Have you ever noticed that your hair behaves differently as the seasons shift? As the seasons change, so do the needs of your hair. For Black women, maintaining healthy and beautiful hair can be a year-round challenge, especially when dealing with the dryness that often accompanies seasonal shifts. Whether it's transitioning from the cold, dry winter to the humid summer or vice versa, understanding how to protect your hair from dryness is essential.
In this blog post, we will share with you various haircare tips to adopt with changing seasons.
SUMMER
Regardless of everything that’s been going on in the world, summer continues to be a great season for hair (particularly for curly and afro hair types). Hair grows faster in warmer weather.
The drying winter winds and woolly scarfs that snag your strands, kinks and curls are gone, leaving your hair free to shine in the sun. There are, however, a few key things to consider to keep your hair looking its best. Warm weather and humidity can mean dryness and frizz without the correct care but with these top tips you’ll have amazing summer hair.
- Avoid over exposure (minimise UV damage)
UV rays damage afro hair, just as they damage our skin. The best way to avoid this is to stay out of direct sunshine. Add a hat or headscarf to a protective style when the sun is at its brightest and you'll keep your hair and skin from sun damage.
- Slay that sweat
In the summer we sweat more and this can lead to build up on our scalps that can cause itchiness and mess with growth. Using a sulphate free shampoo like Root2tip’s Shampoo and Co-wash to cleanse regularly, and then following up with your moisturising routine with the Root2tip’s Honey Rain Juice will keep your scalp healthy and your afro hair looking fresh this summer.
- Embrace humidity
Whilst there are dozens of sun protectors, anti frizz serums and the like on the market, the most efficient and eco friendly (and pocket friendly!) solution is to protect your hair from direct sunshine and extreme humidity in the first place.
Opt for headscarfs, hats and wear protective styles where the ends of your hair (the oldest and most fragile parts) are tucked away. Styles like buns and braids are stylish, low maintenance and keep your hair from frizzing up by keeping it away.
Like your hair to have volume? Rock a twist out or an undefined fro and embrace the frizz which gives you bigger hair!
- Drench the dryness
Warm weather can lead to dry afro hair. Using the Protein treatment method of layering moisturising products and oils is a great way to protect against this. We recommend using Root2tip’s Wash + Grow Kit. It is the best way to keep your hair looking great this summer.
AUTUMN
So we’ve bid goodbye to the summer sun and we’re saying hello to autumn. Colder temperatures and a different wardrobe means tweaks to our hair routines are needed.
Here are three things you can do for healthy hair this autumn:
- Moisturise your afro hair
Keeping your hair moisturised should be a top priority no matter the season, but falling temperatures mean your hair can get even drier than usual. During autumn you may find that you need to moisturise your hair daily. Root2tip’s Triple M Moisturising Milk will help you to maintain moisturised tresses.
For that extra moisture boost, before washing you can apply an oil like coconut oil or Soothe for a hot oil treatment. Simply put your oil into a glass container and place the container in a bowl of hot water so it heats up. Apply the oil to your dry hair, don a shower cap for at least half an hour, then shampoo and condition as normal. This will prevent hygral fatigue and keep hair strong.
- Get a trim
If you’re finding that detangling your hair is taking forever then your hair is screaming for a trim. While trimming the ends of your hair will not cause your hair to grow, you will be getting rid of split ends that make the hair more difficult to manage.
- Protect your afro hair
Coats and scarves are needed in this ever changing autumn weather but most are made from fibres that wreak havoc on our hair. Opting for protective styles that keep the ends of your hair tucked away will help keep your ends intact and protected from the elements.
WINTER
In winter, the air is much drier and there is little to no humidity, which means harsh air and wind from outside will suck all the moisture from your hair. You might think this ends when you go indoors, unfortunately indoor heating systems are typically very dry, meaning your apartment or office air is just as damaging as harsh cool wind outside.
All of this dry air impacts your hair the same way excessive heat styling does, it causes dryness, frizz, breakage, tangles, and split ends.
To combat dry, dull hair, adding moisture is key. However, it’s not just about adding moisture, but maintaining that moisture throughout the cold winter months. Whether you have visible flakes or frizzy coils, simply follow these top tips to help keep your natural hair shiny, healthy, and moisturised.
- Using Heavier Butter/ Oils
Using the same oils throughout the year would not suffice. Lighter oils like grapeseed, sweet almond, and jojoba that worked well in the summer to lock in moisture do not provide enough protection during the cooler months. As the humidity drops, hair will feel increasingly dry. It’s best to use some heavier oils like castor oil, olive oil. It is also recommended to use Root2tip’s Natural Hair Butter. These heavier emollients will give hair life because they formed a better seal and prevents hair from losing too much moisture in the cooler air. Root2tip’s Just Grow It Kit is a wonderful package consisting of 4 products prefect for your haircare.
- Oiling Your Scalp
Sealing in moisture is a key step to caring for your hair in winter. Plus, the more you seal in moisture, the easier wash days will become (and the better your hair will look in-between). Replace the moisture your scalp produces (and loses in between wash day) by massaging your scalp and strands with Root2tip’s Grow It Long Scalp Serum Oil. This promotes hair growth and restores the natural nutrients your hair needs.
- Embrace Protective Styling
The one benefit to winter? It means you shouldn’t have to wash your hair as often as you do during the summer. Without the greasy, oily feeling that comes from being out in the sun, you can extend time in between wash days, using this time to protect your natural strands. This winter, pick a low-maintenance protective style, like buns or twists, that keeps your curls and ends secure.
- Steam Your Hair
You heard right! If you’re not already steaming your hair it’s time to get on board. Think of steaming your hair like a humidifier for your curls, which is essentially what it is. Adding steam to hair adds tons of moisture and elasticity back into your dry strands.
SPRING
Spring is the perfect time to refresh your hair care routine. With warmer weather and more outdoor activities, your hair may need extra attention to stay healthy and beautiful. Here are some hair care tips for spring to help you achieve your best hair yet.
- Hydrate Your Hair
Spring weather can be unpredictable, and the change in temperature and humidity can leave your hair feeling dry and frizzy. To keep your hair hydrated, use a protein treatment like Root2tip’s Triple Protein Hair Mask and Hairshake treatment once a week and apply a leave-in conditioner after washing your hair. You can also try using a hair oil or serum to add extra moisture and shine.
- Use Heat Protectant
If you use heat styling tools such as a flat iron or curling iron, make sure to use a heat protectant to prevent damage. Apply the product to your hair before styling to create a barrier between your hair and the heat.
- Trim Your Hair Regularly
Regular trims are essential to maintain healthy hair. Trimming your hair every 6-8 weeks will help prevent split ends and breakage, and promote healthy hair growth. A fresh trim will also help your hair look and feel lighter for the spring season.
In conclusion, adapting your haircare routine with the changing seasons is crucial for maintaining healthy and beautiful hair. Whether it’s protecting against dryness and frizz in the summer, moisturising and trimming in autumn, combating dryness with heavier oils in winter, or refreshing and hydrating in spring, each season demands specific care to keep your hair looking its best. By following these tailored tips, you can ensure your hair remains strong, moisturised, and resilient throughout the year. Visit us at www.root2tip.com.