The nights are starting to draw in, the slow cooker is coming out of hibernation and a rainy afternoon with a Harry Potter movie marathon sounds very inviting but along with this entrance into cozy season comes a need to switch up our haircare routine. Each season calls for different routines but Autumn and Winter can be very harsh on our strands, and we all know that prevention is better than cure. So how can you keep your curls their healthiest and looking their best over the coming months?
The Autumn Shed –
If you’re noticing an increase in shedding whilst you’re detangling, you’re not imagining it. The ‘autumn shed’ is a real thing although no one can quite pinpoint what causes it except that it appears that more hairs enter the resting phase during the late summer with these strands then shedding around October.
During this time focus on your scalp health including daily scalp massages, eating a balanced diet, drinking your water, not sleeping with wet hair, avoiding tight hair styles, detangling gently and using your scalp topical daily along with derma rolling two to three times a week.
Focus On Moisture –
All seasons normally require tweaks to our routines and during the colder months these tweaks tend to center around moisture. The drop in temperatures, combined with having the heating on in our homes and cars, plus increasing the water temperature in the shower can lead to dry, brittle strands that become quite frizzy. This dryness can then lead to breakage so keeping on top of it is important.
For coarse hair this could be as simple as adding a deep conditioner into your routine once a week but for fine hair you may need to experiment slightly so that you can add this moisture without weighing your curls down, especially if you are also on the lower density side of the spectrum. You may simply need to add a leave in conditioner to your styling routine, or switch your lightweight conditioner for a slightly more moisturising one. You may need to deep condition once or twice a month but only leave it on for a few minutes. It will be different for everyone but the experimenting will be worth it.
Lower The Protein –
It is normal to need more protein in the summer as the suns UV rays break down the protein in our hair strands faster. However the amount you’ve needed over the last few months may be too much over the coming six months. You can try reducing the amount of protein treatments you do on washdays and balance the protein in your wash day products. For example, if your shampoo and conditioner contain protein, try protein free stylers or vice versa.
Signs that you need more protein –
Hair feels soft
Curls struggle to hold
Hair feels like candy floss
Signs that your hair needs less protein –
Hair feels dry or like straw
More tangles than normal
Your are noticing more frizz than normal
Clarify –
Clarifying is so important during every season! It is in fact, the most important thing that you can do for both your hair and scalp all year round. During autumn and winter with the increase in use of moisturising products, you will find clarifying very beneficial, ensuring that your curls don’t become weighed down and so that your products can all work as intended without having to fight through build up.
If you have soft water you can use a clarifying shampoo but if you live in an area with hard water, or you swim regularly, then you will need a chelating shampoo. These kind of shampoos have added ingredients that bind to the hard water mineral deposits and removes them.
Typical signs that you need to clarify –
Curls are weighed down
Curls struggle to hold
Hair feels dirty even straight after washing
Excessive frizz
Curls are stringy
Your scalp is itchy/flaky
Hair looks dull
Shampoo Recommendations-
JSL Essentials Clarifying Shampoo – Discount code CURLYCAST15
Bumble and Bumble Sunday Shampoo
Ouai Detox Shampoo
How You Dry Matters –
It is the little tweaks to your routine that can sometimes make the biggest difference and whilst there are pros and cons to both air drying and diffusing, during the winter it can be worth taking the extra time to diffuse even if you are an avid air drying fan. This goes for all hair types, curl patterns and densities.
Hair is weakest when it’s wet and leaving it in this wet state for too long can lead breakage, especially if you are leaving the house and going out into the elements. And let’s not forget about our scalps when it comes to how we dry our hair. Air drying will always take longer in the winter than in the summer and our scalps can suffer with this extra air drying time leading to flaking, itchiness and soreness.
Protection From The Elements –
Just like we protect our hair from the sun in the Summer we should protect our hair from the wind, rain and freezing temperatures in the colder months. You can do this with pony tails, buns, pineapples and braids. As well as accessories. The trouble with normal winter hats are that many of them can cause frizz and breakage due to the materials but over the last several years many brands have released winter hats that are silk or satin lined which is ideal for helping your curls to retain their moisture whilst limiting frizz and breakage.
Satin Lined Beanie from Only Curls London
Night Time –
Whilst we’re on the subject of protection, night time protection matters too. Keeping the moisture in your hair is one of the biggest struggles during the winter and so if you’re going to bed and sleeping just on a cotton pillowcase you’re going to quickly find yourself with hair that is dry, frizzy and prone to breakage. There is a common misconception that those of us with curly hair use sleep protection purely to keep our curls looking good and so we don’t have to wash as often and although that is part of the reason, it isn’t the whole story. The main reason for sleep protection is to keep your hair healthy, and to keep the moisture where we want it, in the strands.
Buffs, bonnets and silk and satin pillowcases are the main 3 options. Personally I prefer a buff over a bonnet but whichever one you choose, pair it with a silk or satin pillowcase, just in case the buff or bonnet comes off during the night. Your skin will also thank you!
The next several months don’t have to be a nightmare for your curls. Just a few simple tweaks will ensure that your hair stays moisturised, frizz free and healthy!
Happy ‘ber months!