Beauty Tip: Winter Hair Care

Winter Hair Care (Taken from my writing.com account)

If you live in an area where the winters are long and cold, you are probably familiar with the bad hair days that come with the snow, ice, and freezing temperatures.  Many men and women complain of flaky scalps, split ends, and enough static electricity to light up New York City in their hair!

Many factors play into dry winter hair.  People who naturally experience dry skin are vulnerable to begin with.  Freezing temperatures cause the amount natural moisture in the air to drop, and we often combat the cold with old-school heating systems that pump out dry, dusty air!  Our bodies might think we are on a frozen tundra, but it’s no wonder our hair acts like we are living in a desert!

In the battle of elements vs. hair, moisture is our greatest defense.  Here are some important steps we can take to make sure we are giving our hair the moisture and TLC it needs during the harsh winter months:

1. Cut back on shampooing!
Unless you have extremely oily hair (the roots look greasy and hair feels slimy 12-24 hours after shampooing), hair should NEVER be shampooed daily!  Shampoo gets your hair clean, but it will also strip your hair and scalp of nature’s best moisturizer: your own natural oils!  Only shampoo if your hair and scalp are starting to look oily, or if your hair has been exposed to something that needs to be washed out right away (such as excessive hairspray or cigarette smoke).  Some people may need to shampoo every 48 hours, others might only need to wash once or twice a week.  You may be able to hold off shampooing an extra day by applying translucent face powder to your roots if they look just a touch oily.

2. Crank up the conditioning!
Condition your hair every time you shower, even if you don’t shampoo!  For an extra-deep conditioning, rinse hair with warm water, apply conditioner from roots to tips, and then wrap a towel around your head for 30 minutes.  The warm water will open your scalp pores, and the towel will hold in your body heat so the conditioner can really sink in!  When time is up, remove the towel and rinse your hair in water as cold as you can stand it to close up your pores and lock in the conditioning treatment!

*Extra tip: if you are a swimmer, shampoo your hair and apply conditioner before swimming and cover it with a swim cap.  Rinse the conditioner out after your workout to avoid washing away your natural oils and protect your tresses from pool chemicals.

3. Give your hair a monthly protein treatment!
You can shop around your local salons to have this done professionally, or you can do it yourself!  Just blend three eggs with a teaspoon of lemon juice, and apply after washing your hair from root to tip.  Wrap hair in a towel for 15-30 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with warm water.  Wash the towel IMMEDIATELY and disinfect any surfaces that raw eggs have touched. 

4. Choose low-maintenance hairstyles!
Hairdryers and heated styling tools can accelerate dryness, and buildup of hairspray and other products can make frequent shampooing more necessary.  Try to stick with hairstyles that require a minimum amount of effort, and when you do use heat on your hair, make sure to spray it with a heat-protectant, first!

5. Carry the dryer sheet!
The old classic “rub your comb over a dryer sheet and comb your hair with it” really makes a huge difference!  Use the dryer sheet to fend off static in your hair.


Above all else, remember that everyone has bad hair days, especially in the winter months!  Use these tips to help minimize those periods, and, when all else fails, throw on a cute hat to stay warm!

*This is from my own personal writing.com account- I AM the author and have all the rights to this article!

How To: Easy Homemade Hair Protein Treatment

Protein treatments are a great way to maintain healthy, shiny hair, and you can do them yourself in the comfort of your home!  I learned this method from a fellow pageant-contestant; people notice the improvement in my hair whenever I do it!

Step 1) Mix three eggs and one tsp. of lemon juice together in a bowl.  Use a fork or a whisk to mix well.

Step 2) Shampoo and condition your hair as usual.  Once it is rinsed, apply the egg mixture generously from roots to tips of your hair. (I find the easiest way to do this is to just tilt your head back and pour the mixture directly from the bowl).   Be sure to rinse any egg-spatters off of your skin.  Wrap your hair in a towel and wait 30 minutes.  (Start disinfecting any surfaces the raw eggs have touched while you are waiting!  Don't let it sit!)

Step 3) Remove the towel, rinse your hair (make sure to get ALL of the egg mixture out!), and dry and style your hair as usual.  Put the towel in the wash IMMEDIATELY- throwing it somewhere will guarentee a permanent rotten egg smell to it and anything else it touches. 

I usually did this treatment once a month- depending on your hairtype and lifestyle, you might need to do it more or less often.  Experiment and see what works best for you!

A few quick warnings: 1) NEVER try a new beauty treatment the day before or of a big event; everyone has different beauty needs, and we all make mistakes!  Do a practice run well in advance to make sure you know what results you'll get. 2) Make sure to wash everything that the raw eggs touch with soap and hot water- 1 in every 20,000 eggs contains salmonella poisoning, and, once eggs rot, the smell can quickly become so bad that professional cleaning is required and 3) Warn your roommates or family that the bathroom might not smell so great for a few hours after this process.  Try to do it in a well-ventilated bathroom.  If you live in a dormitory setting, don't attempt this process in a community- bathroom!

Have fun!!