This time of year is a peculiar one. The shortest days and darkest months are behind us. Warm weather feels only slightly out of reach. And yet, while we begin to make plans for what we will do during the brightest seasons of the year, especially on those afternoons that almost feel like spring, some of the coldest days of the year still lie ahead.
While our day-to-day activities, wardrobes, and even moods change with each season–so changes our bodies and, you guessed it, our hair. Hair can feel as different in the summer and winter as the temperatures during those times of the year–it can look as different as the leaves on the trees do in fall vs. spring. If our hair were to write a memoir over the twelve months of a calendar year, it would be quite an interesting read.
Here’s a look at how your hair changes throughout the season, and what you can do to take care of it.
Winter
There’s a reason you find yourself applying lotion and lip-balm 24/7 between the months of December and March if you live in the Northern Hemisphere. Cold temperatures have the ability to suck moisture out of the air, which means they can suck moisture out of our skin, hair, and scalps, too. We already know that this leads to cracked, red skin and lips, but have you ever noticed your scalp becoming more irritated in winter? How about hair so brittle it feels almost impossible to manage?
The cold air, coupled with a lack of essential Vitamin D from the sun in the winter months takes its toll. During this time of the year, we suggest paying close attention to conditioning and moisturizing when it comes to your hair. Products like an extra moisturizing or nourishing shampoo and conditioner duo are essential. During these months, you might want to try hair masks and nutrient-rich oils for additional hydration and protection. Let volume-inducing styling products lead the way when it comes to adding life to tired locks.
Spring
Spring is a mixed bag. Sometimes, the end of March will surprise you with one last blizzard. Not even two months later, May will hit you with an 80 degree Memorial Day weekend. It's likely that you will have to combine tactics from your winter and summer hair care routine in order to keep up with the changes in weather and your hair.
It's the perfect time to take preventative, reparative steps for your hair, like utilizing our cranberry and pear scented fortifying tonic.
Summer
What’s the polar opposite of cold and dry? Warm and humid. Humidity actually causes our hair to absorb the extra moisture in the air that we so lack during the winter months. And what does this cause? Lots and lots of frizz. Our hair might get an added bit of R&R from summer staples like the sun and salty, hydrating air, but that doesn’t necessarily mean we’re in the clear.While you should wash your hair less every other season of the year in order to protect naturally occurring oils, you may find yourself having to wash your hair slightly more with a simple shampoo and conditioner duo in the summer. In terms of fighting frizz, smoothing and calming hair products, as well as curl-defining styling creams, are going to be a saving grace.
Fall
Our hair will actually react to the environment in many different ways between the end of September and the beginning of December. Listen to what your hair wants and needs.
You might even begin to take steps to prevent damage from the dry winter months during this time with treatments and styling products, as well as ensuring you eat hair-healthy meals with nutrients you will soon lack, like Vitamin D.
It’s a natural cycle. And although it can seem difficult to manage at times, it’s a change that should be embraced.