protective style that'll keep your ends tucked away and free from any extra stress. If you need some inspiration, check out our protective style guide here [11].