Even if your scalp remains cool and calm for most of the year, winter can throw it off balance. This is because dry air and cold may bring on itching and flaking issues. We share 5 tips to keep your scalp happy, hydrated, and healthy, no matter how cold and dry the weather is.
Quick showers with lukewarm water are the move
One of the first pieces of advice is to lower the shower temperature and reduce the time you spend in it. While hot showers are tempting during the cold months, it's not doing your scalp any favors. As far as we know, the scalp is covered with skin beneath all that hair. It's best to use lukewarm water and finish it off with a cold rinse. Showering with cold water can make your hair shinier and significantly reduce frizz. This happens because cold water helps seal the hair cuticles and pores after washing our hair.
Use a Gentle and Moisturizing Shampoo
In winter, especially, it's important to use a gentle and moisturizing shampoo. Heavy and clarifying cleansers remove a significant amount of moisture from the strands and scalp, which may accelerate (or initiate) issues like itching, flaking, and inflammation. If you tend to have buildup on your scalp due to styling products or sebum production, try washing a bit more often than usual but with a milder shampoo.
That being said, everyone's got their limit on how much washing is too much. If washing every other day with a gentle shampoo brings you a perfect balance, go with it. If your hair can handle skipping washes more often, that's great. And if you find yourself needing to lather up more frequently, that's perfectly fine as well. Just keep an eye on how your scalp's feeling day by day.
Apply a Hair Mask Weekly
Give your hair some extra love each week by applying a hydrating hair mask twice a week. Focus on hydrating ingredients to keep your hair happy, balanced, and in tip-top shape for comfy, strong growth. Check, for example, the Nutrition mask - Its ingredients range from argan acid to hyaluronic acid, helping the scalp and hair strands stay hydrated. This mask is like a moisture superhero, holding onto that hydration, dishing out vitamin A for sebum production, and locking down the cuticle preventing unwanted moisture from penetrating, which could cause hair to swell and become frizzy.
Place a Humidifier in your Room
For the ultimate TLC for your scalp, hair, throat, and skin, make sleeping with a humidifier a year-round ritual. Why? When the air around us is dry, we go through this thing called transepidermal water loss. Basically, this means that the air around starts swiping moisture from any source it can find, including your cells. This explains why we experience cracked lips and knuckles more frequently in winter. Introducing some water (humidity) to the air is a great move that will help you prevent this from happening. With a well-hydrated room, you'll wake up looking fresh, feeling great, and totally restored.
Don't be a Copycat with Your Hair Care Routine
Hair care is personal. What works wonders for others might not work for you. The best move is to tailor your hair routine to your own needs, even if it means a few trial-and-error moments before you nail it. A great start would be figuring out which products and ingredients are the ones you need for your specific issues (if any).
However, if dryness, flakiness, or scalp inflammation don't improve after some time, it's best to contact your dermatologist and trichologist, there might be a different issue that needs some pro-level attention.