Seasonal Haircare- Upgrade Your Routine

The seasons are changing and if you haven't noticed, your hair care routine should be as well. The summer heat can be brutal on all of us but it's especially tough on our hair. Winter brings cold dry air which can dry out our locks, so it's important to keep in mind the various elements that affect our hair throughout the year when upgrading your routine.  Even though the Spring sun and dropping Fall temperatures can sometimes be milder these are key transitional periods where you can begin to prep your hair for the Summer or Winter months. 

There are plenty of seasonal changes that take place during the year that just come naturally, like switching out summer dresses for sweaters and boots for sneakers when temperatures begin to drop. What might not come so naturally is taking note of your hair and skin products to make sure that they are still serving its purpose from season to season.

 

As the season's change so should your hair care routine.

As the seasons change so should your hair care routine. Summer is a harsh time for all of us, but especially damaging to our locks. The sun can be especially damaging in the summertime, but it's not just about avoiding direct sunlight: air conditioning and central heating can dry out hair even within temperature-controlled environments.

With this in mind, consider using a deep conditioner at least once a week during summer months to keep your locks hydrated and strong. Winter conditions are no better or worse than those of summer; however, they are harsher on dry hair because there is less moisture in the air overall. If you find that you have dry or thinning hair during these winter months then consider switching up your shampoo with one with more moisturizing  emollients ( like oils, for example) and hydrating ingredients like humectants.

It's so important to consider seasonal elements when caring for our hair in order to keep it moisturized and healthy.

It's important to consider the seasons when caring for your hair. Every season brings with it a different set of challenges and opportunities, which means we must adjust our hair care routine accordingly. Summer, winter and spring are the three seasons that can affect your locks—but let's break them down one by one.

Summer can be harsh on hair but the sun can also be damaging to your locks.

Summer is the perfect time to enjoy the outdoors and spend time with friends. But with all of this fun comes a certain amount of heat, which can be harsh on your hair. Heat can cause dryness, breakage and damage if it's not protected from the elements. To protect your hair from the sun:

• Use a hat or scarf to cover up your locks during outdoor activities when possible
• Apply sunscreen on your scalp before you go for that afternoon stroll in the park or at the beach
• Use a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner so you don't lose any precious moisture that could lead to further damage
• Always shower and shampoo your hair after days in the pool or at the beach. You can pretreat your hair with a prepoo or conditioner so that your hair doesn't absorb as much chlorine. 
• Wearing a swim cap is the best way to protect your hair, reduce damage and reduce the amount of cleansing and conditioning; especially if you're a frequent swimmer.

Summer is usually considered the season of long days spent outside with friends and family; however, it can also be harsh on your locks. The sun’s UV rays are damaging enough on their own—plus they're amplified by heat (which we know will be high this year). Because of this, you may need to use a stronger sunscreen than usual on days when you plan to be outdoors longer than usual or if there's no shade nearby.*

• Please note that while sunscreen won't protect against all damage done by UV rays, it will certainly help minimize some of those risks!

Air conditioned environments can dry out hair during summer.

Your hair can become dry and brittle in the summer when you’re exposed to air conditioning. Air conditioned environments can also cause frizz and dull, lifeless strands. To protect your hair from these effects, be sure to use a heat protectant before styling tools such as flat irons or curling irons. Heat protectants will keep your hair moisturized while styling and prevent damage caused by prolonged exposure to heat.

It's important to cleanse your hair always but even more in the summer.

Cleansing the hair is important to do always but especially in the summer due to increased sweating, product use and build-up, environmental build-up, salt from beach trips and chlorine from pools. To keep your locks looking fresh, follow these steps:

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap before touching your hair as it's an open wound and any bacteria on your hands could cause infections (especially if you're sweating or have worn make-up).
• Thoroughly wet your hair and scalp
• Apply a small amount of cleanser to saturated hair using fingertips or fingers; massage gently into scalp for 30 seconds before rinsing well under warm running water for 10 seconds
• If necessary apply more cleanser a second time to continue the cleansing ritual until all product build-up, dirt and dander have been removed. 

Fall is the perfect time to also check in with your haircare routine

Don’t let the weather get you down! When it comes to hair, there are a few simple things we can do to keep ourselves looking great. Fall is the perfect time to also check in with your haircare routine as you prepare your hair for the colder months. As the Temperatures start cooling down it’s super important to keep your hair hydrated to make sure it’s ready for the unavoidable Winter cold.

Adding in a scalp cleanse and exfoliation to your regimen 

Adding in a scalp cleanse and exfoliation to your regimen is a great way to maintain healthy, hydrated hair. It’s common for people to solely focus on repairing their hair, forgetting that a healthy scalp is the base for healthy hair. (Because your hair is a plant!) Your hair is dead keratin, so your scalp is really your last chance to make a difference to the overall health of your hair.

The transition between Summer to Fall is when it really is vital to add a hair mask or change your shampoo or conditioner so your hair can adjust to the change in temperature. Not only that but deep conditioning is extremely important to any hair care regimen and even more important during the Fall and Winter! 

After scalp care comes strand care

After scalp care comes strand care, choose your favorite clarifying shampoo to remove all the Summer sand, salt, and chlorine from your hair. It's great to give your hair a fresh start each season. Always follow your clarifying shampoo ritual with a hydrating deep conditioner or treatment mask. 

