Have you ever noticed that your hair behaves differently according to the season? If you live closer to the equator, you may not notice this effect as much. But, in Nova Scotia, where we have cold, wet winters and warm, humid summers, weather definitely affects our hair. In the winter, my hair tends to dry out faster and be more wavy and loose. In the summer, my curls tend to be tight, springy, and more frizzy. That’s why I change up my routine and products depending on the season. In this post, I’ll share some key curly hair tips for winter.

Read on to learn my top 8 curly hair tips for winter.

1. Try a scalp massage + oils.

During the winter, your curls will be thirstier than usual. Colder temperatures and lack of available moisture in the air will dry them out. To combat this, ensure that you are deep conditioning your hair once or twice a week. For more effective hydration, add heat. You can sit under a hooded dryer or simply rotate a blowdryer (on hot) around your head. This will allow the moisturizing ingredients to penetrate your tresses.

2. Finish your routine with an oil.

If your curls are lacking moisture, you can try adding a hair oil to your routine. Instead of sealing your curls with a gel, use an oil instead. This locks in the conditioner and any other styling products you have used and prevents water from escaping. It also protects your hair from indoor heat sources, dry air, wind, and snow. Try almond oil or jojoba oil for a lightweight option that won’t weigh down your curls.

3. Put away the humectants.

A humectant is an ingredient that moves water from an area of highly concentrated moisture to an area with little moisture. In the summer, when there is lots of available moisture, this can be a good thing for your curls. It will absorb moisture from the humid air and pull it into your drier hair. But, in the winter, when the air is usually dry, the opposite will happen. Because the humectant can’t pull moisture from the air, it will pull moisture from your curls into the drier air instead. This will tend to dry out your curls.

Humectant ingredients include glycerin, hydrolyzed wheat protein, sorbitol, propylene glycol, panthenol, honey, and more. In general, avoid these ingredients during the winter months. They will work much better for you in the summer (more on that in the next section!)

4. Co-wash more often.

If you don’t co-wash on a regular basis, winter is a good time to add it into your hair routine. My favourite co-wash is the As I Am Coconut Cowash Cleansing Conditioner. If you are on a budget, you can also use your regular conditioner as a cleanser. Make sure that you rinse thoroughly, especially at the roots!  

5. Wash the night before.

I don’t know about you, but my hair takes forever to dry. It can take hours and hours before it’s fully dry. In the winter months, it’s not a good idea to go outside with wet hair. Your hair is especially vulnerable when wet. And the cold, dry air can dehydrate it. If you tie it up or secure it, you can also cause unnecessary breakage.

Instead of washing your hair in the morning, try washing it the night before. If possible, diffuse your curls partially before you go to bed. And I recommend that you clip the top section back with a small jaw clip to avoid frizz.

6. How to go out with wet hair (curly hair tips for winter)

If you have to go out with wet curls, don’t just leave them exposed to the elements. You can either wear a silk scarf over them, and a warm hat over that. Or, you can splurge and buy yourself a satin-lined beanie. This will protect your curls from the cold, dry air and prevent a lot of frizz and tangles.

7. Cut back on protein.

Although your curls do need protein/moisture balance, steer clear of protein treatments during the winter. Read your ingredients lists to make sure you’re not using anything with a high concentration of proteins like hydrolyzed wheat protein, silk protein, and more. Proteins will tend to dry out your curls and increase their need for moisture. During an already dry season, this is not a good idea.

8. Use more product.

In the winter, you may find that your curls need more product to have good results. To counteract the drying effects of colder temperatures, increase the amount of conditioner, curl cream, and gel that you use. Pay attention to how your curls respond to different products. If they feel especially dry, add more product. If they feel balanced, add a little less. As you do this, you’ll learn how to care for your curls better. This will help your curls stay healthy and well defined. 

Let’s Chat:

How do you take care of your curls in winter? I recommend using more moisturizing products, adding in an oil, and cutting back on proteins. You can also try co-washing for more hydration. Avoid using humectants as these can dry out your hair. What are your favourite curly hair tips for winter? Please share them in the comment section!

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