Dealing with Dry Hair

Laura Leiva

Fall means different things to different people; pumpkin spice lattes from your favorite coffee shop, crisp and colorful leaves splashed across the community, or the time in which your hair and skin become as dry as the air itself. If your hair seems to lose its luster and body once the temperatures begin to dip, there are plenty of home treatments or products that will restore the look and health of your hair. Even if your hair is not visibly dry now, use deep conditioning as a way to prevent this hair dilemma later in the season.

Oil Treatments

Oil treatments are great for nourishing and restoring the shine back to dry hair. Whether you purchase products at your favorite retail store, such as Queen Helene Olive Oil Hot Oil Treatments, or you purchase an oil from the health food store to apply to dry hair, such as avocado or almond oil, deep conditioning treatments can be done as often as needed to obtain soft, shiny hair.

Get the most out of your at-home oil treatment by incorporating the following steps:

  • Brush your hair out completely. Brushing helps distribute the natural oil from the scalp down to the tips of the hair, giving you a little extra boost of moisture to dry strands.
  • Part the hair into three to four manageable sections, so you can thoroughly apply your oil treatment from about an inch from the scalp tips. Massage the oil into the tips of the hair, as that is usually where hair is at its driest.
  • Throw a towel into the dryer as you complete your hot oil application. Once you are finished, wrap the warm towel around your head, just like you do when you are finished showering. The heat from the towel opens up the hair cuticles, allowing the oil to absorb deep into dry hair for extra conditioning.
  • Allow the treatment to stay on the hair for at least 20 minutes or up to an hour if your hair is color-treated or damaged.
  • Shampoo the oil out of the hair and rinse with warm water. Complete a treatment at least once a week through the dry fall and winter months.

Shampoo and Conditioner

Just as you need to change your beauty products out for different seasons, your shampoo and conditioner must also adapt to your hair needs. Since it is usually drier and cold during the fall and winter, switch your shampoo and conditioner to a product that offers extra conditioning. One new product, Dove Nourishing Oil Care Shampoo and Conditioner, uses almond and mineral oil to add moisture to the hair with everyday cleansing.

Protect Your Hair

Protect your hair when you go outside by wearing a scarf or hat, especially when it is windy or very cold, as the harsh elements deplete natural moisture in the hair just as it does to the skin. For added protection, spray your hair each day with a leave-in conditioner, such as Aussie Hair Insurance Leave-In Conditioner Spray, before you head outside.

While it is hard to maintain perfect skin and hair during the colder months, being proactive with hair care ensures your hair will look its best, no matter what the weather is doing outdoors. A little extra TLC for the hair goes a long way!

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Published by Laura Leiva - Featured Contributor in Beauty

Laura has a bachelor s degree in journalism -- with an emphasis in magazine editing -- and a marketing minor from Metropolitan State University of Denver. Laura is a featured beauty, shopping and fashion, w...  View profile

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