The winter is a challenging time to look after your hair. Our stylists love seeing our clients over the Christmas period and pampering them. However, the NUYU team wants all our customers to maintain that love for their locks through the long winter months of January and February. With this hope in mind, here are our best tips for looking after your hair during the winter.

Shampoo less

Shampooing our hair every day is a habit that has been encouraged by shampoo manufacturers. It is fair to say that it is not the best routine for the health of your hair. In winter, it is even more important to avoid shampooing quite so much, as it can dry out your scalp even more and cause itching and flaking.

Use an oil-based moisturiser.

The problem of hair in wind and rain is the way it sucks the moisture from your hair. Any blast of dry hair on any hair type is going to cause you problems. Therefore, if you use an oil-based moisturiser, it will anchor better in the air and will be slow to be evaporated. In short, it offers more protection in the cold weather, especially to hair prone to breakage and split ends.

Weekly treatments

Dry hair is really the primary issue in the winter months, and you will be in a constant battle to replace the lost moisture. Therefore, committing to a weekly moisturising treatment will make a significant difference. It is imperative to those with colour in their hair during the winter months, as your hair will need more TLC.

You can also use an overnight oil or serum, as the dry night air has a habit of leaching moisture. While it can create a bit of a mess on your pillow, it can do a lot to keep your strands healthy.

Leave-in conditioner

Static in the winter is a nightmare. If you are prone to floating and fine strands of hair in the best of times, then you will undoubtedly struggle through the winter. You will need to use a guard during drying with a hairdryer first, and then you should use a leave-in conditioner to help lock in some moisture.

Use darker dyes in the winter.

The more platinum your dye, the likely more damage it is doing to your hair. Therefore, in the winter when conditions are difficult for hair anyway, go a darker shade to help maintain some of its condition. When the weather is kinder, you can always revert to those blonde ambitions.

Avoid heated styling

The winter is the season for parties, which makes the perfect styling time. However, applying heat to hair that has been dried by the brutal weather will lead to split ends and breakage. Therefore, where possible, avoid styling your hair with heat. You might want to try braids, buns and twists – or even the classic ponytail, to avoid putting too much strain into your locks.

Only dry hair leaves the house.

Despite the need to avoid heat applied to your hair, you should never go outside with your hair still damp. While your Gran may have warned you that it will cause you to catch some critical illness, the truth is that wet hair will expand in the cold and you risk breakage. It is also damaging to your colour, causing it to fade faster. So, make sure your hair is completely dry before heading out the door.

Wear a hat

It is not often that a hairdresser tells you to cover those locks. However, keeping your head warm is a must in the winter and goes a long way to protecting your hair from the conditions. But, if you do choose to wear a hat, line it with silk or satin to help prevent problems with split ends. Wool and cotton-based materials are terrible for your hair, and so a great tip would be to use a silk scarf inside any woolly hat to offer that extra protection and warmth in the winter months.

Dry shampoo for volume

Hair tends to go limp during the winter months. This is partly the cold, dry hair, and constant dampening from the rain, and partly a consequence of those hats. Therefore, make sure you shampoo at the roots and use a food spray for extra thickening. It will help to keep some of the volumes in your hair, which always makes it look healthier.