Hair Care in Winter

See that? That picture is proof that winters where we live aren't always nice to us. Snow shovels, boots, and lots of layers are necessities. So are changes to our hair care routine.

Some people completely change the way they take care of their hair every time the season changes. Luckily, Syd's hair isn't that particular, but we do still need to make a few changes to keep her locks at their best. I thought I'd share those little changes in case you find yourself working with a head of unhappy hair this winter.

1. Less Shampoo, More Co-washes
 During the spring, summer and fall, Syd shampoos her hair about once per week and co-washes if needed in between. During the winter, we step up the co-washes to at least once per week and reduce shampoo washes to just once ever two or three weeks.

2. Extra Moisture
Winter air is cold and dry. As a result, Syd's hair needs more moisture during the winter months. We just add a daily leave-in before she leaves for school in the morning, paying extra attention to the ends.

3. More Protective Styles
We keep Syd's hair in more protective styles in the winter than we do during the rest of the year. These styles include cornrows, box braids, and twists. She almost never wears a wash-n-go style in the winter and twist/braid outs are rather rare during those months, as well. Manipulating her strands as little as possible is a big part of keeping her hair happy during those cold, dry months.

4. Choose Hats Wisely
When the temperatures dip down below the freezing mark, hats become necessary. But this doesn't mean your hair has to suffer. There are some amazing satin lined hats out there. Unfortunately, they often cost more than I am willing to pay. But a few years ago, I came up with a cheap and easy fix. I bought a satin sleep bonnet at Walgreens and sewed it into the inside of Syd's hat. It didn't look perfect, but let's face it...nobody ever looks at the inside of someone else's hat!

These few little tricks are usually all it takes to keep Syd's hair soft, happy, and healthy all winter long. If you have any other tips or tricks, be sure to comment and share your info with me and other readers!