Don’t touch that blow dryer. Three haircare mistakes to avoid in winter

You and your tresses will both be happy with the right winter haircare | Image for representation | Photo: Unsplash

We’re deep into winter now, and while chai and pakodas keep you nourished, how’s your hair holding up? Thriving and shining? Or parched and dry?

Trust me when I say this, winter in the cities is not a good idea for your hair. Just like how Indian cities have very different winter temperature standards by region, so does the winter haircare pattern change.

In the Delhi winter, for instance, your scalp will feel like the Grinch— hosting and enabling dandruff that weighs your hair down and eventually leads to hair fall (and tears). So, get all the vital nutrients into your body, especially around Diwali time, so your hair is ready for the temperatures ahead.

Another example that springs to mind is Bengaluru. Despite being a city whose weather is much appreciated, its traffic and pollution have far from depreciated. Bangalore winters still bring their own levels of humidity. Together, pollution, a touch of humidity, and dry skin add up to hair fall. The only way to counter this is to ensure that your remains moisturised, through and through.

Read on, because I’ve got a few tips to help your locks survive all penguin-worthy temperatures.

 

Lock in moisture

Neglecting your hair during winter will leave your tresses feeling and looking drier than the Atacama Desert.

So, what’s the play here? Mild hydrating shampoos and conditioners. Always opt for formulas without alcohol, dyes, fragrances, or worse—sulphates.

Add to this a deep-conditioning session once a week; think of it as therapy for your hair. Another hack, in more way than one, is to trim your tresses regularly. This ensures that the moisturising is locked in and prevents your hair ends from splitting.

Go easy on piping hot showers

Yes, I know, a nice, long, hot shower at the end of the day feels like a hug. But trust me, it’s an assault on your hair.

So, my advice as someone who has been in the dermatology business for over 13 years—turn down that water temperature to lukewarm when you’re washing your hair. It might seem uncomfortable at first, but trust me, it’s going to work wonders for your hair.

Another thing I would suggest is to invest in a steam or sauna in your bathroom. Regular use of steam or sauna releases heat shock proteins (HSPs) that nudge your brain to release growth hormones.

What does that mean for you in the long term? Cellular repair and, with it, anti-ageing. My suggestion to maintain your tresses would be to treat yourself to a sauna two or three times a week at 90°C or a steam session for 7–10 minutes.

Dandruff? Ditch the oil

Winter snow in the case of hair translates to dandruff. It should really be spelled like it feels—dandrough. If you’re living in an Indian city with constantly climbing levels of winter pollution, chances are your scalp is either itchy, flaky, or both.

In some cases, this might even be seborrheic dermatitis, which is just a technical way of saying yeast has likely taken over your scalp (and by extension, your life).

Now, if you’re suffering from dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis then read this next line very very carefully.

Do NOT oil your hair.

I know this might be shocking, especially since oiling as the hair cure-all has been drilled into our systems from a very young age. But trust me, oil is not your friend—especially if you’re dealing with dandruff. It won’t make the flakes disappear.

So, do your research or check with your trusted dermatologist and get yourself a good anti-dandruff shampoo.

Something I recommend to keep oily scalps in check during winter is rinsing your hair with some apple cider vinegar after every alternate shampoo. It helps avoid that flat hair look we all hate, as well as dandruff and sebum. And it gives your hair a lovely natural bounce and shine.

Blow Drying? Heat styling? Hell, no

Repeat this to yourself. Stick it on your bathroom mirror. Save it on your phone’s notepad. No heat styling my hair in winter. No blow drying. No curling. No straightening.

Heat styling equipment is your hair’s biggest enemy during the winter. The levels of heat they exude are terrible for your hair during the winter. Think about it, if the weather is already making life (read: hair) difficult, why make it even worse? My suggestion is to always air dry your hair in the winter. If you absolutely, positively, must use heat, always—and I really mean always—use a heat-protectant spray.

 

Nourish from the inside

This is something I love to reiterate: true beauty shines from within. If you want to see an “After” result, the “Before” has to start somewhere, right?

So, stay hydrated and eat foods rich in vitamins A, C, E, and Omega-3 fatty acids.

Like I always say, healthy hair is not an overnight transformation. You’ve got to be consistent and mindful in your decisions and efforts to protect your tresses.

Dr Deepali Bhardwaj is a Consultant Dermatologist, Max Hospital, Saket. She is also an anti-allergy specialist, laser surgeon and internationally trained aesthetician. She tweets @dermatdoc. Views are personal.

(Edited by Asavari Singh)