You also might notice that your hair is a little thirstier, so pairing a leave-in conditioner with your leave-in spray will help to reduce the dry and help you to avoid hair dehydration.

Winter can be especially harsh on dry hair.

When the temperature drops, it’s important to take care of your hair. Winter weather can be especially harsh on dry hair, so you may need to upgrade your routine. Having textured hair means that dryness is never too far away. If you don't typically use a deep conditioner when you cleanse and condition your hair then making the switch to a deep conditioner will help to combat the dryness. Use a deep conditioner at least once a week to keep it hydrated throughout the cold months, alternating between a protein based conditioner and a hydrating conditioner. You should also try using a hydrating shampoo along with deep conditioning treatments like masks, steaming your hair, tea rinses  or oil treatment for overly dry scalps.( Do not overuse oil in your hair care rituals as it can lead to overproduction and clogged follicles!) 

The Fall and Winter are great times to install protective styles

The Fall and Winter are great times to install protective styles. Protective hair styles are super helpful and they do not have to be intricate. Any style that requires low or no manipulation styles that put hair up and away giving it a break and shielding it from harmful elements is considered a Protective Style. So if you're not feeling crochet braids, box braids, faux locs or etc, don't fear. You can easily do twist and braid styles for your Protective Style. Check out our Pinterest page for some ideas! 

Please remember to also take care of your hair while it's in a Protective Style, especially if a style with weave added in. Read this post for best practices while protective styling!  Be sure to keep that scalp clean and free from dirt and build-up. Use our Purifying Scalp Cleanser for quick, easy, and water-free cleansing. 

Winter brings a lot of static, especially in the colder months.

In winter, static is a major issue. It's not just limited to your favorite sweater or the occasional turtleneck; it can be an annoyance in everyday life, as well. As soon as you step out of your house, you're likely to get shocked by a lightswitch or door handle. And even if it doesn't happen during the day, chances are good that once you get home from work and sit down on the couch with your hair still damp from washing it earlier in the day (you did wash your hair today, right?), those strands will suddenly stand up on end like little witches' wands giving off sparks of static electricity.

It's frustrating enough when one strand stands up and makes itself known: what about when all of them do? If this has been happening for months now and nothing seems to help—including cutting back on brushing—then maybe it's time for something else: switching up how often we shampoo our hair could be exactly what we need!

Everything rejuvenates in the Spring naturally.

The warmer weather is very ideal to give your hair a reset and improve the condition of your hair. Spring is also a great time to do hair detoxes for a fresh start from Winter in the new season. Spring is also a perfect time to re-evaluate your products and see what has been working for your hair and what hasn't. 

When thinking about styling, Spring is the perfect time to go with lighter weight styling products like mousses, creams, glazes and light gels. Serums are also great to use to help retain moisture and fight frizz while mists are the perfect option to replenish the moisture once you've reached your moisture retention cycle. 

Spring humidity can begin to cause frizziness! 

Spring humidity can begin to cause frizziness, make sleek styles poofy, and defined styles loose their definition. You can thank all the moisture in the air for that. Luckily, there are anti-humidity products on the market but you can also help reduce loss of definition or excess water being sucked in by your strands by ditching products with glycerin or water attracting ingredients. Especially if you live in an area where humidity can get out of control. You can also decide to embrace the humidity and use it to boost your styles with volume. Completely your choice, just know that you have options. 

Spring is the Perfect time to get Scissor happy!

If you had been skipping your trims, which you shouldn't do by the way, add getting trims to your Haircare checklist for Spring. You'll notice a lot of people decide to go with drastic haircuts in the Spring as well. It's the perfect time to try some new color, a new cut or even a new shape to compliment the way you typically style your hair. 

 

Check your diet! Hair health truly does start from the inside out

With any routine, nutrition and water intake are two important factors to overall hair health. Check your diet! Hair health truly does start from the inside out, no matter the season and the being mindful of the foods you eat will give your hair much needed nutrients.

Be sure to eat nutrient-rich food that encourages hair growth and hair longevity. Omega-3s (found in Salmon and Avocado) help hair grow shiny and soft. Berries contain vitamin C, which produce collagen which greatly strengthens hair. Cantaloupes, sweet potatoes, carrots and dark leafy vegetables are a great source of beta-carotene and your body will convert this compound into vitamin A. Vitamin A is known to promote overall all hair health. 

We want to help you take care of your hair in a way that works for you

We want to help you take care of your hair in a way that works for you, whether you have naturally curly locks, or if you straighten your hair every day. A lot of this has to do with trying seasonal haircare methods and tricks out to see what works best for your locks. That said, keeping up with seasonal haircare is easy once you begin the practice. The important thing is that you start today! And once you get the hang of it, we're sure that changing up your look with seasonal changes will be as easy as 1-2-3.

There's no doubt that seasonal haircare will take some effort in the beginning. But after spending some serious time on testing and experimenting with your hair, you'll eventually find a routine and products that work for you.

In the end, this guide is all about making hair care easy and convenient, especially during important times of the year. This is especially true for seasonal changes that require us to change up our haircare routines to maintain hair health and health. 

Don't let this season pass you by, make sure to add the above tips into your haircare routine so that you are prepared and that seasonal haircare becomes natural to you!