How to Keep Your Hair Healthy in the Colder Months

While there's a lot to love about fall and winter, it's no small secret that the colder months can take a toll on your health.

Although sipping on a seasonal sweet treat from Starbucks can help you feel a little better when the sun starts setting too soon for your liking, it takes more than just embracing the cozy vibes to keep your hair in good condition when the temperatures take a bone-chilling turn. You don't need to kiss goodbye to your soft and shiny locks until the longer days return, though, as we're here to let you in on some secrets about how to keep your hair healthy in the colder months. Take these tips into account and prepare for your hair to look better than ever through the fall and winter seasons.

Pay Attention to How You Sleep

You've probably already heard that getting less than the recommended amount of sleep every night can affect your overall health for the worse, so we won't bother repeating it to you again (although it is worth trying your best to get some quality shut-eye, even for your hair's sake). What we mean when we say that how you sleep matters is that what you sleep on, as well what style you wear your hair in, is important. It's easy to want to throw your head down on your coziest pillow and tuck under your comforter with your hair down every night due to the cold, but this could actually be bad in the end (maybe not for your sweet dreams, but certainly for your strands). Certain fabrics can tug and tear at your hair, leading to suffering strands and broken ends that are begging for help. The same goes for sleeping with your hair down, especially if you're doing so on a standard cotton pillowcase.

You can make every day a good hair day, even in the colder months, with the right sleep setup, though. All it takes is a silk pillowcase (silk prevents tearing and keeps your haircare products in place for better absorption) and the right heatless tools that work while you sleep. Try this viral must-have heatless curling set from Kitsch ($16), and pair it with a luxurious silk pillowcase like this one from Blissy ($53.97) to wake up with gorgeous, silky hair every morning, even if you spent more time scrolling on TikTok the night before than actually snoozing.

(via Kitsch)

 

Also read about: The Best Ways to Refresh Your Hair for Fall 2023

 

Focus on Moisturizing

Just like your skin, your hair can get extra dry during the colder months. While you can't exactly make your favorite facial moisturizer work double-duty for your hair, you can give those dehydrated locks some love by quenching their thirst in different ways. Hair masks are a great option, especially since there are options for both pre-shower and in-shower masks. If you're looking to really revitalize your dry hair and restore it to its shiniest, healthiest state, you can also add an oil treatment to your weekly haircare routine. Oils nourish the scalp as well as your strands, leading to healthier hair that's better prepared for all that fall and winter have in store. If you're looking for low-maintenance product options, check out this silkening hair mask from hOURS ($36) and this Champi hair oil from indē wild ($29).

(via indē wild)

 

Try a Custom Haircare Routine

Your hair's needs are different than other people's, so using the same products and expecting similar results won't always work. What does work, though, is haircare that's customized for you. Companies like Prose create products that are specifically formulated for your hair's needs and your hair goals, leading to softer, healthier hair overall. And, because these companies take your geographic region and regular routine into account, your products will be able to keep your hair nourished and moisturized around the clock.

(via Prose)

 

Cut Back on Coloring

If you love going lighter over summer, it's time to put down the bottle of bleach and let your hair rest during the colder months. Bleaching and coloring your hair frequently can lead to some serious damage that's hard (and oftentimes expensive) to fix, but that doesn't necessarily mean you have to give up changing your hair color for good. Going darker or closer to your natural color is usually a better option, especially when you color less frequently and with high-quality, naturally derived products. Brands like Better Natured have excellent options that work well even for at-home coloring novices, and you'll save a lot of cash compared to going to a salon (so you can still feel like Santa when shopping for everyone's Christmas gifts this year).

(via Better Natured)

 

Also read about: What to Do With Your Hair After a Bad Box Dye Job

 

Consider Giving Your Hair an Extra Boost With Vitamins

Healthy hair starts with a healthy diet and lifestyle first. While eating lots of fruits and veggies, exercising regularly and practicing other healthy habits is the most important thing for your overall well-being and keeping your hair in good shape, sometimes adding in an extra supplement can give your hair that much-needed boost it's silently begging for. You might want to check with a doctor or specialist and make sure that you aren't over-doing it on vitamins (and try not to fall for all the sugar-filled gimmicks you might see on an influencer's feed) before committing, but brands like Eight Saints and Viviscal have natural supplements that could help you achieve your hair health goals this fall and winter.

(via Eight Saints)

 

All in all, you don't need to wait for New Year's to make great hair a goal, and these tips will help you keep that hair in good shape all season long. If you want to show the same love for your skin this fall and winter, click HERE for our advice on how to prep your skin for the colder months.