The holiday season is upon us, folks! While we may not be able to agree if Pumpkin Spice Lattes should be a thing, I think we can all agree that Winter Curly Care tips are certainly a welcomed menu item! Ecoslay to the rescue! In November's blog post, we'll chat about why the cold weather causes our hair to misbehave and what can be done to make our tresses a bit more manageable this time of year.
So, what's the problem anyway?
When the dewpoint falls below 35 degrees Fahrenheit, humectants can have a detrimental effect on your hair. Instead of adding moisture, they can actually draw moisture out, leading to dryness. This dryness can result in common curly hair concerns like frizz, flyaways, and breakage. It's important to be mindful of the weather conditions and adjust your hair care routine accordingly to avoid these issues.
But, Never Fear! Ecoslay is Here!
We've dug up a pretty exhaustive list of tips to help you out over the next few months!
- Incorporating film-forming humectants into your hair care routine. These humectants help to retain moisture and protect your hair. Some examples of film-forming humectants include flaxseed, okra, aloe vera, pectin, and xanthan gum. By utilizing these ingredients, you can provide your hair with the hydration it needs to stay healthy and avoid the negative effects of dry winter weather. You'll notice that these just happen to be found in our Orange Marmalade, Jello Shot and Banana Cream!
- To maximize the nourishment for your hair, look for conditioners that contain beneficial fatty alcohols such as Cetyl, Stearyl, Cetearyl, Myristyl, Behenyl, and Lauryl. These fatty alcohols provide moisture and hydration to your hair, helping to improve its overall health and appearance.
- Opt for a heavier cleanser. The same shampoo that weighed you down in the summer time might be just what the doctor ordered in the winter! Consider adding a cleanser like Peppermint Schnapps with nourishing oils into your rotation!
- To give your hair an extra boost of moisture during the winter months, consider deep conditioning more frequently and for a longer duration. If you're currently deep conditioning once a week for 30 minutes, try increasing it to twice a week or extending the duration to an hour.
- Turn up the heat! Typically, high porosity curlies can skip the steam treatment or heat cap. However, in the winter, you might want to incorporate it into your routine. And if you're low porosity, don't get lazy on me - be sure to use heat each and every time that you deep condition to ensure that those cuticles get opened up and all that Banana Cream goodness is injected into your lovely strands!
- Use a leave-in! Again, in the summer time, Rice Pudding might've been a bit too heavy for you. But, definitely consider adding it in in the Winter - a little extra moisture goes a long way and a leave-in conditioner is a great way to get a nourishing boost!
- Seal the deal. While you might not need an oil to break your gel cast, you should strongly consider using one to seal in the moisture after your wash day. Oil and water don't mix, right? So, this means that it will help keep that precious moisture from escaping and leaving your strands parched. Give Moonshine or Cayenne Lemon Squeeze a whirl! Moonshine has the added benefit of conjuring up holiday vibes with its scent of Cinnamon, Ginger, Orange and Lemongrass!
- Line 'em up! We all love to bundle up in scarves and hats when it's cold outside but have you considered how damaging those materials might be on your hair? Those rough cottons can damage our cuticles, leaving our hair dry, frizzy and damaged. Luckily, it's pretty easy to find satin-lined hats and scarves (Grace Eleyae's Warm Collection is one of our favorites) or even to make your own!
- Protective Style. One of the great benefits of protective styling is that it keeps your delicate strands shielded from the elements! Also, when you put your hair up into that bun, it helps to lock in moisture that might otherwise escape - talk about your Win Win!
You Still There? :)
Whew! You made it to the end! I hope that these tips will help you weather (get it? weather...) the upcoming temperature changes and keep your curls on 10! Please chime in with any tips that particularly resonated with you or those that you've tried and were a total fail!
XOXO,
Adria
