As we’re now scrambling to start getting ready for the holidays, the weather and dry air are going to sneak up on us before we know it. This means that our hair will start to become dry, frizzy, and brittle. Now’s the perfect time to start looking at altering our hair care routine to stop any damage before it starts. 

At Special FX Salon, we know how important it is to be proactive with hair care so that your hair remains strong, healthy, and manageable all year long. Here are some recommendations on keeping your hair looking its best during the colder seasons.

Massage and oil your scalp. To encourage that natural oil production, massaging your hair and scalp regularly can help to nourish your hair roots and strengthen your hair follicles. Once or twice a week, massage your scalp before bed with a multi-care oil such as Redken All Soft Argan-6 and leave it in overnight. You can then shampoo it out with Redken All Soft Shampoo & Conditioner for 15x more conditioning and softness.

Shampoo less but Condition frequently. When we shampoo our hair, the natural oils formed from our hair get stripped from our hair shaft. By switching to Hydrate Shampoo, and cutting down shampooing to only once or twice a week, will help to keep those natural oils moisturizing the hair and scalp. Also, don’t use a rough back-and-forth motion when you do wash your hair. It can lead to tangling and breaking your strands while weakening the hair follicle. 

Although you need to cut down the times you shampoo, you should be conditioning more often to moisturize and protect the outermost layer of your hair. Not only will a good conditioner add more moisture, but it will also make your hair smooth and shiny, helping to get rid of that dreaded wintertime frizz. 

Deep condition. Last time we talked about how important it is to use a deep conditioning mask at home, such as our Redken Extreme Mask, All Soft Heavy Crème, or Pureology Color Fanatic as well as indulging in our in-salon professional conditioning treatments. 

To learn all about our treatments and products we recommend for weekly at-home deep conditioning, read our last article, Strengthen Your Hair with Deep Conditioning.

Don’t just leave your hair wet. Two things can cause excessive tangling, breakage, and damage to your hair – leaving the house with wet hair and falling asleep with wet hair. Cold hair expands the hair shaft, leaving your strands prone to damage and as well causing your hair color to fade quicker than normal. You can gently towel dry your hair, with no harsh rubbing, and then use air or fan drying on low heat before going to bed or stepping out. 

Use dry shampoo as needed. For those with oilier hair, your hair may become limp between shampoos or you might have that dreaded ‘hat hair’ if you wear hats during cold weather. You can use Deep Clean Dry Shampoo to give new life to your hair in between washings. It’ll expand your hair shaft to give you fuller, more voluminous hair in a manner of seconds. 

Limit heated tools. It’s no secret that applying heat to your hair can cause damage, split ends, and breakage. It’s even more apt to happen in the winter when our hair is at its weakest. When you can, limit the use of your hairdryer, curling rods, and hair straighteners. When you do use any of your heated styling tools, use a heat protectant cream. 

Wear only lined hats. Once the weather really starts diving down, hats can protect our hair from the wind and rain. However, rubbing from wool, cotton, and other fabrics can cause split ends and breakage. To make sure your hair is protected best, use hats or beanies that are lined with silk. If you’re a skier and are taking a weekend trek to Tahoe, you can use a scarf to put into your ski hat to protect your hair. 

*Stylist tip – if you get a blowout or other service at our salon and it’s raining or misty, use a silk scarf to get out to your car, and once your remove it, your hair will still look as great as it did in the salon!

For more great tips and haircare products, ask your Salon FX stylist when you’re in for your next service. The health of your hair is always our top priority. Our hair experts at  Special FX Salon & Day Spa are here to help. We are located at 1711 Branham Lane in San Jose, an easy drive for surrounding communities including Saratoga, Almaden, Los Gatos, and Morgan Hill for all your hair care needs. You can reach us for an appointment at 408-264-4505, or reserve your appointment online.

We know it’s tough getting out with the current restrictions and social distancing guidelines. That’s why we offer quick, easy online shopping right from our website or free mobile app on iTunes or Google Play for all your hair care needs.