How to care for natural hair & scalp in colder months

As the weather gets progressively cooler, humidity levels drop and your kinks and curls might begin behaving differently; more breakage? Hair feeling dryer? We got you..

Temperate changes often has naturalistas scrambling to find the perfect remedy to curb the side effects that come with the winter air.

How do you take care of your scalp in winter?

The seasons are changing and as we move from autumn into winter it’s vital that you give a little extra love to your scalp.

The approaching shift in weather can cause a whole host of issues such as a dry scalp, dandruff, and hair breakage.

While the weather contributes to these hair blunders, it is also a side effect of wearing winter hats which causes moisture to be removed from your scalp too; often a culprit and rarely gets the blame!

The challenge comes with handling the cold winter air that often causes itchiness and then the scratching that follows it causes severe irritation to your scalp.

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With winter quickly approaching we’re here to give you tips to help maintain and improve your scalp health as we move into the colder months.

Increase Your Deep Conditioning Treatments

Most naturalistas already have deep conditioning built into their weekly routine (if you don’t, you really should get one!), but during the winter months.

Alternatively, if you don’t have the time to deep condition more than 1x per week, increase the amount of time you’re keeping your deep conditioner on your hair before rinsing.

Also consider using a hot towel or hooded dryer to boost moisture and nutrient retention if you’re not already – especially for those of you with low porosity hair!

It’s also a good time to start looking for a richer deep conditioner to better quench your hair’s increased thirst for moisture and nutrition in colder months.

Obviously, your hair type and porosity play a big part in choosing an ideal deep conditioner, but aim for a deep conditioner that’s richer in oils and consistency compared to what you might be using in the warmer climates.

For high porosity hair naturalistas, we love As I Am JBCO masque; it’s rich in consistency and it’s loaded with lots of fatty and nutrient rich Jamaican Black Castor oil to strenghen your hair, moisturise it and reduce breakage.

Our top selling deep conditioners

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For queens with low porosity hair, we’re loving Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Masque; loaded with rosemary oil (which is a lightweight and highly nourishing oil that stimulates growth and soothes an itchy scalp.

Decrease Your Heat Usage

During the colder season many of us are scrambling to break out our straightener and rock a sleeker look…but you might want to wait just a second.

You want to avoid heat as much as possible during the winter because dry air is going to remove any moisture you have in your hair.

When you straighten or blow dry your hair the hot air is already removing much needed moisture from your tresses which results in a dry scalp.

If you decide you want to straighten your hair or prep it for protective styling, make sure the styler is on the lowest temperature setting to minimise any additional damage and be sure to use a heat protectant to avoid inflicting heat damage.

Keracare’s Thermal Wonder Protector is an excellent thermal protector all year round, but it’s particularly effective in the cooler months due to its extra protection and it helps to seal moisture into your hair too.

Soothe Your Scalp With Essential Oils

Oils are your friend during this frigid season. Keeping your scalp oiled on a regular basis can help prevent a dry and itchy scalp as well as encourage new hair growth.

There are a few essential oils you want to keep stocked on the shelf this season like tea tree oil, jojoba oil, or Mielle Organics Moisture RX Hawaiian Ginger Moisturizing Scalp Treatment.

You can opt in for a weekly oil treatment to moisturize dry and brittle hair which you can easily do by combining your favorite oil with water then applying it to your scalp once it cools off.

Use a Creamy(ier) Leave-In Conditioner

We cannot emphasise enough the importance of a great leave-in conditioner to help add another layer of moisture to your hair.

Leave-in conditioners are lightweight and designed to penetrate each strand without weighing your hair down. Having your go-to leave-in is going to help you win the battle against the winter air which will naturally be keeping your hair dry.

Using a creamier leave-in conditioner like Aunt Jackie’s Quench Moisture Intensive Leave-In Conditioner will also work to keep your curls hydrated while giving your scalp the love it deserves.

Our top selling leave-in conditioners

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For those of us with higher porosity or thirstier hair, be sure to pick a leave in with a higher level of humectants such as honey; which actively draw in moisture from the outside air helping to actively keep your hair moisturised throughout the day!

Rinse Your Scalp With Apple Cider Vinegar

Before you knock it, it’s definitely a naturalista staple that you have to try. Apple Cider Vinegar is ideal for natural hair because it can help restore your scalp’s natural pH and can cure symptoms such as itchiness, dryness, and a flaky scalp. You can easily make your own DIY Apple Cider Vinegar rinse at home using ½ cup of ACV and 2 cups of water that you will incorporate into your wash routine.

Are you ready to start prepping for your winter routine? Stock up on your favourite leave-in conditioner, grab your favourite oil, add some deep treatments into your weekly regime and we’re good to go! Let us know in the comments below how you are prepping for the winter!