Protecting Your Hair During The Christmas Season
Fact Checked By Skin Formulations
| Dec 18, 2020
- Hair care routines are part of a healthy lifestyle.
- During the holidays, you may need to adjust your routine, especially if you’re traveling.
- Use damaged hair treatment products like oils and serums to save dry, brittle hair.
- Home remedies for hair loss include deep conditioning your hair, not tying your hair up when wet, and ditching heat products.
Hair Care Through The Ages
Hair care has come a long way. The most basic hair care we practice today, washing it with shampoo, was not even invented until 1927!
1. Oils
Before shampoo, using oils in the hair was one of the most common ways people maintained healthy hair. Oils allowed people, women especially, to maintain shiny, healthy-looking locks. Some cultures even used animal parts to maintain hair health and prevent hair loss, though many of them used vegan methods like turning flaxseed into a gel.
2. Hair Rinses
Japanese and Chinese cultures used perfumed hair rinses similar to the shampoos we use today. These were complemented with coconut oil used as a conditioner.
Although these practices have changed over the centuries, many of them serve as the basis for the ways we care for our hair today.
Hair Care Mistakes to Avoid
Our hair care routines need to change along with the season. Different weather affects our hair—for people who live in cold, dry climates, you’ve probably noticed how staticky your hair gets during the winter!
That’s why it’s important to take good care of your hair during the holiday season. Avoid making hair care mistakes like not protecting your hair from the elements, not conditioning your hair, and using too many heat products. Consider these tips as part of a healthy lifestyle!
Prudent Hair Care Tips
1. Be Careful With Blonde Hair.
If you have blonde hair, you’ll want to be extra careful during the holiday season. Blonde hair is more susceptible to sun damage, especially if the blonde is dyed rather than natural.
Even in the winter, your blonde hair will be more easily damaged. You can help protect your hair by keeping it covered and protecting it from the sun, and using a purple shampoo to prevent brassiness or that dreaded green tinge that comes with dyed blonde hair!
2. Simplify Your Styling Regime.
This tip is especially helpful if you’re planning on traveling or will be busy this holiday season. Having a complicated hairstyling routine will be frustrating and add to the stress of Christmas.
Instead, transform your routine into something less time-consuming. Try embracing your hair’s natural look to save time—and your sanity!
3. Use UV Spray.
Even in the winter, UV rays can damage your hair. If you’re planning on traveling somewhere warm for the holidays, you’ll want to take extra precautions.
If you’re going to be outside a lot, buy a UV spray and give your hair a few spritzes. This will help protect your hair from harmful UV rays. It is important for people who use a lot of heat tools on their hair, who dye it frequently, or who have already damaged hair.
4. Use Heat Protector Spray.
If you do plan on using heat products on your hair, you’re going to want to invest in a heat protector spray. Heat products like straighteners and curling irons can seriously damage your hair. A heat protector will help minimize the damage, and using it in tandem with oils and other hair care techniques will help keep your hair shiny and healthy.
Like UV spray, a heat protector spray will also keep your hair safe from sun damage if you’re heading somewhere hot for the holidays.
5. Consider The Pressure Of Your Showerhead.
The water pressure you use when you wash your hair will affect your hair health. If you struggle with hair loss, part of your home remedies for hair loss should be choosing gentle water pressure. Using water that’s too hard will make you lose even more hair.
If you can set the pressure on your showerhead, choose a lower pressure. If your showerhead only gives you hard pressure, invest in a hair mask to help protect it.
6. Take Care Of Your Brightly Colored Hair.
If you like dying your hair with vibrant colors, then you probably already know that brightly colored hair requires special care. Try not to wash your hair daily, and only use shampoo on the roots of your hair to make sure your color lasts. You can also mix some of your hair dye into your conditioner to maintain your color.
7. Use Sulfate-Free Shampoo And Hair Mask.
Sulfates are frequently found in shampoos and, unfortunately, they can really dry out your hair. Curly hair is prone to drying out, as is hair damaged from heat or dying products.
When you’re buying a new shampoo, always make sure to read the label and check for sulfates. A sulfate-free shampoo will help keep your hair moisturized and soft, as well as prevent buildup on the scalp – it’s one of the home remedies to remove dandruff.
You might also want to get a hair mask to help maintain your hair health. Using a mask weekly will keep hair shiny and soft.
8. Get A Haircut Before You Go On Holiday.
Split ends, straggly hair, and heat damage will only get worse if you don’t do something about it before you go on a trip somewhere hot.
Before you travel, book a hair appointment to clean your hair up and prevent further damage. Having a haircut will also mean that you’ll look your best for all your travel photos!
9. Use Oils.
For centuries, people have used oils to help maintain their hair health. If you’re spending a lot of time in the sun, adding some oil to your hair afterward will help moisturize it and leave it shiny and healthy-looking. It also helps your scalp, which makes it one of the best home remedies to remove dandruff.
10. Condition Your Hair.
Conditioning your hair should be a regular part of your hair washing routine. Conditioning your hair helps smooth and protect your hair cuticle, and gives you shinier hair.
11. Leave Your Straighteners Behind.
Heat products like straighteners can seriously damage your hair. Using them too frequently can make your hair dry and brittle. If you’re staying home where it’s cold and wintery, your hair rubbing against your jacket and scarf will make your hair even more brittle.
Instead, embrace your hair’s natural texture! Put your straighteners away and keep your hair healthy and happy this holiday season.
12. Use a deep conditioner.
If you’re planning on traveling, use a deep conditioner on your hair before you go. This will help keep your hair safe from the elements, and it also means you won’t have to wash your hair every day while you’re traveling.
13. Use A Good Hair Serum.
If you struggle with dry, frizzy hair – a good hair serum is a must-have. This is doubly true if you’re going to be traveling to any hot or dry places!
Using a good serum is also an important part of your damaged hair treatment.
14. Freshen Up Hair With Dry Shampoo.
You should, as a general rule, try to avoid washing your hair every day since this strips your hair of its natural healthy oils. Instead, use a dry shampoo to soak up grease and keep your hair looking beautiful and fresh!
15. Don’t Tie Your Hair Up When It’s Wet.
When your hair is wet, it’s considerably weaker than when it’s dry. Tying your hair up when it’s wet can make it more prone to breakage and damage.
That means you should avoid tying your hair up when it’s wet. If you absolutely must, use a tie that’s gentle on your hair like a scrunchie.
Final Words
Having a hair care routine is important for a healthy lifestyle, but you also need to be flexible with it! This is especially true during the holidays. Whether you’re traveling or staying home, adjusting your hair care routine will help you maintain your hair’s healthy look and prevent damage.
