During the winter months the air becomes dry and if you don't take some necessary precautions, your hair may pay the price. The harsh cold can cause more dryness in our already moisture deprived natural hair. If you wear winter hats,which are normally made of wool or cotton, it is best to cover your hair with a satin or silk scarf under the hat so that the hat doesn't pull all of the moisture from your hair.
A lot of naturals opt to wear protective styles in the winter months to guard the ends of the hair from the harsh elements. Buns, braid extentions or weaves are good winter styles to consider. They are generally low maintenence, so little to no combing will be necessary, helping you to preserve your hair even more.
It is a good idea to avoid humectants during the winter months too. A humectant is a substance that promotes retention of moisture. Common humectants are honey, glycerin, panthenol, and propylene glycol. These are excellent summer staples, because they draw moisture from the humid air into our hair. During the winter months, however, they may have the opposite effect, potentially drawing out the moisture from your hair into the dry air that winter brings.
Doing weekly deep conditoners is a good way of replinishing lost moisture, also frequent hot oil treatments. Also, don't forget to seal in your water based moisturizers with either shea butter, castor oil or whatever natural oil you choose.
In conclusion, the best way to combat winter damage is to be proactive. If you start out with your hair strong and healthy BEFORE winter strikes, it will be a lot easier to maintain and preserve DURING the winter. Adopt a weekly routine of shampooing with a moisturizing shampoo, a good deep conditioner and good moisturizer that doesn't contain mineral oil or petroleum.
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