I’m SO excited to finally be able to say – winter is (almost) here! Depending on where you live, you may be jumping for joy because you can live a normal life again, or you may be dreading the cold weather ahead. No matter how you feel about the cold weather approaching, it’s important to make sure you’re prepared for everything it brings. We all know about the dangers of heat damage, but did you know that cold weather damages our hair and skin too? Yep – hair and skin damage still occur during the cold weather! We’ve gathered ten essential tips to maintain beautiful hair and skin this winter.
Buff Up: It’s important to exfoliate your skin and face to maximize retained moisture. To save time, invest in a scrubbing glove to use in the shower for full body exfoliation. For the face, try out a mild scrub twice a week. Make sure it’s free of harsh chemicals and works with your skin type.
Oil Is Your Friend: To be honest, oil doesn’t moisturize your skin any more than most creams do. However, adding oil to your normal face routine can help the amount of oil absorbed by your skin. Try adding a light layer of oil while your face is damp and let it air dry!
Shave Sparingly: It’s no surprise during the cold weather, our skin feels irritated basically every minute we are awake. So if you prefer soft and non-itchy skin, try shaving every 3 days instead of every day. Figure out what works best for you. Plus don’t forget, throw on a pair of jeans or your favorite leggings, and nobody will know the difference!
Cool Your Jets: If there’s any time for a scalding hot shower, it’s most definitely in the winter. No matter how great it feels at the time, it’s terrible for your skin. Think about it this way – washing dishes covered in oil and grease is a lot easier with hot water, right? Well taking hot showers deprives your skin of its natural oils. If you really can’t budge, try to cut back on the time you spend in the shower.
Pat down: I know how tempting it is dry yourself off as quickly as possible, but try to pump the brakes when it comes to your face. Don’t ever rub your face, wet or dry. Instead, pat your face dry or just lightly dab it. Don’t forget to follow with moisturizer!
Say No to Wet Hair: Believe it or not, getting a cold from wet hair is the least of your worries. Wet hair is extremely fragile as it is, but adding in a cold breeze is asking for trouble. Additional moisture causes dryness and damage, and your hair can freeze and actually break off. Having to air dry your hair or blow drying it can be a hassle, and puts a dent in your free time, but it’s worth it to avoid damage that takes months to repair.
Rethink Your Brushes: This may be something most of us don’t even give us a second thought. We carefully choose our makeup, hair products, and even our toothpaste. However, when getting a new brush I just grab something off the shelf and never questioned the difference between them. However, using the right brush can make a HUGE difference in the overall health in your scalp and hair. There are brushes for fine, thick, curly, or coarse hair. Look at your options and decide what will suit you best!
Use Less Heat: If you’re already struggling with super dry hair, try to minimize using a blow-dryer. If possible allow hair to blow dry, especially if you plan on straightening your hair after. If you can’t change your hair routine, make sure to use high-quality protectants and use a deep conditioning treatment at least once a week.
Don’t Fear Trims: Something about the cold weather makes me feel no shame if I wear a pony-tail for a week in a row. Unless I have somewhere to go or feel like taking some time for myself, my hair is always an after-thought. However, it’s important to stay on a schedule for trims to avoid frayed ends and keep your hair growing long and strong!
Chill Out on Shampoo: This is incredibly important to remember throughout the next few months. Only wash your hair when you absolutely need to! Instead of washing your hair every day, cut back to twice a week. If your hair is super oily or needs constant cleansing, invest in a heavy conditioner and towel dry your hair before applying heat.
The best way to welcome the cold weather is to update your beauty routine for maximum protection and hydration. Most days you may be curled up and cozy as can be, but unfortunately, we can’t stay inside forever! Preventing hair breakage and dryness and maintaining a soft and glowing complexion has never been easier! What are your favorite winter beauty routines? Leave your comments below!
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