How to keep your scalp & hair healthy this winter

With cold winter days comes hair that is dry, frizzy, brittle and simply feels unhealthy. The change of season can also leave our scalps feeling tight, dry, lacking hydration and irritated. During the coldest months of the year, many of us increase our use of heaters and air conditioning to stay warm and fight the harsh weather conditions. With these heaters and the dry, cold temperatures we are exposed to outside, our scalp and hair can suffer greatly during winter. But the good news is that you can avoid that winter hair feeling and keep your scalp and hair healthy by implementing some simple yet super effective steps into your consistent haircare routine. So, consider this as your winter hair health survival guide designed to help you achieve and maintain your healthiest scalp and hair naturally throughout winter and the entire year. Don’t forget, in addition to your hair habits, the haircare products and your overall routine play a vital role in keeping your hair hydrated, conditioned, repaired, protected, strong, shiny and easy to style. So, let’s dive into everything you need to know about combatting winter hair.

Why does our hair feel frizzy, dry & brittle during winter?

The winter months can leave our hair and ends feeling frizzy, dry and brittle for a number of reasons. The most significant and obvious factors include the cold, dry weather with lower humidity, as well as the increased use of heaters when trying to stay warm inside.

Another factor that many of us can get into the habit of doing without even realising that it’s affecting our hair health is increasing the water temperature when we shower. Hot water not only dries out our skin, but it can also negatively affect our hair health. When we’re feeling cold during the winter, it’s very tempting to turn up that water temp. But do keep in mind the impact hot water can have on your hair health. You most certainly don’t need to start having cold showers. However, if you’re wanting to keep your scalp and hair hydrated this winter, take note of how hot your showers get and maybe try reducing your water temperature slightly each time you wash your hair.

When our hair becomes frizzy, it’s easy to want to turn to straighteners and heated styling tools as a way of flattening and managing that frizz. However, increased and continued exposure to high temperatures can cause damage to the hair, leading to more frizz, as well as breakage. It can quickly become a vicious cycle for poor hair health. So, instead of reaching for more heat to smooth your frizz, try implementing a consistent routine with the products and tips we share in this winter hair health survival guide.

Tips, habits & solutions for frizzy, dry, brittle hair & split ends

To combat your frizzy, dry and brittle hair, as well as strengthen and repair split ends, here are the simple habits, haircare products and tips you can implement into your routine for your best healthy hair results.

• Weekly hair mask treatment – Investing in and applying a weekly hair treatment for dry scalps and hair is essential for maintaining healthy hair during winter.
• Apply your conditioner and hair mask generously to flatten cuticles – Conditioners and masks are not only used to nourish, but they actually need to be formulated to flatten lifted hair cuticles using positively charged conditioning agents. Flattening the cuticles is how frizzy hair becomes smooth, plus it also allows for easier brushing and detangling after washing. If your conditioner and mask are not flattening your cuticles adequately, look at what’s inside those products and invest in a conditioner and mask combo that contains positively charged conditioning agents.
• Apply a hair serum after washing, before styling – Hair serums and oils are great for giving your hair added hydration and shine after washing, and they can also smooth frizz.
• Use a heat protectant & reduce heated styling – As we’ve already discussed, heat damage to our hair can worsen the effects of winter, so always use a heat protectant before styling and try to avoid or reduce your use of heated styling tools.
• Dry your hair with a microfibre towel – Drying your hair with your cotton shower towel can cause friction to the hair shaft, which can make you prone to experiencing more frizz. However, using a microfibre hair towel can reduce that friction, as well as absorb water quickly to dry your hair faster and help prevent damage.
• Focus on an iron, protein & nutrient rich diet to support hair health from the inside – Eating for healthy hair should not be overlooked or underestimated. We can practice all the right hair habits and use the best haircare products but if our physical health is not also being prioritised, our hair health will suffer. With a strong haircare routine and a healthy diet and body, our hair can truly thrive.

Why does winter cause our scalp to feel dry, flaky, itchy & irritated?

Just as our hair health can deteriorate in the winter due to changes in weather and daily habits, the condition of our scalp can also become dry, irritated and problematic. When we look at the scalp specifically, the dry weather, harsh winds and hot showers affect the scalp by stripping the skin’s natural sebum (oil), moisture and overall skin barrier. This can leave our scalp feeling dry and tight, as well as itchy, irritated and in desperate need of some love and care.

Other factors that can also contribute to poor scalp health and common scalp issues during winter is the high heat settings used when blow drying, over washing your hair with harsh, sulphate-based shampoos or, alternatively, not washing frequently enough and relying on dry shampoo to prolong wash days. Everything in our haircare routine needs to balanced and intentional. You can still use hairdryers to dry off your hair, but don’t be tempted to use those extra hot settings. When it comes to washing, many of us can fall into either two categories – over washing or not washing enough. When you use the right haircare products to effectively clean your hair while also nourishing your dry scalp, you can wash frequently and according to your unique scalp and hair needs without stripping your oil or irritating your scalp. A clean, nourished scalp is the best way to support healthy hair long term.

Tips, habits & solutions for dry, flaky, itchy & irritated scalps

• Apply a weekly scalp mask – You not only need a hair mask for your ends, but you also need a treatment that nourishes, hydrates and conditions dry scalps. The best hair mask you can use is a treatment that actively targets and enhances both your dry scalp and dry hair with one single formula.
• Prewash oiling treatments – Commit to applying a prewash scalp and hair oil treatment at least once a week. Just like your nourishing weekly mask treatment, oiling targets and enhances both the scalp and hair for your best results. Simply apply the hair oil to your scalp and hair, massage it in, leave it to absorb for at least 30 minutes or for a couple of hours, then wash and double shampoo as normal.
• Avoid dry shampoo & leave in styling powders/sprays – These types of products can so easily cause a build-up, as well as create irritations on the scalp. So whenever possible, choose to wash your hair instead of reaching for the dry shampoo to get as many days as possible between washes. A clean scalp is a healthy scalp.
• Wash with a natural, sulphate free shampoo – When you invest in a natural shampoo that is free from sulphates, you do not have to be concerned about the risk of washing too frequently and, therefore, drying out your scalp and hair.
• Use nourishing yet lightweight conditioners & masks – As we’ve already discussed, conditioners and masks are vital for your hair health and managing frizz, but with the right products, they can also play an important role in your scalp health. Investing in a nourishing yet lightweight product will help you to enjoy a fresh scalp and hydrated hair that still has volume and bounce.
• Dry your hair before going to sleep – Never sleep with wet hair because a damp scalp and pillow is the perfect environment for encouraging bacteria  to grow, which can cause scalp concerns, irritations and problems.
• Dry your hair before going out into cold weather – With hair being most fragile  when wet, wet hair is prone to breakage and damage. So always dry your hair before going outside, especially in harsh cold weather.

How our Sozo Hair Health will help keep your scalp & hair healthy this winter

As we’ve discussed, both hair products and hair habits play vital roles in maintaining a healthy scalp and hair throughout winter. This means it’s important to create and consistently follow your best winter haircare routine possible. Our Australian made, all-natural Sozo Hair Health range contains everything you need for your complete natural haircare routine that supports your healthiest scalp and hair. Your routine doesn’t need to be complicated to be effective. However, you do need to understand how your hair products are formulated, what’s inside your products and how to properly care for your scalp and hair with intention. Here is how each of our natural hair products can help create and support your healthiest hair this winter and all throughout the year. 

Hair Health Shampoo – A natural, sulphate free shampoo that effectively cleans and removes build up with a rich lather and foam, while also nourishing and hydrating to leave your scalp and hair feeling conditioned and healthy. For your best results, apply our shampoo gel generously across all parts of your scalp and double shampoo. 

Hair Health Conditioner – A nourishing yet lightweight conditioner formulated to nourish, condition, flatten the hair cuticles and soothe the scalp without causing your scalp or hair to feel greasy, oily, limp or heavy. With its lightweight formula, you can apply our silicone free conditioner generously for great results. 

Hair Health Mask – This is a scalp and hair mask that deeply nourishes, smooths, conditions, repairs, strengthens, soothes & increases shine without leaving the hair heavy. Apply it at least once a week in place of conditioner, leaving it in for 5 minutes or up to 30 minutes, then rinse and enjoy your healthiest scalp and hair. 

Scalp & Hair Health Serum – This serum is an ultra-lightweight, hydrating hair oil designed for styling, heat protection, increased shine and oil treatments. Apply a few drops at a time to your ends before blow drying and styling to protect, smooth frizz, hydrate and increase shine. Then for prewash oil treatments, apply it generously to your scalp and hair at least 30 minutes before washing.

Detangling Hairbrush – Designed to remove knots with less breakage and pain by gliding through the hair. Perfect for both wet and dry hair.

Bamboo Microfibre Hair Towel - Absorbs water quickly to reduce drying time, reduces friction to the hair shaft to manage frizz and helps to prevent damage and breakage when it’s time to brush. 

Enjoying your best hair health results always comes with consistency, time and patience. So, build a routine that you can follow consistently to meet your specific scalp and hair needs. For a complete and proven routine that you can implement immediately, our Sozo Complete Scalp & Haircare Bundle is the ultimate hair health bundle filled with everything you need to combat winter hair naturally.

Extra habits & tips to enjoy your healthiest scalp & hair throughout the entire year

In addition to the tips, products, habits and solutions we’ve already discussed for preventing winter hair concerns, here is a list of tips you can follow and implement for your healthiest hair results in every season of life.

• Wash regularly and consistently according to your scalp and hair needs
• Daily scalp massages to increase blood flow and encourage hair growth
• Prioritise diet and physical health
• Always brush your hair with care and intention
• Avoid drastic colour changes/over-bleaching that can cause damage and breakage
• Regular trims to prevent split ends
• Maintain a consistent haircare routine
• Ditch the chemicals and invest in natural haircare

Whether you struggle with dry, frizzy, brittle ends or an itchy, irritated, dry scalp, these are the best winter haircare products and tips designed to address your concerns and create your best results. Changes in our scalp and hair health are normal and are only to be expected with changes in weather, as well as all the changes we experience during the different seasons of our lives. So, stay consistent, choose your haircare products carefully, practice good daily hair habits and watch your hair transform.