According to Phil Smith, a stylist to the stars, the colder months can wreak havoc on our tresses. However, there is assistance available.
There’s so much to love about autumn – cozy knits, warming drinks, falling leaves and the excuse to hunker down with a good book and a glass of red. But as the temperatures drop and the central heating goes on, your hair might be experiencing a seasonal change of its own. From dryness and static to frizz and breakage, the colder months bring a whole new set of challenges. Eight times British Hairdresser of the Year nominee Phil Smith is used to seeing winter-ravaged locks in his award-winning salon in Salisbury, Smith England. He has tended the locks of some of Britain’s most glamorous women, from Tess Daly and Michelle Keegan to Emily Blunt. And the good news is, he says, with the right tweaks to your haircare routine – and a few cheap hacks – you can keep your locks looking fabulous all winter long.
THE BLESS: Dryness
Hair loss: According to Phil, “One of the most frequent winter complaints I get is hair that feels like straw.” “Your hair loses moisture because of the dry, brittleness of your hair,” according to the authors. A hair mask that almost everyone in the kitchen can make is a great value and super effective. Apply a tablespoon of olive oil as a mask to wet hair’s mid-lengths and ends by combining it with one tablespoon of honey. For 30 minutes, cover yourself with a shower cap, shampoo twice, and follow normal. It really provides and nourishes and costs only 19p per time.
The issue is that it ends in secrecy.
HAIR HACK: “Make sure you get a trim every six to eight weeks; split ends travel up the hair more quickly in the winter, and layer up with silk or satin beanies to reduce breakage and static.”
The issue is color fading.
HAIR HACK: We all know how much the sun can have an impact on our dyeing, but did you know that you might need to visit your colorist more frequently in the summer? The hair’s cuticle “does not hold on to color molecules as effectively when it is rough or dehydrated,” as it does frequently in the winter. They simply evaporate more quickly, according to Phil. When we take a shower in the winter, it’s tempting to turn up the heat, which opens the cuticle even further, accelerating color loss. Colored hair will turn dull, faded, or brassy far sooner than expected due to the lack of hydration caused by central heating.
The positive news, then? The main goal of maintaining your color is to preserve moisture. Sealing the cuticle and keeping pigment in are all done with cold water rinses, hydrating masks, and color-safe products. The Colour Protect Shampoo and Conditioner from Phil Smith Professional Haircare costs $14. Always finish your shower by washing the area with cool water, he advises.
Breakage IS THE PROBLEM
HAIR DAMAGE: Even those dreaded autumnal downpours can cause hair loss. Do you not believe us? It can be tempting to pull your hair back into a ponytail or bun if you get caught in an unplanned shower, says Phil. However, when hair is wet, it is at its most vulnerable because it stretches more easily and has less elasticity, which makes it much more susceptible to breakage, according to Phil. When the hair shaft is in stress, you are putting tension on it by holding it up tightly while it’s damp.
What’s the solution then if you don’t want to spend the entire day looking like a drowned rat? Try to air dry your hair until at least 70% of the moisture is gone before tie it up, choose a soft, snag-free silk scrunchie like Minnie Scrunchies in Slip Silk (£45), and keep the style loose.
The cause is a flaky scalp.
HAIR HACK: If you’ve noticed that your scalp feels tight, itchy, or has started flaking more, you’re not alone. “It’s often mistaken for dandruff, but it’s really just dryness caused by central heating and overly hot showers,” says Phil. “Brushing your scalp gently with a soft-bristle brush like the MD London Padd Detangling Brush (£23) can help stimulate circulation and reduce flakiness,” he adds. “Then, incorporate a weekly scalp treatment like my Phil Smith Professional Haircare Hydration Scalp Treatment (£14) is a leave-in product that hydrates, smoothes and strengthens hair. Like a facial for your scalp, the ultra-nourishing formula contains hyaluronic acid to moisturise, while natural sugar beet leaves hair feeling stronger, with a beautifully glossy shine.
Source: Mirror
Leave a Reply