10 Winter Haircare Tips

Here are my 10 Winter Haircare tips, advice and recommendations for all hair types. To keep your hair looking healthy, hydrated, frizz-free and defined throughout the winter months. It can be frustrating when you get into a good routine, find products that work for your hair and give you consistent results…

Then all of a sudden, those same products and routine no longer seem to work or give you the same results. So if that sounds like you, and you’re about to go on a spending spree buying all new hair care products to try and bring your hair, waves and curls back to life, then these 10 Winter Haircare Tips are for you!

10 Winter Haircare Tips

Here are my top 10 winter haircare tips to show you that with a few tweaks to your routine, and a couple of product swaps during the winter months. You’ll be able to keep your wavy and curly hair looking healthy, hydrated, frizz-free and defined. If I could sum this post up in two words it would be: Moisture + Protect.

As the seasons change, our hair can take a week or two to adjust to the new environment, such as the cold, wind and rain. Sometimes it’s humid outside, but the dry heat from central heating, open fires, wood burning stoves and dehumidifiers inside can all effect the health of our hair.

Not to mention things like hats, scarves, coats and hoods! Which can all rub against the hair causing frizz, dryness, damage and breakage. So I’ve put together these 10 tips you can incorporate into your winter haircare routine, so you can have healthy waves and curls throughout the colder, winter months.

1. Regular Scalp Treatments

Everything, including my winter haircare tips, starts with the scalp when it comes to healthy hair, and hair growth. During the winter, whether you’re indoors a lot with central heating, dry heat, dehumidifiers and fires. Or outside in the cold, wet, windy weather and wearing a hat a lot. This can often lead to a dry, itchy, flaky or irritated scalp.

I highly recommend using a regular scalp treatment once a week. Apply to the scalp and massage 30-60 mins before washday, or the night before. Here are some of my favourites, specifically for scalp health, not hair growth – there’s a difference. Use code CURLMAVEN for up to 20% off + shop Maven Market to find these brands in your country.

• Act + Acre Scalp Detox – use if you want to soothe a dry, sensitive, itchy or irritated scalp
• The Innate Life Scalp Treatment – use if you have a dry, flaky scalp + dandruff
• Mielle Rosemary Mint Scalp Oil – use if you have a normal to dry scalp, also the most affordable
• Bouclème Dry Scalp Serum – don’t apply directly to the scalp, add 6 drops to your shampoo to relieve itchy, irritated + inflamed scalp

Top Tip: don’t use scalp scrubs as they create tiny, microscopic lesions on the scalp which only dry it out further and cause more dry, flaky, itchy and irritated scalps!

If you have afro, coily hair or very coarse textured hair that’s really dry/damaged. My top winter haircare tip is to incorporate pre-pooing into your hair routine during the winter months. My beautiful friend Lal, wrote this post for the blog. It has all the tips, advice, product recommendations and application techniques you need to know for this pre-shampoo method to preserve moisture and protect the hair from breakage. However, if you’ve got fine hair, wavy or curly or hair that gets easily over-moisturized, just keep reading, that post isn’t for you or your hair type.

2. Focus on Moisture

If you read my post on Summer Haircare Tips, you’ll know that you need to focus more on protein during the Summer, as the sun breaks down the protein in our hair. And focus more on moisture during the Winter, as the harsh weather and indoor heating causes the hair to become dry, frizzy, lack shine + definition, and lead to damaged, brittle hair.

If your hair gets easily weighed down, over-moisturized and you have to do regular protein treatments throughout the Summer. You may find reducing the protein treatments is all you need to do in Winter. If you need to introduce or increase moisture in your wavy and curly hair routine, here are a few different options:

• Swap either your shampoo and/or your conditioner for more rich, moisturizing ones.
• Incorporate co-washing once/week if you have type 4 coily hair or extremely dry, damaged or brittle hair.
• Swap your conditioner for a deep conditioner or hair mask + don’t rinse it out fully.
• Deep condition once/week using a Thermal Heat Cap for a minimum of 15-20 mins, but no longer than an hour.
• Apply a leave in conditioner as your first styling product + an oil as your last styling product.

3. Deep Condition Weekly

Now this winter haircare tip is different to the tip above. Where I suggested swapping your conditioner for a deep conditioner. You can deep condition with your regular conditioner, a deep conditioner or hair mask. It’s not the product, as much as the length of time you leave it in your hair to “deeply condition.”

You should deep condition every time you clarify (which should be once/month). But if your hair is particularly dry, damaged, brittle or breaking, then deep condition once/week throughout winter. Here are some of my favourite deep conditioners, which are a little more moisturizing for the winter. Use code CURLMAVEN for up to 20% off + shop Maven Market to find these brands in your country.

