Winter Haircare

February 06, 2025

Winter gives hair a hard time. Dry cold air outside, dry warm air inside; this seasonal pincer movement rips the moisture from the hairshaft leaving it thin, brittle and up to 3% shorter.

Dryness also makes the hair less flexible and difficult to manage. When the atmosphere loses humidity, water molecules are sucked out of the hair by osmosis leaving the hair shaft thinner, drier and prone to static.

Static hair

Static occurs when electric charges accumulate on an object's surface; usually the result of two materials rubbing together or moving apart. It causes electrons to transfer from one object to the other. When your hair builds up an electric charge, it can cause the hair strands to repel each other like magnets, making hair frizzy and difficult to style. Very dry air in cold weather increases static electricity. If there is humidity in the air, the charge can usually just go away.

Most common contributors to static

• Dry atmosphere
• Aggressive heat styling– too hot, too close, for too long, and too often
• Siliconised products– (the hydrophobic silicone or heavy oils dehydrate the hair despite what it says on the pack)

Hair is a delicate balance of proteins and moisture, and keeping the hair hydrated is essential to avoid weak, brittle unmanageable hair. Taking extra care of your hair will ensure stronger glossier hair, no matter how gloomy the weather outlook is.

Top tips from the salon floor

Step away from the heated appliances. Set yourself a challenge and embrace your natural hair at least a few times a week. Use the opportunity to try exciting new styles and give your hair some welcome relief from too much heat. Try the LifeSaver UV Leave-in Styling Treatment. It will nourish and protect your hair, and make frizz a thing of the past. With added UV protection, it’s also perfect for fighting sun damage and colour fade on your winter sun holiday.

Use a finishing product such as the Van Clarke Magic Oil or the 10 Second Transformation which can help tame the frizz without the heat. Perhaps experiment with some plaits.

Treat yourself to a new hat to protect your hair from icy temperatures and wind.  Choose natural fibres in headwear and make sure they have a soft lining that won’t cause breakages in your hair. 

Avoid going out in icy weather with wet hair. Your hair could freeze and lead to breakages. If your hair won’t dry naturally in time, use the warm setting on your hairdryer with a diffuser, and let the last 5% dry naturally to make hair more manageable during the colder weather and fight against frizz, try a semi-permanent blow dry treatment. 

Hair Botox could be the best two hours you spend this winter, as it leaves you with supple, frizz free and amazingly smooth hair for up to four months.

 Michael Van Clarke

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