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The weather is getting colder and it only means one thing: our hair are suffering! Dull looking, dry and brittle hair with flaky scalp sound familiar to you? Until last year, I did not experience much of the winter hair woe. However, this year I get smarter and become more prepared for the winter.
In today's post, I compile a short list of tips to keep your hair healthy and shiny during winter. Some of the tips have instantaneousness results while others take time to show.
1. Give yourself a scalp massage
Until last year, I did not know that dry scalp could happen to me. The sub-zero temperature means less moisture in the air. As a result, my scalp was flaky and itchy. The relief came in a quick scalp massage when I went to get a haircut. The hairstylist rubbed a few drops of oil on my scalp before giving me a vigorous scalp massage. Not only did it feel good, the oil helped adding moisture while the massage stimulated blood flow to my scalp.
A scalp massage is easy to do at home. Olive, jojoba, and coconut oils are moisturizing, penetrative, and light, which are suitable to be used on your hair and scalp. After adding a few drops to the part on your hair, use the fingertips to rub the oil into your scalp. Just move your fingertips in circles as your hands move from the center to the sides and front to back. After you are done massaging, brush your hair with a natural bristle hairbrush and shampoo your hair as usual.
2. Got oil? Give your hair a hot oil treatment
Don't waste your money on hot oil treatment products. The oil you use for a scalp massage can be used for this purpose as well. All you need to do is to pour olive, jojoba, or coconut oil in a container, lid it, and put it in a cup of hot water to heat the oil up. If you have short hair, about 2-3 tablespoons of oil is enough. If you have long hair, please heat up 1/4 cup of oil.
After the oil is heated, spread it all over your hair and scalp. You can do a scalp massage while you are at it before wrapping your hair in a plastic processing cap. If you need extra moisturizing power, soak a towel in warm water and cover your head and the processing cap with it. Then, wrap a dry towel on top of the wet one and wait 15-20 minutes for the oil to work its magic on your hair and scalp. Shampoo as usual and use conditioner if necessary. I find my hair to be very bouncy and lustrous afterwards.
Wanna read more tips? Jump!
3. Clarifying shampoo: the arch-nemesis of flakes caused by hair product build-up
Before you bust out that bottle of dandruff shampoo, make sure the flakes are not dandruff. After doing a scalp massage with oil and you still see flakes, you may need to use a clarifying shampoo to remove the build-up caused by hair products. The Neutrogena Anti-Residue shampoo is a classic product that will make your hair and scalp squeaky clean. However, if you don't have it available, just mix your shampoo with 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda before washing your hair.
4. Take fish oil
Two years ago, I took fish oil on a daily basis and saw the result after three months of constant using. Not only did my skin behaved better, my hair also had an unbelievable shine. It does take time to notice the difference but once the omega fatty acids in the fish oil work their magic, your hair will be stronger. During that time, my hair was still long and I noticed less breakage during winter.
5. Go dark
While lighter hair colors look fun during summer, they can make you look dull and haggard during winter. If you lighten your hair, the indoor fluorescent light is not your friend during the winter months. It makes your hair look dull and tired. If your hair is dry, it even emphasizes the dryness further. However, the fix is really simple: all you need to do is dye your hair darker. A rich chocolate shade actually hides the flaws your hair have while does not hurt your hair as much since it does not involve a lot of lifting agent in the formula.
6. A is for argan oil
This nut oil from Morocco has been the it oil at the moment. Like coconut, olive, and jojoba oil, argan oil is light and penetrative to your hair. What makes it even better is how argan oil adds shine to your hair without making it look greasy. While there are many products out there claiming to have argan oil, I highly advocate using pure argan oil since it is undiluted and does not contain methicones, which can clog pores. Pure argan oil can be found in some health food stores and online. Compared to the fancy hair products, it is actually quite affordable. I've seen places selling it at $8/oz.
These are the hair tips I have for a fabulous winter hair. I hope you will have lustrous and shiny hair during this winter. Flaky, itchy scalp and dull hair can be the thing in the past.
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