How To Protect Your Curls In Winter So That They Are Super Defined

Curl care in winter is particularly important. Because hats, rubbing wool sweaters, heating air, hair not being able to dry in the air, all this leads to the hair drying out. And curls are particularly prone to this. The hair surface is damaged. And what’s more, they look dry and strawy. Small frizzy hairs appear and the hairstyle gets out of control. (If you are looking for anti-frizz products, read on here ).

What to do with strawy curls in winter? So that you can get through the cold with beautiful curls this year, I have put together the best tips and products for curl care in winter. This way you can shine with healthy curls instead of frizz and split ends, even in winter.

That is why today you will learn how to take care of curly hair without so much stress with these tips. Rest assured, they will help you a lot!

Causes of frizzy or frizzy curly hair

To start taking care of your curly hair, you must first understand why hair frizzes, we must take into account two factors: condensation and hair porosity . In the first place, condensation is understood as the physical change of a substance, in the case of water when it passes from a gaseous state to a liquid.

When water is in a gaseous state (humidity) it condenses and deposits on different surfaces. If the surface is not very porous, it will compact and droplets will appear on it, if the surface is porous (like a sponge), water penetrates it and swells it.

Curly hair is naturally porous . The tendency to porosity will be greater the more curly the hair is, that is, the most porous hair of all will be Afro hair. This porosity is what allows the hair to remain more or less hydrated, the higher the porosity , the easier it will be for the hydration to penetrate.

If you want to know more about curly hair types, we have an ideal post for you.

10 tips for good curl hair care in winter

The only ways to protect your curls from clothes are to raise your hair most often, in a high ponytail, in a bun, in a bun or style them with a pretty braid, one or more African braids. In these ways the lengths will be protected, in a bun or bun (donut bun) the ends will be better protected from the forks. An alternative to a hat, a very cozy headband, this one protects the ears from the cold, as for the hair, they remain in the open air.

BRRRR, it’s cold! If you’re as cold-blooded as I am, the first thing you do when you get home is turn up the heating. But did you know that heating makes the air in your home very dry and that leads to dry and static hair?

Now I’m not going to tell you to turn off the heating and get cold. But be aware that the heating is not good for your hair. So try to turn it on as little as possible, for example set it low when you are not at home or lying in bed. Or turn the heating down a degree and crawl under a nice warm blanket on the couch.

Does your hair fly in all directions during combing or brushing due to static electricity? Then it may be wise to change brush or comb. Special anti-static brushes are available, such as the Braun Satin Hair 7 IONTEC brush that releases ions.

It is also partly a matter of choosing the right material. In particular, avoid cheap plastic combs and brushes. Instead, go for a comb made of wood or horn.

There’s nothing better than jumping into a hot shower when you come home completely numb and drenched. If you do this, keep your hair to the side with, for example, a shower cap . If you are going to wash your hair, turn the tap a little cooler. This prevents you from drying out your hair and scalp.

Your hair often gets greasy faster in the winter. Because your hair is often a bit drier during the cold months, sebum (oil) stays on your skin more. It absorbs less then.

A very understandable reaction would be to wash your hair more often. However, it is better not to do this. Rather take extra good care of your scalp. For example with aloe vera gel or with an oil treatment.

Do you suffer from dandruff in the winter and do you also have oily hair quickly? Then it can help to wash a little more often. Preferably use a mild shampoo to prevent dehydration.

By turning on the heating, you quickly suffer from low humidity in the house. Dry air means that moisture is extracted from your hair. A dry air together with dry hair leads to static hair.

The desired humidity in the house is between 45 and 65%. In my house, the humidity in the winter drops to sometimes barely 20%. This is not only bad for your hair, but also for your skin and your respiratory system.

You can measure the humidity with a humidity meter. You can bring the humidity in the house up to standard with a humidifier, but dishes with stones and a layer of water also help. You also make your plants happy with that.

Apply a few drops of oil to your ends every day. Then you protect it against damage and your hair dries out less quickly. If you suffer from dehydrated hair, use oil in combination with a leave-in conditioner or aloe vera gel.

Oil is therefore good, but it is important to think about which oil you use in the winter. Some oils solidify in cold winter temperatures. Coconut oil, for example, starts to solidify below 25 degrees.

It’s not necessarily bad, but it’s not nice either. Therefore, choose a liquid oil, such as jojoba oil, argan oil, almond oil or babassu oil. Oils that you should avoid are mainly the butters and fats: coconut oil, shea butter and cocoa butter.

It’s cold enough without having to walk around with wet hair for hours on end. But putting the hot hair dryer on your hair is not recommended, no matter how cold wet hair is.

Would you prefer to dry your hair a little faster? Choose a hair dryer with a cold air setting , or wrap your hair in a warm towel and make it a spa moment for yourself.

Did you know? It is a myth that you get sick faster by going outside with wet hair. But if you go outside with wet hair in freezing weather, your hair could freeze.

Wear your hair in protective hairstyles, where the ends are hidden under the rest of your hair. For example, tuck the ends of your braid under the braided part or make a bun with hair sticks or a flexi.

