How to Prevent Dry Winter Skin & Hair

It’s officially winter, which means dry skin and hair. Cold air and the warm air from central heating can make your skin feel dry and itchy, so what can you do about this?

 

If you’ve ever been in 20 below weather you know the pains of cold air on your face and hands if they’re not covered. Even when your skin is covered the cold air can still make its way and dry out. Luckily you’re not alone and there are plenty of things that you can do to avoid dry skin and hair, as well as other issues that come with the cold weather.

Skin

Let’s start in the shower. Even though you might be freezing, it’s important to not take super hot showers because the hot water can strip moisture from your skin.

Cover up. There are a lot of people that brave the cold in just a light jacket and no hat, scarf or gloves. Nobody is judging you, so avoid windburn and hypothermia by covering up.

Eat better. There are a variety of healthy fats that are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, such as nuts, olive oil, avocado, salmon, and others. These help your skin stay healthy and hydrated.

Speaking of hydrated, make sure you’re drinking plenty of water because it helps keep our skin rejuvenated.

Taking baths in the winter is also a great way to relax, but if you add a couple drops of essential oils like olive oil or grape seed oil, this will keep your skin smooth.

Make sure you use a moisturizer afterward to keep your skin hydrated all through winter and don’t forget to reapply moisturizer, especially on open areas like your face and hands.

Hair

Winter can be brutal on your hair with the cold wind, the snow, the rain—not to mention hat hair! Just like with your skin, make sure you’re taking not-so-hot showers.

Shampoo strips your hair from moisture from the scalp and hair, so make sure you shampoo every other day. Many people shampoo every day, which creates an itchy scalp due to the buildup.

A dry scalp produces fewer oils, which can make your hair full of static—especially when you take off your hat! Make sure you use a brush with natural bristles that help redistribute oils from the scalp to the rest of your hair. Stick to cotton hats, which make less static than acrylic and wool.

Don’t forget to nourish your hair with conditioner. Using a conditioner with oils such as Argan oil can lock in moisture, making it easier to handle and less dry.

Avoid blow-drying and brushing hair when it’s wet to prevent breakage or other damage.

If you feel your hair is really dry, you can add a couple drops of olive oil after showering to add moisture.

Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean you have to put your hair in a ponytail or suffer from dry skin. Make sure you give yourself a little time to re-evaluate your skin and hair needs!

NEXT: 6 Cold Weather Beauty Tips