Natural hair is like a living breathing plant that does whatever it wants but we are there to help it along by trying to protect it, wash it, give it water, trim the dead ends and style it. Now the reason why you might need a winter hair routine or procedure is that this time of year can be brutal on your hair. The air is colder and drying so it can take all the moisture out of your hair, so we must be its protective owner. When you have to bundle up more you bundle up your hair as well and if you have to moisturize your skin more then you do it to your hair too. There are many ways to combat this, to make it thrive and come out of the winter with 3 more inches on your head. These are all suggestion and there will hopefully be something forever type of natural.
1. Have a winter wash day routine that will maximize your moisture.
-Wash more with moisturizing shampoos or co-washes
-Deep condition more and for a longer amount of time with some time of heat (your body, steam, heating cap, hooded dryer…).
-Keep up with your protein treatments
-Style with your most moisturizing products
-You can seal in the moisture with a heavy oil
-All make sure to get your ends that are the elderly
2. Moisturize is life! -Moisturize whenever your hair feels dry
-WATER and Steam are the best (use your shower)
-Use butters, heavy creams and oils because they can be the most moisturizing and will keep it in
3. Protective styles can be your best friend
-They keep your hair away from the cold
-They can be cute
-They help to keep your ends tucked away
-You can do twists, braids, weave (with a closure), wigs, ponytail, high or low puff, etc.
-Remember is take care of the under or inside your protective style
4. Wear protective clothing.
-That would be hats, scarfs, head wraps, beanies, and stocking caps.
-But make sure to use silk or satin underneath.
-You can wear you your silk scarf under your hat.
-Knit can be drying and snag on your hair.
5. Keep your hair covered and protected overnight!
-Anything silk or satin will be perfect.
-Pillowcase, scarfs. durags. and bonnets are great.
-Wear it all night to keep in moisture and to not snag on your hair.
6. Trim the dead!
-When your ends feel rough or are damage is time for them to go.
-You can try to do a protein treatment or deep condition but…
-You can trim it your self or get it done by a professional.
7. Do your best to stay away from heat but we all know!
-We all know you can get damage from putting heat on our hair
-Use heat protectants
-But one negative is you can really moisturize your hair when it is straight
-One secret is that you can keep straight hair longer in the winter because you aren’t sweating it out
-It doesn’t hurt to get your hair pressed every now and again. It makes you feel good to see all the new growth
I hope we all thrive through this winter weather using my tips or our on. Please help another sista out by telling them your tips and tricks to surviving. I will be trying these tips out more consistently throughout this cold season because my hair is very important to me. My hair is a part of who I am and what I do. I will try anything and everything to keep my hair safe and healthy from all things including myself. So this winter we will be STRONG warriors that weather the winter and protect what is ours from any that try to hurt it.
HCXO!