By wearing your hair up you prevent damage, dehydration and static hair caused by, among other things, gulping substances and a dry air.

Electricity is in the air! And in your hair! And that clashes. Due to dryness – often caused by heating – both the air and your hair can not lose their electrons to each other. It’s like holding 2 of the same ends of magnets together: they repel each other. This creates static hair and is the reason why your hair flies away during brushing.

You can reduce electricity in your hair by doing an apple cider vinegar rinse after washing your hair . This has to do with the acidity: a low acidity leads to neutrally charged hair. And then your hair cuticles close, so that your hair also shines more and less tangles.

Mix apple cider vinegar with cold or lukewarm – never hot – water (50% water/50% vinegar) and pour it over your hair before you get out of the shower.

Not a fan of apple cider vinegar? Joico has a special Cuticle Sealer that has a similar effect.

Your beloved crochet wool hat and scarf may keep you warm in the winter, but they aren’t so kind to your hair. Some fabrics such as wool absorb moisture from your hair and cause a lot of rough friction with your hair. This leads to nasty things like dry hair, tangles, split and broken ends.

To prevent damage to your hair, it is better to go for smooth fabrics. For example, I always wear a pashmina scarf in the winter, which is not only beautiful, soft and smooth, but also thick enough to keep you warm.

How to take care of your naturally curly hair?

Dear curly girl, you surely enjoy being the center of attention with your curly hair, but at the same time you want to save yourself the stress of having to take care of it so much. The good news is that there are ways to keep your hair healthy without spending so much time and money.

Using products that deeply hydrate the hair and prevent dryness is key to taking maximum care of your curls. This is just a first point to consider, but to make your task easier, I leave you this list with all the essentials:

It is very important that you choose a suitable  shampoo and conditioner for your curly hair type . It is best to use products that contain the following:

• Essential oils such as jojoba oil and avocado oil
• Aloe Vera
• Keratin
• Shea butter
• Animal protein
• Provitamins

I recommend that you do not wash your head every day, but in case you have to do it very often, opt for a mild shampoo that gently cleanses your scalp without drying it out. All this is possible if you avoid using a shampoo with alcohols, parabens or sulfates. 

If your hair is very oily, you can use a clarifying shampoo (stronger than the one you use daily) every week or two. Don’t forget to apply the conditioner when you finish washing your hair.

Do you have very frizzy hair?Then you should make the most of  pre-shampoo or “pre-poo” treatments.

What the heck is pre-poo?!  Well, it’s another important term for the  Curly Girl dictionary (you should create one, right?) that consists of using conditioner and other moisturizers before washing your hair.

In short, you don’t have to use the conditioner only after you finish washing your hair, you can also do it before you start cleaning to avoid drying it out so much. With this trick in mind, your frizzy hair will not lose its few natural oils that are so essential to keep it healthy.

Raise your hands who love to bathe in hot water ! I am one, but it is a habit that I have had to give up little by little for a simple reason: taking care of my hair and skin. Curly hair is no exception, in fact, being more prone to dryness, all the more reason it should not be exposed to hot water.

This does not mean that you take a bath with ice water (that is impossible in winter, I know), just that you opt for room temperature or lukewarm water so that your hair does not weaken so easily.

TIP: When you finish washing your head, rinse your hair with cold water for a couple of minutes. This will better seal the cuticles.

Washing your head every day is not a good idea if you have curly hair. Daily washing can prevent your hair from producing its natural oils, and these are essential for keeping your curly locks healthy.

You should experiment with a cleaning schedule according to your needs. It is recommended to wash your hair every two to three days, and if your hair is very oily, use a  clarifying shampoo every two weeks.

Advice: If you suffer from dandruff, remember to go to the dermatologist before starting any hair treatment

Curly hair breaks easily if styled incorrectly. That’s why keep the following in mind: NEVER comb your curly hair when it’s dry. The other thing to keep in mind is to use a suitable comb while using the conditioner.

You can start with a wide-tooth comb to untangle any knots. You can also comb your hair while the conditioner takes effect, as this is the best time to prevent knots from forming. Invest in a good brush or comb to detangle your hair. For these cases, the best combs are those with natural or wooden bristles.

REMINDER:

Boar bristle combs can help moisturize your hair and spread its natural oils more easily.

Is it really mandatory to invest in a good comb?

Although it is recommended, it is not mandatory at all. What’s more, you can easily avoid combs if your curls don’t tangle so easily. In this case you can use just your fingers and apply a leave-in conditioner.

Most stylists will advise you to avoid blow drying at all costs because it can only make your curly hair weaker. The constant use of the hair dryer also influences the increase in frizz. It may happen that from time to time you want to experiment with hairstyles and want to iron your curls (although I insist that you SHOULD NOT), but if that is the case, use a heat protectant on your hair before drying it.

If possible, use a keratin-enriched protectant to deeply hydrate your curls and prevent them from drying out easily.

TIP: Instead of blow-drying, opt for the diffuser on low heat to give your curls more volume.

Split ends or split ends are hard to avoid. In fact, there is no way to remove them unless you cut your hair.