• Bounce Curl Ayurvedic Deep Conditioner – incredibly lightweight + protein free
• Act + Acre Conditioning Hair Mask – light to medium weight, contains some protein (my favourite)
• TréLuxe Soothe + Restore Deep Conditioner – medium weight + protein free
• Klorane Cupuacu 3 in 1 Hair Mask – the best detangling conditioner or mask I’ve found + also the richest!
• Matrix Biolage Hydrasource Conditioner – the most potently moisturizing, protein free and balmy conditioner on the market. Use sparingly!

Application Tip: do not apply your conditioner, deep conditioner and hair mask from the mid-lengths down. This leads to halo frizz, lack of root lift and volume, and dry ends. Instead, apply it onto wet hair, from the ends upwards, until you’re about an inch away from your roots.

4. Use heat!

Top winter haircare tip: use heat! Heat is a game changer for low porosity, brittle, bleached, colour-treated or dry, damaged hair – especially in Winter! Using a Thermal Heat Cap to deep condition will maximise the benefits of your chosen conditioner, deep conditioner or hair mask. Keeping your hair looking healthy, hydrated, shiny, frizz-free and defined. Reducing frizz, damage, breakage and dryness.

Without the use of heat, the hair cuticle is typically closed, especially in low porosity hair. When deep conditioners, treatments or masks are applied, they just sit on the surface of the hair – limiting the benefits. By using heat to open up the cuticle of the hair, this allows the deep conditioner, treatment or mask to penetrate the hair shaft. Nourishing and conditioning your hair from the inside out.

You can purchase my Thermal Heat Caps, handmade in Ireland and shipped worldwide – which is my preferred method. use code HOLIDAYS to get 20% off until 21st December. Or use code FREESHIP if you’re in Ireland, UK or EU for FREE shipping until 21st December.

Top Tip: remove your thermal heat cap for the last 5 mins to allow the hair to cool down and the cuticle to close. Then rinse with luke-warm to cool water to seal the cuticle, and all the benefits of your deep conditioner or hair mask inside.

5. Use oils sparingly, but correctly!

A hugely popular winter hair care tip is to apply a hair oil as your final styling product to seal and protect the hair. Not all oils are the same, so make sure you’re using a sealing oil instead of a penetrating one. Grapeseed, flaxseed and jojoba oils are sealing. Olive, coconut + avocado oils are moisturizing. Argan oil is both. Just remember, you don’t need loads, a few drops will do – you’re sealing, not saturating!

Apply a sealing oil sparingly after your moisturizing products such as a leave in conditioner, lotion or curl cream. Or you can add a few drops to your conditioner, deep conditioner or hair mask. Here are some of my favourite hair oils. Use code CURLMAVEN for up to 20% off + shop Maven Market to find these brands in your country.

• The Innate Life Rose Hair Elixir – organic, ayurvedic + lightweight containing over 15 oils including grapeseed, flaxseed + jojoba.
• Act + Acre Cold Pressed Hair Oil – cold-pressed, lightweight + nourishing, contains meadowfoam seed + argan oils
• Innersense I Create Shine – cold-pressed, contains 10 oils including grapeseed + jojoba. This is what most people would use/recognise as a smoothing serum that adds gloss and shine.

6. Clarify regularly

I don’t think I’m ever going to write about a haircare routine, without mentioning clarifying. It’s so incredibly important, for all hair types. But especially during winter because of the extra focus on moisture and use of oils which can build up on the hair. Preventing hydration (water) from penetrating through the rich emollients, oils and butters in conditioners, deep conditioners and hair masks.

So if you don’t regularly clarify to remove that build up, the hair can become dry, brittle, lacking lustre, shine and definition. To ensure you’re benefiting from the extra moisture in your winter haircare routine, without the build up you need to clarify once/month. Read this post for more info, tips, advice and product recommendations on clarifying. Use code CURLMAVEN for up to 20% off + shop Maven Market to find these brands in your country.

• Bumble + Bumble Sunday Shampoo – the best chelating, clarifying shampoo
• Ouai Detox Shampoo – very similar to BB Sunday Shampoo, but contains protein
• Sallys Ion Hard Water Shampoo – the most budget-friendly, hydrating + least drying
• Malibu C Undo Goo or Hard Water Wellness Shampoo – great affordable options

7. Diffuse your hair until it’s fully dry

Diffusing will always give you the best shape, definition and volume. No matter your hair type, length, curl pattern or density. But one of the best winter haircare tips I can give you is to dry/diffuse your hair until it’s fully dry, every single washday! Regardless of whether your hair is straight, wavy or curly. This benefits not just your hair, but also your health, especially if you have thick or high porosity hair or it’s humid outside. Here’s a few reasons why:

Hair is at its weakest when it’s wet. So if it stays wet for longer during the colder winter months, it’s going to take longer to dry. Not to mention various scalp issues that also come with having wet hair for too long. Then there’s also freezing temperatures to contend with. If the water in or on your wet or damp hair freezes, the hair can easily snap and break.

