Living an active lifestyle means we enjoy doing things! Lots of different, life enhancing things from walking our dogs to running and sitting in the open air. And a new season often means changes in lifestyle; the foods we eat, what we drink, our exercise routine and that's right a new set of hair changes.
It is easy to think that one solid hair routine is all you need. But this is not entirely true. Sometimes the methods you use during a seasonal transition together with the particular weather conditions can cause both dryness, and breakage of your hair. On this note, we need to find a balance by not only getting our routine down, but also combining it with certain natural products. Failure to do so means that the seasonal changes could potentially be a nightmare for your hair regardless of its type.
It is important to understand why our hair changes with the seasons. Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter bring with them fluctuations in the weather pattern. These seasonal variations equally mean varying changes in light, temperature and humidity that affect our hair. Thankfully, there are natural remedies we can use to combat the effects of these transitions from one season to another. Here we are going to look at two seasonal hair changes and natural remedies that work well with them.
Cooler to Warmer, and what it does to your hair
After what seems like never-ending days of storms and freezing temperatures comes sunny, milder days. At this point we swap our thicker winter coats to lighter wears, walk more and spend more time outdoors. There is an increase in both temperature and humidity, both of which can make our bodies and our hair feel heavier.
Rising temperatures is a signal to our bodies to eat lighter foods. Similarly, the heat in the air is a signal for our hair follicles and hair shaft to relax so moisture can penetrate the hair and heat can escape from our head and depending on your hair type and texture, the hair can either become flat or frizzy. Curly hair usually becomes more frizzy, fine hair loses volume and lies flat to the head while straight hair becomes lank and lifeless.
During the hotter months the sun will also lighten and brighten your hair which can look great but if not well cared for could mean damaged and weaker stands. Throw in swimming in the sea or pool for bonus brittle and dryness points.
What Natural remedy can you use to counter the effect of warmer weather on your hair?
Summer is synonymous with heat and humidity, so our bodies fight to stay cool. Hence the need to hydrate our hair, ensure proper deep conditioning, shield from UV rays and lock-in adequate moisture.
● Natural Remedies:
Hydration:
Plain old water helps! It is simple and easily available but can also result in dryness as it rapidly evaporates from hair and scalp. Add the following natural ingredients to your spray bottle or buy a ready-made product containing them all:
Honey
Glycerin
Aloe Vera
Conditioning:
Be sure to include the following natural ingredients that can penetrate the hair shaft and be fully absorbed into your hair for a light, effective and non-greasy conditioning treatment:
Avocado Oil
Olive Oil
UV shield:
For natural sun protection to help combat hair dryness from prolonged sun exposure. Look for products with the following essential oils and them as finishing touches to washed and dried hair:
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Olive Oil - up to 7 SPF
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Almond Oil - up to 5 SPF
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Peppermint Oil - up to 7 SPF
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Macadamia Nut Oil - up to 6 SPF
Shop our Super Hydration Kit for all the ingredients you need for light fresh and hydrated hair.
Warmer to Cooler, and what it does to your hair
As we exit the hotter summer months the air begins to cool and become drier, we wrap up in warmer clothes, stay in-doors more and increase our intake of dehydrating carbohydrates, salts and sugars which intensifies as we approach the winter months. Similarly, the cold air causes our hair cuticles and pores on our scalp to close. This means it becomes harder to lock moisture into your hair shaft, leading to dry hair that's prone to breakage. As we pull on warm moisture-sapping hats and blocking out any vitamins from the sun our hair appears dull and lifeless with split ends. Plus, as recent storms show, winds tend to be stronger during the winter and as it blows through the hair strands can easily tangle and the process of de-tangling dry winter hair can cause strands to easily break.
What Natural remedy can you use to counter the effect of cooler weather on your hair?
Since the air is dry, the magic word during this time is moisture - a heavy dose of it. The ingredient of choice should moisturize, condition, and protect your hair with a lower SPF coverage.
Be sure to include the following natural ingredients that can penetrate deep into the hair shaft, hydrate the strands and reduce protein loss and create a protective barrier over your hair.
● Coconut oil
Tip: Mix Coconut Oil into your moisturizing shampoo for extra moisture and choose a leave-in conditioner with Shea Butter for its low UV shielding properties (4-6 SPF)