The best way to avoid them is to be very gentle with your hair and follow these tips:

• Use a wide-tipped comb to carefully detangle your curls.
• Avoid tying your hair with high ponytails ( ponytails or buns ).
• Stay away from the blow dryer and any tools that use heat to style your hair.
• Don’t forget to cut your hair every 2 to 3 months.

This is perhaps the most famous question related to curly hair, and the most difficult for some to follow.

If you want to wash your hair every day, it is best to avoid always doing it with shampoo. In some cases you can use only water and conditioner, and this can be interspersed with the use of a mild shampoo.

This type of shampoo without sulfates or silicones prevents the loss of natural oils to keep your curls hydrated. You can use a clarifying shampoo (more powerful than the one you use the rest of the days) every two weeks to remove impurities and remains of other hair products.

Sleeping on your back can ruin your curls from all the weight you put on your follicles. This will only make your curls look messy, frizzy and knotty.

The best way to sleep is on your side, but taking care not to put too much pressure on your head with your arm. Ok, I understand that it may seem like a whole process to keep an eye on how to sleep, but you can help yourself with a satin scarf or hat to protect your hair, and voila ! goodbye worries.

It is also helpful to use a light hair mask or essential oils so that you can moisturize your curls before bed.

● Hair masks for curly hair

You can prepare a mask for your natural curls  with many ingredients that you surely have in the kitchen. 

The most popular are  flaxseed gel,  avocado, honey and egg, so consider them to prepare that magic potion that will revitalize your hair while you sleep.

 ● Hair oils for curly hair

Keeping curls hydrated can be difficult because natural oils don’t reach the entire hair strand as easily. You can help restore that hydration by using these essential oils before bed (again, don’t forget to wash your hair the next day):

• Castor oil
• Coconut oil
• Avocado oil
• Argan Oil

Another trick that can help you keep your curls shiny and manageable is to useleave-in conditioners. These conditioners do not have to be rinsed with water, you just have to apply them to the ends of your hair and let them sit.

TRICK: Sleeping in the leave-in conditioner will make it easier for you to comb your hair in the morning and style your curls.

You will have already noticed that maintaining a curly hair is not impossible, but it requires some care. To summarize the points that I have mentioned, remember: 

• Avoid products with sulfates.
• Do not use clarifying shampoo more than once a week.
• Do not sleep on your back.
• Avoid the hair dryer and iron.
• Do not wash hair with hot water.
• Do not wear high ponytails or bows.
• Do not comb the hair when it is dry.
• Pull the knots out of the hair to untangle it.

Following these tips will make it easier for you to take care of your hair, since they are nothing more than habits that will help you keep your curls defined and healthy. Best of all, the results are visible in a few months, so go for it!

What care to protect curly hair in winter?

In the evening, apply aloe vera gel to the lengths , it will rehydrate the hair fiber. Plus, aloe vera gel helps redefine curls. In the morning your hair will be “on fleek”.

A moisturizing mask once a week is essential. It will deeply hydrate the hair fiber. On the day of the shampoo, after rinsing out the conditioner, leave the moisturizing mask on for up to one hour, then rinse it out.

On a daily basis (but not every day), prefer a moisturizing milk or a not too rich leave-in rather than a moisturizing spray, it will not be sufficiently moisturizing if you apply it alone. Distribute the moisturizing milk or leave-in well over the entire length, emphasizing the ends.

Make an oil bath before shampooing about twice a month, but be careful when choosing vegetable oil so as not to make the hair sticky. A light vegetable oil is more suitable, such as argan, jojoba or macadamia oil.

Jojoba oil protects against dehydration, prefer treatments containing jojoba oil or do not hesitate to pass a few drops in the hair.

Shea butter is an excellent protective treatment. It nourishes and protects hair from cold and wind. It is more effective if it is a pure shea butter to be applied in small quantities to the hair, after having melted a small hazelnut between the hands. Pure shea oil is a good alternative.

Glycerin applied pure to the hair or contained in large quantities in a product should be avoided, it is a humectant, it will attract and retain moisture, which will make the hair dry and can promote breakage.

Coconut oil in pure application on the hair is to be avoided in winter, because it risks solidifying and making the hair dry or rough. If you can’t do without this oil, while waiting for sunny days, apply coconut oil in an oil bath before shampooing.

Now your curls are ready to face winter

Frequently Asked Questions

I’ve received other questions regarding winter curly hair maintenance, which I’m answering right here!

Can i still straighten my hair in winter?

Yes, you can still straighten your hair in the winter. However, I recommend that you use a heat protection spray beforehand and avoid using heated styling tools too often.

What’s the best way to sleep with curly hair in the winter?

The best way to sleep with curly hair in the winter is to tie your hair up with a silk or satin scarf. This will reduce frizz and prevent your hair from tangling overnight. You can also try sleeping with a humidifier on to moisten the air and reduce static electricity. You can also adopt silk or bamboo sheets and pillowcases (cheaper option) like those offered by Hairlust.

I hope these tips were helpful to you! Do you have any other tips for protecting your curly hair? Tell us in the comments of this article!