Curls in the Cold: How to Switch up Your Routine When a Chill is in the Air

The leaves are falling, pumpkin spice lattes are brewing, and there is a chill in the air. Maybe you live in a warm climate and you are feeling sorry for your fellow curly headed pals who have to deal with this issue, but for curlies who wonder what to do when the temperature drops, this is for you.

What’s the big deal about the weather changing and why does it affect our hair? As the dew points become lower, there is less moisture in the air, and therefore the air is drier. Dew point is not the same as humidity—humidity is the water concentration in the air whereas the dew point is the temperature at which water droplets can form. The lower the dew point, the fewer water droplets form. Many products are formulated with humectant ingredients such as glycerin which grab water from the surrounding environment. This is why you may hear some curlies say to avoid glycerin in higher dew points—there is so much water in the air that attracting it to the hair can cause unwanted frizz. However, in weather with lower dew points, sometimes there isn’t much water in the air at all and using humectants can pull water away from the hair.

So, what’s a curly girl to do? Not to worry—making some changes to your hair routine can help keep your curls looking fantastic in the coldest of weather.

Adopt the LOC Method 

This method, which stands for liquid, oil, and cream, is extremely effective at sealing in moisture. The liquid in this method can be water or a leave in. It’s the step that hydrates your strands. The second step, adding oil, seals in the hydration from the water (use the Citrus Superfruit Radiance Oil for this step!) The third and final step, cream, adds moisture to the hair and essentially locks everything into place. Some curlies have success with reversing this method and have done LCO. Try both to see which works best for you.

Massage Your Scalp and Pre-Poo with Oil

By massaging your scalp with oil, you will be keeping your scalp lubricated and moist which is important when spending time in buildings with the heat turned up. The oil can help to keep your hair supple and create a protective barrier from the elements. Using oil as a pre shampoo treatment can also help protect strands during the wash day process when hair is already more delicate due to the drier air. To pre-poo with an oil, you can section out your hair and apply the oil to your scalp and directly to the hair by smoothing it over each section. You can leave the oil in your hair overnight or you can do this treatment about 30 minutes prior to washing. Choose oils such as grapeseed oil and castor seed oil which have been scientifically proven to penetrate the hair shaft. Flora and Curl’s Superfruit Oil contains both!

Deep Condition Regularly

In addition to using creams and oils in your routine, you may want to add in an extra deep conditioning session. Deep conditioning can be done before or after shampooing your hair. Applying a deep conditioner to dry hair may be beneficial if you have high porosity hair and find a deep conditioner adds too much moisture. Also, applying a deep conditioner prior to shampooing can prevent fine haired curlies from feeling weighed down and greasy. If you are a low porosity curly, you will want to apply heat by using a heat cap or even a warm towel wrapped around a grocery bag so you can open the hair’s cuticle and allow in all the moisture!

Remember, when the dew points get low, add extra moisture to your routine so  you can keep your strands flexible, hydrated, and happy.

Yours in Hair Health,
Kelly Spangle

For Team Flora and Curl

Source: National Weather Service (weather.gov)