I recently asked my Instagram followers for blog topics, (follow me @adriennehairartistry !) and a lot of people referred to dry hair/scalp issues. It could be because we live in the driest place in the world, with the coolest winters. The joys of living on the prairies! Let's see if we can solve this problem together, or maybe shed(no pun intended) some light on what we could do to help the problem.
I love taking hot showers especially during winter time when the outside temps here are minus a thousand outside. But could that be the reason we have such dry hair and scalp? Don't shoot the messenger but it definitely contributes to the problem. Always be mindful of the water temperature when you're washing your hair. Really hot water on the scalp can actually dry out your scalp and hair even more - who would have thought?! When washing your hair, I recommend turning the hot water down while rinsing and applying cool water to seal the cuticle of the hair shaft. This will help smooth out your hair and improve blood circulation from the scalp, alleviating some of that winter tight, dryness!
Now that we're on the topic of showering, how often are you shampooing your hair? If you are shampooing your hair too often, you are probably causing your scalp to dry out. You know how you wash your hands 100x a times a day post-COVID and your hands get all dry and crusty? The same thing is probably happening to your hair if you're washing it every day. Find a shampoo that's hydrating/moisturizing and try to restrict hair washing to once every 3 days at minimum. That being said, you don't want to UNDER wash your hair. This causes product and oil build-up on your scalp which is just as uncomfortable. Find a system or process that works best for you.
As soon as winter hits, I always try to add a moisturizing mask into my regular hair routine at least once a week to give that extra bit of moisture. Especially living in Saskatchewan and considering how dry our winters get here. Apply the mask directly onto the scalp and follow the directions to achieve the best outcome. Hair oils are a great additive when it comes to dry hair. I recommend OLAPLEX No.7 Bonding Oil applied to from the mid-shaft through to your ends after washing and every other day. Trust me your hair will drink it up like a mimosa on a beautiful Sunday morning.
Alright shower habits aside, what styling products are we using and are they helping the dry scalp/hair situation or making it worse? Let's check out what you're using. Some hairsprays can cause build up on the scalp and irritation, and if you're a big dry shampoo person take a look at the ingredients, and see if that could be causing dry scalp issues. Not sure what products are best for you and your hair/scalp? Send me a message and I'll be happy to recommend something that suits your needs!
It's important to be mindful of how much heat you are directly putting onto your scalp and hair. Blow drying at high heat can cause irritation and dryness of the scalp. Try turning the heat setting to warm to reduce the heat. Hot styling tools, such as a straightener or curling irons, can also cause your hair cuticle to dry out. Please, please, pleeeeease use heat protectant when styling. Remember the OLAPLEX No.7 Bonding Oil I recommended? It actually also has a heat protectant in it - two in one! These steps will help the integrity of your hair immensely!
Okay, so now that we're all styled up and headed out the door, BRR. It's minus 40 degrees celsius outside and you're not wearing a toque because hey, we just styled our hair. Extreme cold temperatures and dry air can actually cause extreme dryness and damage to your hair. Lucky us, that's all our weather usually is for a long period of time. Wear a hat, or toque (Canadian lingo) when heading outdoors!
Alright to wrap this up! Have I maybe hit 'light bulb' moment for you? It could be your hair habits and products that are causing the issue at hand. A couple of other ideas I would suggest to help would be purchasing a silk pillow case. I know... when it's cold, we don't want to lay down in our bed on a freezing cold silk pillow case, but it's the best for your hair and doesn't cause pulling or breakage. Bonus - it's also great for your skin and can help reduce wrinkles. Drink lots of water - each strand of hair is actually made up of 25% water, so ya'll drink that H2O! And check your diet.. I knowwww, I don't want to be one of those diet pushers, but even adding some Omega-3 fatty acids daily can make a huge difference.
That is alllll for today folks! Any questions... don't be afraid to message me! I'll help you the best I can, or refer you to someone who can! xoxo stay warm out there!
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