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How to Keep Your Hair Healthy in Winter

By Irina Bg/Shutterstock

Winter, for some, is quite enjoyable. They love frolicking around in the cold and the snow, bless their hearts. For many people however, winter comes with a set of problems. Not least of which is keeping your hair healthy. The dry winter air sucks the moisture right out. This leaves it dry, frizzy and full of split ends. So, what can you do? Well there are actually several things you can do.

Watch How You Dry it

It might go without saying that if you want to avoid dry brittle hair that you should watch how you dry it. But, many people don't realize just how much blow drying can damage your hair. It's of course often necessary, but there are several things you can do to reduce the damage done. Firstly, make sure the air intake vent is clear. A blocked intake will make the fan work harder, creating more heat. They also tend to get hotter as they get older, replace it every five years to avoid this. It can also be very advantageous to not dry your hair right out. Leaving it just a little damp can actually prevent most of the damage done by blow dryers.

Eat Well

It makes sense that eating right is necessary for healthy hair. Eating right is necessary for a healthy body after all. Try to reduce your intake of bad foods, like processed and fast foods, and increase your intake of things like fish, fruits and vegetables. You don't even need to do a full 180. Many people see results from rather moderate changes.

You need to make sure you are getting enough protein. The vast majority of people are, but if you're not, your hair is really going to suffer. Vegetarians/vegans and people on diets that limit meat are particularly susceptible. Good sources of protein of course include lean meats, fish, eggs, and vegetables.

Scalp Massages

Everyone like massages, and now you have a great reason to get more of them. There was a study done that found that a four minute massage every day increased hair thickness within 24 days. Thicker hair will of course make your hair look healthier overall and draw attention away from its other problems. It can be self administered, or you can ask a friend or partner to do it. This is also super convenient, as a massage will also help with the next point.

Reduce Stress

We all know just how bad stress can be for us. And it turns out it's just as bad for our hair as it is for the rest of us. Stress reduction can be difficult, but it's not impossible. Fortunately, there are some simple things you can do. Eating right and exercise are of course vitally important. Even 20 minutes of brisk exercise three times a week can significantly improve your overall stress levels. Other things proven to reduce stress are massages and saunas or steam rooms. In fact, for the sauna one 20 minute session a week was shown to have a positive effect.

Shampoo Less

While it may seem counterintuitive to shampoo less, it's actually solid advice. Your hair naturally produces oils. These oils naturally coat and protect your hair from environmental factors, like the dry air of winter. Shampoos will of course wash them away. For optimal winter protection you should only be washing your hair two to three times a week at most. Some people even go so far as to stop washing their hair all together. It might seem like this is going to make your hair look or smell terrible. But it will leave your hair much healthier. The natural oils will also give your hair that healthy sheen that everyone is looking for.

Essential Oils

Essential oils can be great for your hair. They've been used for centuries to improve the look and health of our hair. There are many different essential oils that will have different positive effects on the hair. The best for preventing damage done by dry winter air is jojoba. Jojoba adds moisture and nutrients directly to your hair. To use it simply mix a few drops in with around two ounces of a carrier oil like olive oil. Rub it into your hair, then wash your hair as you normally would after thirty minutes. Another great oil to use is sandalwood, which will help with split ends and leave your hair smelling fragrant.