Tis’ the season of hair care!

 

No, really. We’re serious. Winter can be rough on those luscious locks. Compared to warmer spring and summer months, winter can leave your hair more dehydrated. This means it can feel dry, brittle, and more prone to breakage.

For those planning on getting married this winter, the thought of dry and brittle hair sounds horrifying. However, fear not! We have five hair care treatments to try this winter to keep your wedding day hair hydrated and healthy.

Treatment #1: Rice Water

Consider rice water for hair growth. Not only do the nutrients in rice water help stimulate hair growth, but rice water can also help improve dandruff, strengthen locks, and even improve its appearance.

Rice water contains vitamins and minerals such as B, C, selenium, zinc, magnesium, iodine, and potassium. These nutrients can repair cell damage and nourish the hair follicle.

Rice water treatment is super simple to do. For the quick method, soak one cup of rice in 24 ounces of water for thirty minutes, strain out the rice, and save the rice water. Take a shower and shampoo your hair, per usual, rinsing thoroughly. Then pour the rice water over the scalp and strands. Using fingertips, gently massage into the scalp and work through strands helping ensure hair is evenly coated in the rice water. Leave the rice water to soak for twenty minutes, then rinse thoroughly.

The more time-consuming method starts the same way. However, you need to save your rice water in a glass bottle that seals and leave it to ferment at room temperature for 48 hours. The fermentation process lowers the rice water’s pH, which will reduce the pH of hair, allowing the nutrients to penetrate deeper into the scalp and hair. You use the fermented rice water the same way.

Treatment #2: Shower Strategically

This is a tip anyone can follow. It requires no extra time or products and can save you time.

The first thing you should do is minimize the frequency at which you shampoo your hair. Frequent shampoos during winter can strip natural oils leaving your hair drier and more brittle. If this makes you feel uncomfortable, don’t hesitate to supplement with dry shampoo between washes.

The second thing you should do is lower the water temperature. Now, we’re not saying take a cold shower in winter, that’s a little over the top. However, that scalding hot water you love so much is doing more harm than good. Hot showers can also dry your hair out, making it more brittle and more likely to break.

For the sake of your hair, lower the temperature of your shower to lukewarm, skip some shampoos, but don’t forget the conditioner.

Treatment #3: Up the Ante with a Hair Masque

Adding a hair masque to your routine can provide an extra punch of much-needed nourishment that adds moisture, reduces frizz, strengthens hair, and prevents breakage.

There are DIY recipes online. However, the safer option is to purchase a masque so you can rest assured you won’t be causing extra damage.

If you’d like a DIY hair masque hack, using real aloe vera directly from the plant can help soothe that itchy winter scalp and strength strands. To do this, harvest the gel directly from the leaves, massage it into the scalp and pull through stands. Let sit for 20 minutes and rinse.

Treatment #4: Black Castor Oil and Pumpkin Seed Oil for the Win!

Hot oil treatments can help with dry scalp and hair, but the kind of oil you use matters significantly. Everyone’s go-to for hot oil treatments is coconut oil. However, there are better oils out there. Two favorites are black castor oil and pumpkin seed oil.

Like with the rice water rice, black castor oil can help with hair growth due to its ability to impart nutrients into hair follicles and the scalp. It can minimize itchy, flaky scalp from dryness, eczema, and dandruff. Plus, it can even strengthen strands.

Another amazing oil is pumpkin seed oil. It can also help with hair growth and thickness. Furthermore, it can impart moisture as it nourishes the hair and scalp with essential fatty acids, omegas, vitamin E, K, and phytosterol, which assists collagen production.

Simply apply one or both oils to the scalp and work through strands. Next, put on a shower cap to hold in heat and allow the oil to penetrate deeper. Finally, let sit for at least 20 minutes or even overnight!

Treatment #5: Baby Your Hair

In addition to working the treatments above into your routine, you should start babying your hair using a leave-in conditioner. Using a leave-in conditioner will add extra hydration to hair and help lock in moisture.

Other ways to baby your hair include minimal heat styling, not going outside with wet hair, wearing a hat when you do, or keeping it wrapped in a silky scarf. Doing so prevents unnecessary damage, breakage, and split ends. Additionally, incorporating regular deep conditioning treatments and using a wide-tooth comb instead of a brush can help maintain your hair’s health and elasticity. For those exploring protective styles, wigs can be a great option to reduce strain on your natural hair, but there are things to consider before buying wigs, such as cap construction, material, and proper fit for comfort and style. By taking these steps, you can ensure your hair remains healthy and vibrant while exploring versatile styling options.

Conclusion

Winter is coming! Don’t let it wreck your do. That dry, cold air can be harsh on hair. However, working in these treatments and practicing safe, smart haircare can keep your luscious locks looking fabulous all season long.