From Drying to Styling

By Katie Faulkner

Your daily routine of blow-drying and styling causes the majority of damage to your hair. Pair that with the chilly winds of winter, and you have a recipe for a dry, brittle mane. You can’t change the weather, but you can lessen the abuse of blow-dryers and styling this winter. Check out these ways to make blow-drying a little easier on your locks, and tips to improve your styling health.

Blow-Drying

1. Squeeze all excess water from your hair. (Do not twist hair! That causes breakage.)
2. Spritz a de-tangling or moisturizing product all over your hair, especially the ends. Then brush through with a wide-tooth comb or brush.
3. Use a natural-bristle brush while blow-drying.
4. Maintain a minimum of four to six inches between the blow-dryer and your hair at all times.
5. Clean your blow-dryer’s vent regularly. A dirty vent leads to lower pressure, which leads to longer drying sessions and thus extended heat exposure.

Styling

1. Opt for natural nourishing oils to smooth over hair before and after styling. Oils like argan, avocado, and olive are good options.
2. Keep up with regular trims to maintain manageability and eliminate damaged ends that soak up too much moisture.
3. As much as possible, avoid hot tools, like your blow-dryer, straightener, or curling iron.
4. Deep condition your hair at home, as often as twice weekly. After washing your hair, simply apply conditioner from the ends toward the roots and leave it in your hair for at least 10 minutes while you stand in the steam of the shower. Steam can open the hair cuticles to allow more moisture to penetrate each strand. Rinse with cool water to close cuticles.
5. Protect your hair from the elements by wearing a hat or scarf while you’re outdoors in the cold. Spray on a UV protectant or moisturizing product to protect hair from sun and wind damage.