Winter weather is especially hard on your hair, both indoors and outdoors. From dry heat to arid winds everything seems to be trying to suck moisture out of your mane. Loss of moisture leads to dry, frizzy, brittle strands that are difficult to manage and style. Worst of all, dry hair loses its luster and looks unhealthy. So how can you overcome these winter hair woes? Give your tresses some TLC with extra moisture and protein with salon deep conditioning treatments to hydrate and strengthen them for a beautiful, healthy-looking head of hair, despite the weather.
Healthy hair is made of 70-80 percent protein and 10-15 percent moisture with some other trace elements, and when you don’t have enough protein hair is weakened. Protein makes the hair strong and gives it body. And when the hair has too little moisture it becomes dry and brittle and can break which leads to split ends and more breakage. It is important that you have the right balance to maintain soft, shiny locks.
The texture and porosity also play a role in healthy hair and what treatments it needs to be in its optimum shape. The expert stylists here at Michael Thomas Hair Design can do an in-salon customized deep conditioning treatment for your hair as well as recommend what products you need to use at home to maintain your healthy hair.
Hair is made up of layers- the cuticle, the cortex, and the medulla. Each layer plays a vital role in the health of your hair.
- The cuticle is the thin outer layer. It is made up of about 10 layers of overlapping transparent scales. Much like the tiles of a roof protect the inside of a building, the cuticle protects the inner layers of the hair. It keeps environmental toxins and pollutants out and moisture and nutrients sealed inside. When the keratin protein in this layer is damaged the cuticle becomes rough and damaged and allows the inner layers to dry out.
- The cortex is the middle layer. It’s the thickest layer and makes up about 75-80 percent of the volume of each strand. This layer gives the hair its strength, color, and texture. If the tiny keratin fibers of this layer dry out they become damaged, weak, and brittle, the texture becomes rough and frizzy, and the color becomes dull.
- The medulla is the innermost layer and is only present in the largest thickest hairs. It’s a long, tubular structure with a honeycomb-like appearance composed of transparent cells and air spaces. This layer’s purpose is to maintain the shape and structure of the hair shaft as well as to deliver nutrients and oxygen to the hair. This layer is also made up of keratin and can be damaged by drying out.
When you get professional in-salon deep conditioning treatments like Olaplex, K-18, Redken CAT Protein, or Redken Acidic Bonding Conditioner they can work deeply into the layers of your hair to replace lost moisture and protein, and even work to reform the damaged hair bonds that provide strength to the hair. Then it’s important to use deep conditioning treatments at home on average every 3-4 shampoos (unless prescribed more often by your stylist) and use daily leave-in treatments every time you shampoo. One of our best sellers is Pureology Colour Fanatic 21. Our stylists will give you a personal hair care prescription to make sure you have the right products to suit your hair type. Here are some home care tips to help keep your tresses soft and manageable between salon visits this winter.
Tip #1- Shampoo less frequently in the winter. You are sweating less. Your scalp is producing fewer oils. And most people spend more time indoors in winter so their air isn’t exposed to as much dirt and pollutants, so shampooing is not needed as often. Shampooing too often strips your hair of its natural oils and dries it out.
Tip #2- Condition, condition, condition! You need to replenish the moisture the winter weather is robbing from your strands so condition every time you shampoo, deep condition weekly, and use leave-in conditioner every time you shampoo.
Tip #3- Protect your hair from cold and wind. When you’re going outdoors, cover your hair with a silk or satin-lined hat or scarf. It will keep it from whipping around in the wind and getting tangled, broken, and dried out. And never go out with your hair wet when it’s cold as that is when it’s at its weakest and most vulnerable to damage.
Tip #4- Avoid heat styling. Heat styling is very drying, so try to plan shampoos so that your hair has time to air dry before going outside, and opt for no heat styles whenever possible.
Don’t let winter get the best of your hair! With a little bit of moisture and protein, you can keep your locks looking and feeling their best all season long.
If you want to keep your hair soft, shiny, and supple this winter make an appointment now with Michael Thomas Hair Design! Come visit us at either one of our salon locations, at Carillon Place at 5032 Airport Pulling Road, & Crossroads Vineyard at 6025 Pine Ridge Road, both in Naples, FL. You can call us at 239-430-2800 to schedule an appointment at either of our locations.