How To Stop Winter Ruining Your Really Nice Hair, From the Woman Who Does Timothée Chalamet's Really Nice Hair
It's not nice, this weather. And since Christmas cheer is in short supply this year (THREE HOUSEHOLDS ONLY!), the cold snap has an added bite to it. You've got winter, but just without the gauntlet of nine back-to-back Christmas parties. No, this Yuletide seems set to be more puritanical than the last; less last days in Ninevah city, more cabbage water around the Crachit family dinner table.
Yes, 2020 will be a sobering Christmas (on all fronts), and your morning gaze into the mirror won't be quite so bleary. Winter's effects on your skin, nails and hair will be all the starker – especially the hair. This time of year, with its sub-zero temperatures and horizontal rains, can inflict untold damage to your lid. It's something celebrity groomer Jessica Ortiz knows all too well. After styling the likes of Timothée Chalamet, Michael B. Jordan and Rami Malek, the New Yorker has become something of a sage in the medium of winter haircare. Look, you don't get those sorts of gigs without knowing your stuff.
So, Ortiz kindly agreed to impart some knowledge, taking her tips for Very Famous Guys direct to every other guy too. This winter might be tough, but at least you'll have really, really good hair.
Why Winter Is So Bad For Your Hair
"Winter can be harsh on hair. Dropping temperatures, lack of humidity and adding more heat when styling (no one wants to leave the house with wet hair!) can make your hair dehydrated and more prone to breakage than in the warmer months. Cold and dry air can actually cause the cuticle of the hair strand to lift ever so slightly, drying the scalp out. So, you throw on a beanie and static happens. Or beanie head flattens those roots, trapping oils in the follicle and you just become a grease ball. So many things can go wrong!"
Prevention Is Better Than A Cure
"As the weather gets colder and the moisture starts to decrease, I suggest using preventative care towards your strands by switching your shampoo and conditioner. Picking up product with rich natural oils and heavy on moisturising properties is a must! Triumph and Disaster’s shampoo and conditioner pairs deep cleansing and rich nourishing ingredients to avoid pore blockage and brittle hair. If you normally wash two or three times a week, cut down on drying out by co-washing, which means rinsing out the styling product or sweat if you're working out and solo conditioning."
If You're Extra Curly, Take Extra Care
"Blasts of dry air, cold out of doors or indoors from heaters or radiators, are not good for any type of hair. But natural, curly, wavy, relaxed, dyed or processed and coiled hair is extra sensitive to drying out faster in winter."
Think Of A Buzzcut (But Beware A Skin Fade)
"Short hairstyles are less of a hassle to keep up, while longer hairstyles require more care. Winter hair length should look good as it grows out and require trims, and not full haircuts, throughout the season. Buzzing it off will definitely keep the maintenance at a minimum as long as your winter hat collection is top notch! I also don’t recommend skin fades, for warmth and maintenance reasons, while I also think the trend is to step away from this overly-manicured look."
Watch What You Eat
"Yes! Your diet matters! Vitamin C has antioxidant properties that help protect against free radical damage, which will prevent split ends and breakage to keep your hair healthy. Omega-3 fatty acids keep hair shiny and help it grow too. Sometimes, the body can't produce them alone, say if you’re vegan or vegetarian, so add a multi-vitamin or if you can, eat salmon, avocado, nuts, or sardines to make sure you're getting enough."
How Do You Stop The Extra Dandruff?
"Dandruff in the winter is another outcome of dry air causing a dry scalp. To avoid it, brush your hair to stimulate the scalp in secreting its natural oil to create a healthy balance. Use coconut oil as a hair mask before showering to add hydration to your scalp and hair. Wash as usual. Add a few drops of tea tree oil to your scalp, and massage before bedtime. And again, watching your diet and changing your shampoo and condition will also help prevent dandruff."
Indoor Protection Matters Too
"Heaters and radiators dry out the air and your hair. Get a humidifier for your bedroom to keep the air from getting too dry while you sleep – it's important!"
Like this article? Sign up to our newsletter to get more delivered straight to your inbox
Need some positivity right now? Subscribe to Esquire now for a hit of style, fitness, culture and advice from the experts
You Might Also Like
