7 Winter Hair Recovery Tips For Moms-On-The-Go

Let’s face it, hair care for busy Moms is tough in the best of times, add to it the havoc cold, dry Winter air wreaks on our locks, and well, it can seem like a lot of effort to keep our tresses healthy until warmer weather returns.

I am no hair expert, but I do have a tiny obsession with keeping my hair healthy year-round and swear by some simple, low maintenance, budget-friendly methods to achieve it.  And after trying the pricey stuff, and spending WAY too much time and money for treatments at salons, I can tell you that you need to look no further than your local drug store or online lifestyle shop for most of these suggestions.

I know, I know…there’s only 3 weeks left of Winter, “why bother”, you ask? Because that’s just enough time to turn your weather-stressed hair back to a gorgeous mane for Spring/Summer.  Truth bomb: I sometimes get my hair coloured by the pros, but more often than not do my colour myself…yes, from a box, and can tell you, these tips work, especially #4!  My hairdresser is baffled by my hair health every time when I admit my DIY colouring habit 😉

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Here are 7 tips for reviving your hair during/after the cold Winter months:

1) Avoid over-washing your hair – 2-3 times per week is more than enough. The winter zaps the moisture from the air, and over-washing will create dry, brittle locks and irritate your scalp. Instead, use a dry shampoo (aka, Moms’ hair miracle!) in between washes to maintain a look of clean, fresh-smelling hair, and elongate all that effort on your blow-out ;). Dove, L’Oreal & Pantene Pro-V offer great results, all under $15 CDN [affiliate links].

2) When you do wash your hair, make sure your final rinse is with cool water. Not only will it give you an invigorating jolt on those slow-to-go mornings, it will close the hair cuticle and give a shiny and smooth-looking finish to your hair.

3) Avoid going outdoors with damp or wet hair. The cold air will make your hair more susceptible to breakage and a brittle texture. Blow dry if you must, or even better, leave yourself enough time to let your hair fully air dry (like overnight & style in the morning).  Even in Spring, damp hair in cool morning temps will impact hair strength.  If you must venture out with damp hair, cover your head with a fashionable head scarf while outdoors.  This will also reduce static.

4) Most hair experts recommend a deep conditioning treatment once a week, all year long, but seriously, I don’t know many Moms who’ve got time (nor patience!) for that. My solution (and $7 secret) is a leave-in spray conditioner after each wash at home. My favourite since I was a teenager is Infusium. [affiliate link] With ingredients like Argan oil, Macadamia oil and Keratin, it leaves my hair feeling smooth, looking shiny yet non-greasy and keeps it easy to manage, even after subject to heat styling with a blow dryer, curling iron or straightener. They have different solutions depending on your hair type and care needs. I use the Repair & Renew spray, but they also have the Moisture Replenisher and Colour Defender products in their line up.  I use the moisture replenisher on my daughter’s hair as a de-tangler.  And this one’s amazing for saltwater, chlorine and sun exposure in the Summer months too!  Application: 3-5 sprays on damp hair before brushing and drying.  Seriously …it takes 5 seconds and really works!

5) Even by following the steps above, Winter may have/had a way with your scalp, creating dry, flaky irritation. And well, even the most secure women will find dandruff embarrassing. It’s really tough to hide. I came across L’Oreal’s NEW Everfresh Sulphate Free Scalp Treatment this winter when my scalp began to get very irritated and had amazing results with this product! Shiny locks and a nourished scalp in only a few washes. Bonus: it’s gentle enough to use on colour treated hair + the bottle is discreet and doesn’t scream DANDRUFF CONTROL and the product didn’t leave a residue like the leading dandruff control brand does.  If you’re still seeing the flaky stuff, even at the tail end of Winter, add this one to your hair-washing regimen.

6) Extend the length of time between colour touch-ups.  Most salons recommend 3-4 weeks…I extend it to 4-6 weeks to give my hair more of a break.

7) Keep ends of hair healthy with a trim every 6-8 weeks.

These tips are well-suited for hair that is typically straight or on the wavy/semi-curly side. Additional, specific hair care may be required for very curly and coarse hair textures. Discuss with your hairdresser on your next visit.

Hope these tips help keep your mane healthy the rest of this Winter and beyond!  Now, go enter the GIVEAWAY below for your chance to win a $50 gift card to Amazon to shop some of the fabulous products listed above, or treat yourself to whatever…you deserve it!

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