Winter Hair Care
Winter is great in Southern California, the time of mean Mr.Sunshine has passed and we can start busting out all of our warmer clothing. Our temperatures aren't as extreme as the East Coast but regardless, this is the time of year when we notice dramatic change in our clients hair. We get clients that come in with very dry, brittle, snarled and broken hair. It's like suddenly everyone forgets to keep their hair protected like they do during the summer to shield them from heat, dry air, and blustery winds. Not only that, but did you realize that being indoors with your cozy heater can take a toll on your hair as if it's been under the dryer all day? Well it's not as bad, but you get the idea. We have good news though: No matter what is ailing your hair, we have some tips that can help keep your hair strong and healthy.
The Elements
Whether it's rain, wind or snow, one very simple tip is to wear a hat when out as it keeps your hair covered. A good way to avoid hat hair is to wrap your hair in a silk scarf before putting on your beanie, hat, fedora, etc. This helps to protect your hair from damage caused by the hat rubbing against your hair. If static is a problem you face we recommend using a boar bristle brush, the natural bristles are meant to help spread out natural oils (sebum) your scalp releases in order to keep your hair conditioned naturally. If products are more your style, Alterna's Caviar Rapid Repair & Replenishing Moisture lines are our "go-to" product line to keep the static and frizz down. Cesare's personal favorite is Alterna's Multi-Vitamin Heat Protector Spray. Since it's meant for flat ironing and/or blowdrying, it does a great job keeping static charge at bay. But don't forget, wearing a hat all day can cause your head to sweat and retain any products you may have onto your scalp. This can easily be avoided by only wearing one while outdoors, and making sure you regularly dry-clean them.
Thick Hair
If you happened to be blessed with thick hair—but you find that during the winter season it's a bit on the dry side—we recommend doing a weekly deep treatment at home if you can't find the time for an in-salon treatment. Our current favorite is Alterna's Caviar Overnight Rescue. It's a great treatment you can do while you sleep! We like it because it does an incredible job keeping moisture locked in and significantly improves the overall elasticity of your hair. We suggest doing it once a week, all you need is a shower cap keep your hair in a soft braid or ponytail to prevent it from getting all over your bedding. Next morning, just continue your regular washing routine.
Fine Hair
For thinner hair we have other means of keeping your delicate locks in great shape. We want you to avoid deep conditioning yourself even if you hair is moderately damaged because the conditioning will weigh the hair down. Stick to regular conditioning but follow it up with a leave-in spray conditioner like Caviar Replenishing Moisture Milk Spray. It will keep your hair moisturized and is light enough to prevent the flat hair look. But remember just like all other conditioners, make sure you don't apply directly to the scalp. Hair conditioner on the scalp is one of the leading causes of dandruff and clogged hair follicles. If you feel like your hair needs the extra boost in volume, a root lifting spray like L'Oreal's Volumetry Anti-Gravity Volumizing Root Lift Spray does wonders for limp hair.
Color Treated Hair
For those of you that color your hair—especially highlights—winter is a good time to take a break. Since the lightening process does most of the damage to hair, the less stress you put on your hair in winter, the better they will look when summer comes around. However, you don't have to put up with boring hair. Most stylists will recommend slightly tweaking your base hue and adding less intense "low lights" for an eye-catching change with minimal damage. Regardless of what products you use to style or color your hair for winter, always cover your head when outdoors, and always use a shampoo and conditioner for color-treated hair. A customer favorite is L'Oreals Vitamino Color collection. We currently have our Vitamino Color Holiday kits on sale right now for 20% off for all of November.
In conclusion, we hope these tips provide value to you in order to keep you hair at it's best. Of course if you require a little bit more help, feel free to make an appointment with us online or call 626.792.5829. Please remember, with the holidays quickly approaching any appointments require advance scheduling as Cesare's schedule fills quickly from here until the end of the year, but we can try to find openings and ways to accommodate. Any questions or concerns can be sent to us via the comment section below, email bea@hairbycesare.com, or call 626.792.5829. We hope to see you soon and we wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving!