It is vital to switch up your hair and skin care routine to adapt to the winter season. Prolonged exposure to cold air often results in dry and flaky skin. This may trigger other skin and problems. As soon as we start putting on the heating, our skin and hair continues to dry out. 

1. Stay Hydrated

 If you have heard it once, you have heard it 1000 times but staying hydrated is important. It is the most important advice given to anyone looking for small day-day changes that make a big impact. Water not only helps with digestion, but it also helps ensure the skin stays soft and plump. In the winter months, central heating and hot water continue to dehydrate our skin. Water is also vital for hair growth. Drinking enough water helps energise and support hair growth. In addition, hydration fosters a healthier scalp meaning you will face less challenges with dryness, itchiness, or dandruff and the hair will get a healthier start. Although eight glasses of ‘clean’ water is recommended, any water-based beverage can count towards your water intake: tea, coffee, fruit juice, smoothies.  

2. SPF All Year Around

UV Protection is easy to remember when the 27-degree heat is shining through your windows. However, in the winter, we forget that it is really UV rays from the sun, not the temperature that causes damage to your skin and hair. On snowy days, the snow reflects the sun’s rays, so it is even more important to ensure you are wearing sunscreen on exposed areas or a hat to cover your hair. 

3. Cool Showers

It can be tempting to crank up the heat in the shower on icy days but stick to cool or lukewarm water instead to protect your skin, hair, and scalp. Hot showers draw moisture from your hair and skin and aggravate a flaky scalp. 

4. Tackle A Scaly Scalp

A dry, itchy, flaky scalp is not only bothersome but can really begin to complicate daily actions. Taking cooler showers will prevent stripping moisture from your scalp. Many home remedies tend to either be ineffective or end up aggravating the flaky skin.

5. Get Your Vitamins

 You know the importance of a varied diet packed with fruit and vegetables. During the winter months, it is more important than ever to ensure you are getting sufficient vitamin C. Not only does this support your immune system but it also helps boost collagen production, helping your skin to stay plump and healthy. Don’t forget to include Omega-3 fatty acids and monounsaturated fats to your diet as these have a part to play in maintaining healthy skin and hair too. A daily dose includes inserting more foods like salmon, avocados, olive oil and nuts.

6. Keep Active 

 Exercise can help flush toxins from the body, promoting clearer, healthier skin. Plus, the more active you are, the more likely you are to make healthier food choices. Thirty minutes (a day) of cardiovascular exercise also helps hair growth by increasing blood flow and circulation throughout the body. This means more nutrients and oxygen can reach the scalp. 

7. Switch Up Your Shampoo Routine

Wearing a hat is important when stopping your core temperature from plummeting. However, hat hair can wreak havoc. Shampooing too often strips moisture from the scalp and hair. Therefore, you should shampoo every other day. If you are someone that shampoos every day, try extending this to every other day or even less often. Do not skip conditioning in your haircare routine. If you’re in a rush, skip the shampoo and opt for a quick rinse and conditioning treatment/ leave-in. Wearing a hat constantly flattens the hair strands and in time will cause breakage. To prevent this, avoid 9brushing hair when wet. Try towel drying (patting down the hair to absorb the moisture rather than scrubbing at the scalp and strands) and then when damp, begin drying the roots completely. Leave the hair strands damp or begin drying in a downward motion. If the hair is feeling extra dry and brittle, add a few drops of hair oil or serum and comb through with a wide toothed comb. 

8. Avoid Static Hair

Wearing hats will cause flyways that cannot be contained to any beanie or baker boy hat. A dried-out scalp produces fewer oils, causing static hair. Follow the above tips for ‘rough hair’. If static continues, consider changing up your grooming tools. Brushes with natural bristles help to redistribute oils and conduct less static than plastic.  

9. Cure Chapped Lips

Even if you always carry a lip balm with you, you are going to need to level up for the winter. If lips become dry and flaky, use an exfoliating glove or lip scrub to remove any excess skin gently. Then load up on a moisturising lip balm and keep reapplying. You may use petroleum-based products and that is accepted to an extent. Petroleum jelly is an occlusive (retains moisture) and should only be used if an emollient (or oil) is added to your lips first. 

Following these 9 simple steps will have your hair and skin feeling healthier and happier throughout the cold and windy seasons. Just because Summer is over, doesn’t mean our dewy skin and shiny hair needs to disappear behind the clouds too.