During the summer we go the extra step to keep our hair looking soft and hydrated, but it seems that once summer is over we forget about it. This time of the year, the first cold winds and rainy days after summer can affect our scalp more than we think and this has direct consequences in our hair, such as dandruff, dryness, and dirty pores that prevent hair from growing. So, let’s talk more detail about the scalp and how to take good care of it.
Dryness: During the summer we have to worry about keeping hydrated and drinking water, but during the fall when it’s no longer that warm we forget about how important hydration is. Some people may think that this is only to keep our body skin healthy but the truth is that under our hair you can find more sensitive skin, which needs to be taken care of too. Even if you have a lot of hair, this doesn’t mean that your scalp is protected, so you have to drink as much water as you do in summer if you don’t want to get dandruff.
Avoid hats: This is a hard one because we all love wearing woolen caps during the cold seasons, but these hats sometimes make our heads too hot and our skin itch and if you are already suffering from dandruff, scratching your scalp will just make it worse. Using knit or yarn hats give your head better ventilation, while still providing warmth.
Exfoliate! You may be thinking, “how am I supposed to exfoliate my scalp?”. Actually, this is one of the best things you can do after summer to refresh your scalp and to prepare it for the cold weather but most of us had never heard of this option before. This allows you to get more oxygen to the scalp, improves blood circulation, helps to get rid of dead cells, excess fat, dandruff, and residues of the products we use in summer. This stuff may also be keeping your hair from growing faster, which if you like long hair, this is something definitely to invest in. This option is available at most salons and it is definitely worth the try!
Shampoo swap: If you use a special shampoo to prepare your hair for high temperatures, you should do the same during the cold seasons. While hot temperatures make our ends split, cold temperatures make our hair drier and make it easier to break. Using super hot water may feel comforting during the cold days, but shampooing your hair with super hot water can cause dryness too, so keep it cool or on the warm side. It’s also important to remember to not apply shampoo or conditioner directly on your scalp, but start from the ends and work yourself up to your scalp, always massaging it to help promote growth and properly keeping it clean. Remember to get a shampoo according to the needs you have during each season and also try winter DIY hair masks!
Vitamins: During summer we eat more fruit than in any other season of the year, this is a fact. Fresh juicy fruit is always a great option during the hot days (not to mention smoothies), but this doesn’t mean to stop taking these vitamins –we must eat fruit every day! This is just a reminder that we need to be conscious and steady with our complete and healthy diets all year long. If you feel you are eating fewer fruits and vegetables, then make sure you take a multivitamin to keep your immune system strong.