Winter Hair Care Products + Hair Tips To Lock In Moisture

It’s winter season! Last week I shared how to keep your skin hydrated during winter. This week I wanted to discuss must have winter hair care products and tips on how to keep hair, particularly natural hair moisturized this winter.  I, myself have been on a natural hair journey after my big chop 2 months ago. My goal is to gain healthy natural hair that is moisturized as I’ve experienced dry, dull, breakage and itchy scalp. This led to my decision to have the big chop. I needed all the information and help that I can get so if you are also on this journey with me, or just curious to know about your hair journey then I hope this article helps.

This article will talk about:

• Does winter affect our hair moisture?
• Hair porosity
• Tips on how to keep our hair moisturised?
• Must have hair products for winter

Does winter affect our hair moisture?

Yes! In winter there is low humidity and cold air. Cold air draws out moisture in our hair which leaves it dry and dull. Dry hair leads to a lack of elasticity, which causes breakage. When we have breakage, it can mean hair loss. It’s important to increase moisture this winter and lock it in.

Hair porosity

Hair porosity means how much your hair takes in moisture. There are 3 different porosities: high, medium and low. If you don’t know which porosity your hair is, you can try out the glass test at home and other various tests to determine which porosity your hair is.

The glass test:

Step one:

Take a glass and pour it with room temperature water, just filling it until the middle.

Step 2:

Cut a strand of your clean hair. Make sure your hair is clean for the test to work and get accurate results.

Step 3:

Take your strand of clean hair and place it into the water. Don’t try to push it in the water, just put it in the glass until it floats on the water. Leave it there for 10 minutes

Step 4:

After 10 minutes check on your hair.

If the hair is still floating on top of the hair that means its low porosity. Your hair doesn’t take in moisture easily because your hair cuticles are closed so tightly. As you can see mine is floating at the top, meaning I have low porosity hair.

If the hair strand hair is floating in the middle, that means you have medium porosity.

If the hair sunk at the bottom of the glass, that means you have hair porosity hair.

It’s important to know what kind of porosity hair you have because that will determine which kind of moisturizing steps and products your hair needs.

Tips on how to keep our hair moisturised

Figure out your hair porosity.

If you don’t know your hair porosity, you can take the test above, or 4 other tests to figure out. The reason for this is that each porosity determines what kind of moisture steps you need.

I, for example, have high-porosity hair. What I need for my hair to be moisturised will be different from someone who has low-porosity hair.

Drink water and eat a healthy diet.

What we put in our body, is what we get out. If you eat a healthy diet and drink the correct amount of water, you will reap the benefits and it will show in your body. Your hair will grow, it will be shiny, it will be strong. Certain food help with the moisture of our hair. Eggs, avocadoes and nuts are great to retain moisture for your hair.

Use a satin bonnet and pillowcase

These materials won’t strip moisture from your hair and leave it dry.

Use a moisturising shampoo

This winter you don’t want to use shampoos that are too drying on your hair. Shampoos like these tend to have an ingredient called Sulfate. Sulfate is a good ingredient to remove product build up and dirt in your hair, but it can strip moisture from your hair. Rather alternate. You can use the sulfate shampoo once a month. Then other times you use a sulfate-free, moisturising shampoo. Moisturising shampoo usually has ingredients like aloe vera, honey, jojoba oil argan oil, avocado oil, macadamia oil, coconut oil, and olive oil, to soften and seal in moisture.  An example of one is Aunt Jackie’s Intense Moisture Clarifying Shampoo.

Use a deep conditioner with heat

Our kinky hair is prone to dryness which leads to breakage. It’s important to keep moisturising our hair to prevent breakage which leads to hair loss. one of the holy grails of moisturising hair is deep conditioning. A deep conditioner contains moisturising ingredients that strengthen your hair causing no breakage. It’s best to deep condition it for about 20 – 30 minutes with heat so it can penetrate our hair shaft. Learn more on steps to take to properly deep condition.

Check ingredients list

Certain ingredients dry out our hair leaving it brittle and dull. Alternatively, some ingredients moisturise our hair. These ingredients have properties that hydrate the hair without leaving it dry and help restore damaged hair. These include:

• Honey
• Pro – vitamin B5
• Aloe Vera
• Sugar or sucrose
• Glycerine

Use moisturising treatments

Moisturising treatments are conditioning treatments that work deep in hair shafts to restore hair moisture. They deeply hydrate the hair strand from root to end, adding silkiness, malleability, and smoothness. They have a rich blend of moisturising ingredients that provide a much-needed hydration boost.

Products to have this winter

Make sure to use these products to eliminate dehydration, dullness and dryness in your hair.

Leave in conditioner

A leave-in conditioner nourishes and moisturises our hair, leaving a lasting hydration effect. This winter you need to hydrate as much as possible so it’s best to use this product. The Aunt Jackie Hydrate Me Leave In Conditioner has hydrating ingredients perfect for winter to add that moisture.

Hair treatment or mask

These are a perfect choice for intense nourishment. They help deep condition strands and help replenish hair with moisture. Make sure to pick up a mask with ultra-hydrating ingredients. The Argan Oil Hydrating Hair Mask has moisturising properties help to revive and nourish dry and damaged hair.

Deep conditioner

A deep conditioner help prevents breakage by keeping hair hydrated with nutrients and moisture. The Palmers Deep Conditioner Jamaican Black Castor Oil and Coconut Oil Protein Pack are perfect additions this winter.

Hydrating butter and oil

Seal in that moisture by using butter and oil. These protect your hair from losing moisture in the dry winter air. The Afri Pure Jojoba Oil will do just that plus its budget friendly.

Conclusion

Winter has an effect on our hair because of the dry air and low humidity. This leaves it dry and dull. This is important as it can cause breakage. To avoid this, follow the hair care tips and must have products to get your hair from dull and dry to hydrated, moisturised and shiny.