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It’s that time of year when lower temps outside prompt us to turn up the heat inside. Heat causes dryness, especially in the air indoors. I’ve a few tips to help maintain a healthy mane all season long!
1.Hydration Situation
Drink your water! The chill of the outside air makes it easy to forget to keep up your daily water intake. Drinking water is a great internal way to combat dryness in your skin and hair. Also, a warm-humidifier in the home can help replenish the moisture that central heating takes away from the air. Add an aromatherapy oil to your humidifier to create a spa-like atmosphere to your home!
2. Cleansing and Conditioning
Choose shampoos and conditioners with higher moisture content. Sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners will help retain the hairs natural moisture. Deep moisture conditioning is ideal at least twice a month. A few popular ingredients to look for are almond oil, avocado oil, argan oil, marula oil and olive oil. These will impart intense moisture needed to combat and protect hair from dry air. Once cleansed, conditioned and styled, seal in the moisture with a moisture rich serum.
3. Heat Styling
Turn it down and/or off! High heat in water, blow dryers and other heat styling tools open the cuticle causing it to lose its natural moisture. Be sure you are lowering the heat of your blow dryers and styling irons. For optimal moisture retention lower all heat settings. Be sure to use a leave-in conditioner and/or styling lotion that offers heat protection.
4. MANEtenance
Go for the top knot! Buns, braids and other such up ‘dos will help shield hair from excess exposure to the elements. Sew in extensions, custom wig units are also great protective styles. Cotton hats and scarves tend to suck moisture out of the hair. Choose fabrics such as silk or satin. Be sure to brush hair and/or wrap hair nightly to distribute natural hair oils from root to tip.
5. Supplement
Because hair grows from the inside out its best to help nourish it with a daily supplement. Supplements rich in vitamins E, A and D, biotin, fatty acids, and amino acids. Also, choose to eat foods rich with these nutrients such as salmon (omega-3 fatty acids), walnuts (vitamin E), sweet potatoes (vitamin A), and eggs (protein). Remember to drink plenty of water and eat your fresh veggies and fruits! It helps distribute the vitamins throughout the body!