Winter hair care: keeping hair healthy through an Irish winter

An Irish winter asks a lot of your hair. One minute you're out in a cold wind on the way to the car, the next you're sitting beside a radiator or a stove that's been going since teatime. Add in the damp, the drizzle and a few hats pulled on and off, and it's no wonder hair can feel dry, frizzy and flat by the time January comes around. The good news is that a few small changes to your routine make a real difference. Here's how we'd suggest minding your hair through the colder months.

Why does hair struggle so much in winter?

It's mostly about moisture. Cold air outside holds very little of it, and central heating dries the air indoors even further, so your hair spends a lot of the winter in conditions that pull water out of it. Wind roughens the outer layer of the hair, which is why ends can look dull and feel rough. Then the damp weather does the opposite job: hair that's already dry soaks up moisture from the air and puffs up into frizz. That push and pull is what makes winter hair so contrary.

Should you wash your hair less in winter?

For a lot of people, yes, a little. Washing strips away some of the natural oils that protect your hair, and in winter you want to hold on to those. That doesn't mean leaving it until it feels heavy - just that if you've been washing every day, you might find every second or third day suits your hair better in the colder months. Use lukewarm water rather than very hot, which feels lovely on a cold morning but dries out both your hair and your scalp. And don't skip conditioner, especially through the lengths and ends.

Moisture, moisture, moisture

If you only change one thing this winter, make it this. A richer conditioner or a weekly treatment mask can help put back what the weather takes out, and a light leave-in product on the ends can help them stay soft between washes. Which products suit you depends on your hair type - fine hair can be weighed down by something a thicker or curly head of hair would love - so it's well worth asking us at your next visit rather than guessing in the chemist aisle.

• Concentrate on the ends. They're the oldest part of your hair and the first to dry out.
• Go easy at the roots. Heavy products near the scalp can leave hair limp, especially under a hat.
• Mind your scalp too. A dry, tight or flaky scalp is common in winter. Lukewarm water and a gentle shampoo are a good start, and if it persists, mention it to us or your GP.

Never head out with wet hair

Going out into the cold with wet or damp hair is one of the hardest things on it. Wet hair is at its most fragile, and cold wind on top of that is a recipe for breakage and frizz. If you can, wash your hair the night before, or give yourself time to dry it properly before you leave the house. When you do blow-dry, use a heat protectant, keep the dryer moving and finish with a blast of cool air to help smooth things down.

Winter hair care isn't about a cupboard full of products. It's mostly about being a bit gentler, a bit more often.

Hats, scarves and static

A hat is a great idea on a bitter day - it protects your hair from wind and rain. The downside is friction and static. A few things help:

• Make sure your hair is fully dry before the hat goes on, or it'll set in whatever shape it's squashed into.
• A smooth lining in a hat, or a soft scarf, causes less friction than rough wool directly against the hair.
• Tuck long hair in loosely rather than letting it rub against a woolly scarf or coat collar all day, which can roughen the ends.
• For static, a touch of a light leave-in or smoothing product on your palms, run over the top of your hair, usually calms it down.

Frizz and the damp

On those grey, drizzly days, frizz is often just your hair looking for moisture. Keeping it well conditioned is your best defence, because hair that already has enough moisture is less likely to soak it up from the air. Styles that keep the lengths together, like a loose plait or a low bun, can also help on the wettest days. If frizz is a constant battle for you all year round, smoothing treatments are something we can talk through with you at a consultation - whether one would suit your hair, and what's involved, really depends on your hair and how you like to wear it.

Why a winter trim is worth it

Dry, split ends don't recover, and in winter they tend to travel up the hair more quickly. A regular trim takes them off before they cause more damage, and it's often the quickest way to make hair look healthier again. It doesn't have to mean losing length - just a tidy-up to keep the ends fresh. It's also a good time to have a chat with us about how your hair is behaving and what might help. You'll find everything from cuts and colour to smoothing treatments on our salon services page, and if you have a colour booked in for the festive season, our guide on what happens at a colour consultation is worth a read before you come in.

Getting ready for the festive season

With parties, nights out and family gatherings on the way, the weeks before Christmas get busy in the salon. If you'd like a cut, colour or blow-dry in December, it's worth booking in good time so you get the day that suits you.