Winter haircare tips

Winter weather can cause your hair to frizz out, leaving you frazzled — but don’t let hair woes get you down. With these haircare tips and style tricks, you can tame your frizzy, fuzzy hair this winter.

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Condition often.

You don’t need to shampoo your hair every day (over-shampooing can cause dry hair and scalp), but you do need to keep your hair hydrated. Winter weather can zap the life and moisture out of your hair, causing breakage and frizzies. Use a moisturizing shampoo, going heavy on the ends, and use a weekly deep-conditioning treatment. Over-the-counter hot oil treatments work well, but you can also make a moisturizing hair mask at home.

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Get a professional treatment.

A formaldehyde-free Brazilian keratin treatment helps fight frizzies as it softens your hair’s natural curl pattern. After this treatment, you’ll notice that your hair is a lot less frizzy and a lot more shiny, even when it’s air dried. Talk to your salon about the products used. You want natural keratin protein that restores and rebuilds your hair follicles, not harsh chemicals that can do more damage that good.

Protect your hair.

When choosing hair products, look for thermal protectants that shield your hair from damage due to the sun, blow dryers and other heated styling tools. In an ideal world, we could skip styling tools altogether, but that’s not realistic. That’s why you need protection. John Fried, Folica, Tresemme and several other lines have specially formulated shampoos, conditioners, serums and sprays that protect hair from the heat and help prevent damage.

Blot, don’t rub.

When towel drying your hair, blot up excess water with a fluffy, soft towel; don’t rub your head vigorously. Excessive, rough rubbing can encourage frizz. Don’t leave your home with damp hair in the winter, either; cold temperatures can freeze hair, causing breakage, split ends and more frizzies.

Choose the right hairstyle.

Finding the right hairstyle for frizzy hair can seem impossible, but several manageable options exist.

Get a good cut. Talk to your hairstylist to find the right hairstyle for you. Frizzy hair that is chin level or above can end up looking like that of a clown. Instead, consider a modified bob that is about shoulder length. When styling your hair, skip the hairbrush; instead, separate and define your curls with your fingers. Use a scrunching spray or leave-in conditioner. Dry your hair with your blow dryer’s diffuser attachment. Rather than scrunching it, cup your hair while blow drying.

Braid it. Pull your hair into ponytail at the nape of your neck. Rub a little hair serum in the palm of your hand and run it through the ponytail, all the way to the ends. Braid your hair and secure with an elastic-free band. You can do this with a side ponytail, too, which is very trendy right now.

Don’t fight your curls. Frizzy hair can get even frizzier if you’re always trying to battle your curls. Instead, embrace and tame your curly locks. With the right styling products, you can have beautiful ringlets or loose waves rather than frizzed-out hair.

Check out these curly hairstyles and more hairstyles for winter to find the perfect one for you.

DIY hair mask

How to make a quick homemade hair mask

Is your hair dry and lifeless? Wander over to the kitchen and concoct a remedy.