• LanaiBLO is my favourite, light weight but powerful hair dryer.
• Diva Professional XXL Universal Diffuser is the best diffuser on the market! Now available in the US here.
• Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer is best if you live in the US (lower voltage) and you want to dry your hair as fast as possible.
• Shark Hair Dryer and Diffuser is a great affordable alternative to the Dyson, but I still prefer the Lanai BLO.

8. Don’t scrunch out the crunch

This is going to sound strange, but hear me out, okay?! So when you apply a gel, mousse or custard to your wet wavy and curly hair. As it dries, it will form a hard, wet-looking, crunchy gel cast. THIS IS A GOOD THING! That hard, crunchy cast is protecting the curls from frizz, dryness and the humidity. Once your hair is fully dry, all you have to do to break that gel cast is gently “scrunch out the crunch.” And that crunchy, crispy, wet-look will be gone. Revealing soft, shiny, juicy waves and curls.

BUT… if it’s particularly wet, windy or humid outside, and you want your waves and curls to last longer in the winter. DON’T SCRUNCH OUT THE CRUNCH! Let the winter weather and humidity do that for you, gradually. If the humidity is high, you need to avoid humectants in your styling products. Here are my favourite humectant-free styling gels. Use code CURLMAVEN for up to 20% off + shop Maven Market to find these brands in your country.

• Jessicurl Spiralicious Gel – works particularly well with TréLuxe Reflex Serum + plays really well with mousses and foams. Can be a little drying, so use a leave in conditioner.
• Bouclème Seal + Shield Curl Defining Gel – the most lightweight + user friendly, suitable for all hair types
• Kinky Curly Curling Custard – can be a little drying, so layer it over a leave-in conditioner.
• Giovanni Gel – the most affordable, hardest hold, humectant free gel on the market!

9. Protect your hair during the day

Protect your hair, waves and curls during the day by wearing it in protective styles such as braids, buns, pineapples and ponytails. A crown braid is one of the best protective hair styles, no matter what hair type, texture or pattern you have. But in more harsher, wet and windy weather, my top winter haircare tip is to wear a silk turban underneath your favourite winter hat!

Hats and hoods are the best way to protect your hair from the elements during winter. But depending on the materials and weave of the hat, it can cause dryness, breakage and frizz. There are lots of silk or satin lined hats on the market now. But I’ve yet to find one I like, is warm enough or stays on my head. So I simply wear my Silke London Hair Turban underneath my favourite hats. Saving money as I already have several + use them to protect my hair at night.

Alternatively, find a hat with a double lining, with a much softer weave and finer material inside. But most of all, go out and have fun! Throw the snowball, let your hair get wet in the wind and rain. Don’t miss out on winter fun and making memories just because you don’t want to ruin your hair. And with these tips, you can ensure it stays healthy.

Top Tip: Silke London Hair Turbans come in lots of colours. Pick one that matches your hair colour, or the colour of your hat for invisible curl protection.

10. Protect your hair at night

The best thing to minimise frizz, retain moisture, maintain curl definition, and ensure your wash day results last longer throughout the week, is to protect your hair at night. Again, this is especially important during the winter as central heating, open fires and dehumidifiers in the home can cause dry, brittle, frizzy waves and curls which lack shine, moisture and definition.

So at the very least tie it up in a pineapple if it’s long enough. Use either a silk turban or bonnet. And stay away from cotton or linen pillowcases and sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase instead. Here’s what I use to protect my hair at night. Use code CURLMAVEN for up to 20% off + shop Maven Market to find these brands in your country.

• PuffCuff Mini – use day or night. It’s like a round banana clip!
• Silke London Hair Turban – the best one on the market, tight enough to stays on all night but not so tight that it causes forehead marks or headaches, large enough to hold long/thick hair.
• Slip Silk Pillowcase – the best ones on the market. Lots of colours, wash really well + stay soft. I buy the twin pack which means (with my 20% code) the second pillowcase works out only £10 extra!
• Silk/Satin Scrunchie – my favourites are from Slip or Silke London, or Coorie Curls for a vegan option.

So there you go, 10 winter haircare tips you can incorporate into your routine this winter. I hope you found them helpful and informative. Check out my Thermal Heat Caps including a new limited edition Lavender option for extra aromatherapy benefits while you deep condition. And my Cheat Sheets (relevant ones linked below) to help you achieve + maintain healthy hair throughout the winter months.

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