Hair Survival: How to Keep Your Hair Healthy During Cold Winter Months

Healthy hair is essential in keeping your hair looking good. No matter what great color or haircut you have, it won't do any good if your hair is not in good condition. Good hair care is especially important in winter because the dropping temperatures can make hair dry and full of static. Read on for some important hair care tips to keep your hair healthy during the colder months.

1).Start off with a good haircut. Swimming, highlights, and days at the beach during the summer months often leave hair in frail condition. Ask your stylist to trim off dead ends. If your hair is very damaged, be prepared to cut off more than you may like. Since hair grows at the roots, the ends are oldest and lack moisture. Trimming off just a couple of inches does wonders for the health of your hair.

2). Shampoo less frequently. It may sound gross, but it is not necessary to shampoo your hair daily unless it is very fine or oily. For coarse or curly hair, it is perfectly fine to shampoo hair as little as twice a week. Wash hair with a good shampoo (Pureology makes a fantastic line for different hair types) and condition it. If you find your hair looks greasy on day 2 without shampooing, try putting a very small mount of baby powder in your brush and brushing at the roots. The powder soaks up oil. Alternately, you can use a dry shampoo that doesn't require water, such as Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo.

3). Condition more. One trick my stylist taught me for my own coarse hair is that it is okay to apply conditioner to the roots and lather like it is actually shampoo. This is only a good idea for dry or coarse hair; it will only make fine hair appear greasy. As you shower each day, simply wet your hair and apply conditioner only on non-shampoo days. Apply a deep conditioner once a week with a hot towel in the shower for ten minutes. I like Redken Extreme Deep Fuel Treatment. Keep the conditioning going after your shower with a very lightweight conditioning spray, such as Pantene Pro-V Detangle Light Spray conditioner. Apply mostly at the midsection and ends.

4). Take special care when styling. Never go outside with your hair wet. Not only will it likely give you a cold during the winter months, but parts of your hair can actually freeze, leaving it extremely susceptible to damage. Hats are great for protection against snow and freezing rain, but be careful when brushing out the tangles they cause. Whether dry or wet, always use a comb starting at the ends of your hair, working up to the midsection and finally the roots. Avoid towel drying too vigorously, and limit using tight elastics, especially on wet hair. If you wear your hair in a ponytail often, put it at a different height each time to prevent breaking of a certain section. Make a high ponytail, one at the crown, etc.

5). Lastly, avoid heat styling as much as you can. Since winter weather does seem to make hair more susceptible to damage, it is best to really only "style" hair a couple days a week. Use weekends or days off to give your hair a break from the blow dryer and flat iron. When you do use hot styling tools, use a heat protectant every time to minimize damage.