Does your hair bother you in winter? Can you hear the static in the air? Don't worry – along with the winter season come a few downsides to your hair. Fortunately, there are ways to beat bad hair days when the weather is less than appealing. Here are some of the most common winter hair problems and how to fix them: Straw-like strands: Much like with static hair, when the moisture levels in the air drop, your hair can tend to become dry and brittle and even feel a little like straw, especially for curly-haired women since coiled hair is drier by nature. To fix this you need to cut back on your hot tool usage and give your hair a break, introduce more moisture into your hair care regimen with a hydrating shampoo, conditioner, and a mask with hydrating ingredients and finally sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase or use a satin-lined cap to help retain any moisture you're putting back into your hair. If your hair is still dry, apply a leave-in product onto the strands for extra hydration. Static: When temperatures dip, it's common for your hair to pick up an electrical charge from the dry air, causing it to stand up. To combat this, keep as much moisture in your hair as possible so it's less susceptible to the effects of dry air. Switch to a more hydrating shampoo and conditioner that suits your hair type. Rub some hand cream in your palms and smooth it over the static strands to calm them. Sleep on a silk pillowcase regardless of what your hair texture is, since cotton absorbs moisture and silk retains it. Split ends: The only way to really cure a case of split ends is to get a haircut. To make them look better, twist your hair until the split ends pop out along the sides and trim them away. Otherwise, use a split end binding cream on your ends to fake the look of healthier hair until you get to your stylist. Matted hair: The moment you start wearing thicker collar jackets and scarves, the hair at the nape of your neck can get matted. To minimise the chances of matting, braid your hair to the back or side, or put your hair in a bun to keep all the strands contained and tangle-free. If you must wear your hair down, take the section of hair from your ears down and put it in a ponytail, leaving the rest of your hair over the top of it. Dry and itchy scalp: Just like your skin, your scalp can get dry in winter from indoor heating and the drier air. And when it becomes dry, it's likely to itch and even flake off. To solve this problem, you need to shampoo less since shampoo contains surfactants that clean your hair but can be drying and instead use more moisturising conditioners. Apply coconut oil on your scalp, massage it in as a hair mask, and leave it on for 10 minutes before rinsing it out. If your scalp is itchy, pat your head instead of scratching it and consult your doctor to calm the itchy sensation.
