How to keep your hair healthy this winter

Shahnaz Husain *

Winter is the time for comfort, warmth and cosiness. Sitting by the fire with a hot cup of tea and steaming plate of breakfast on a balmy winter morning. While you may be having the best time of your life, your hair is not. While a lot of people focus on winter skincare, the hair is mostly ignored.

The freezing temperature is going to wreak havoc upon your hair as it zaps the moisture out of the hair and scalp, resulting in frizzy and flaky hair, dry and itchy scalp or simply worsening the condition of those who are already facing hair problems.

And that is why you need a separate hair care routine for winters. Your hair loses moisture due to extreme climatic conditions , making it brittle and prone to breakage and split ends. It dulls natural shine and causes color to fade.

Everyone’s hair types differ. While it’s important that everyone treat their hair gently—particularly in the winter— this is especially important if you have fragile hair. Fragile hair requires extra-careful treatment.

The hair needs external nourishment. This is more so in winter, when the weather becomes dry and robs the hair of moisture and oils. The application of oils, like pure coconut oil or almond oil, provides nourishment to the hair and softens hair texture. If you apply oil with a light massage, it also helps to stimulate blood circulation to the hair follicles.

Massage the scalp gently with oil, using only the fingertips and move the scalp in small circular movements. After washing the hair, avoid rubbing with your towel. Instead, wrap it around the head and allow it to absorb excess water. Avoid ironing the hair if it is dry and brittle. Stop using the hair dryer before the hair is totally dry and allow it to dry naturally.

Dandruff is quite common in winter, due to dryness and flakiness of the scalp. Hot oil therapy is very useful for dandruff and split ends. Once or twice a week, heat pure coconut oil and apply on the hair and scalp. Apply on ends too. Then dip a towel in hot water, squeeze out the water and wrap the hot towel around the head, like a turban. Keep it on for 5 minutes. Repeat the hot towel wrap 3 or 4 times.

Leave the oil on overnight. For dandruff, next morning, apply the juice of a lemon on the scalp and wash your hair after 20 minutes. Avoid using very hot water for washing your hair. After shampoo, add two tablespoons of vinegar to a mug of water and use as a last rinse.

When it comes to washing your hair, it depends on your hair type. Oily hair can be washed daily to keep scalp clean while chemically treated coloured hair can be washed less frequently. Make sure to apply conditioner keeping in view of specific needs of hair type to bind the hair fiber together to make it stronger .

Regular conditioning is extremely important. Hair conditioners and hair serums help to soften the hair and improve its look and texture. They also coat the hair and help to protect it. After shampoo, apply a creamy conditioner, taking less quantity and massaging it lightly into the hair.

Apply on the ends too. Leave it on for two minutes and rinse off with plain water. Do not rinse off all the conditioner if the hair is very dry. You can also apply a “leave-on” type of conditioner or hair serum. Apply it the same way, but do not rinse off.

Tips/Home Remedies for Hair Care: Hyderate Hairs---- Keep your hair hydrated during winters by drinking plenty of water , juices , soups and salads .If you keep yourself hydrated then there are minimum chances of hair problems and it will also give your long lustrous and shiny hair besides keeping you healthy and fit .What you eat also play a role in hair health.

Eating a healthy diet full of iron, vitamins, minerals is the best way to keep your hair and scalp hydrated from inside . Aloe vera and almond oil is one of the best ingredients for intense moisturizing.

Apply the mixture of Aloe vera and almond oil in equal quantities depending on length of your hair over your hair cuticle and leave it for 45 minutes to allow it to soak naturally. It will minimize moisture loss making your hair soft, smooth and shiny.

Make sure you don’t get a temperature shock when you get home or when you’re going out. Keep your room temperature warm but not hot as if temperature inside your home is much warmer than outside then it can irritate your skin and scalp leading to dandruff , hair fall, split ends etc etc. Avoid use of hair dryers and curling irons .as the heat can dry out your hair and scalp, increasing the risk of damage

Allow hairs to dry in normal temperatures and even if the hair dryer is then keep it at 20 inches away . from hair to minimize the loss Stop using the hair dryer before the hair is totally dry and allow it to dry naturally

To nourish dry hair: Beat an egg with a cup of milk. Rub the mixture into the scalp and leave it for five minutes. Afterwards just rinse it with water. Do this twice a week. Onion juice in combination with honey is amazing for hair care treatment to control hair fall /fight dandruff in winters.. Extract the juice of two onions. Add 4 tablespoons of honey and 2 tablespoons of rosewater in the onion juice.

Apply this paste to your hair with a help of a cotton swab and leave it on for about 60 minutes. Rinse your hair with lukewarm water.

For split ends and dry, brittle hair : Take one tablespoons sesame seed (til) oil, one teaspoon pure glycerin and one egg yolk. Mix together and apply on the hair. Apply on ends too. For longer hair, take more oil. Wearing a plastic shower cap will help. Wash your hair after half an hour.

To improve hair texture and color: Mix one teaspoon castor oil with one tablespoon pure coconut oil. Heat and apply on the hair and scalp. Leave it overnight. Castor oil helps to darken hair which has become brown due to sun-damage and other reasons. Mix some water with creamy hair conditioner and put it in a spray bottle. Spray the mixture on the hair. Then comb the hair, so that it spreads through the hair.

Once or twice a week, apply curd or egg. Leave it on for half an hour, before washing the hair.

When sitting out in the sun, cover your head but make sure that it’s not so tight that it will restrict the circulation in your scalp.