How Does Winter Weather Impact Your Hair Color?
As the temperature drops, so does the air's humidity levels. While that might make some of us jump for joy (humid weather often leads to frizz), celebrity hairstylist Eduardo Ponce notes that whe air becomes drier during the colder months, hair color often becomes "dull and flat." Luckily, the proper hair care routine can help. Better yet, Ponce and a number of other celebrity stylists shared their top tricks for caring for color-treated hair during the coldest months of the year.
Related: Why Your Hair Needs a Beauty Routine, Too
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Maximize your hair's moisture content.
Ponce's first defense against dye-wrecking temperatures? A color-safe shampoo and conditioner swap. "It's important to keep your hair hydrated by using the right shampoo and conditioners for color-treated hair," he says, noting that Color Wow's offerings—like the Color Security Shampoo ($24, sephora.com) and Color Security Conditioner ($24, sephora.com)—are among his favorites. Colorist and #mydentity brand founder Guy Tang agrees; cold weather causes dehydration, which then can ultimately affect hair color longevity. That's why moisturizing products—beyond the shampoo and condition one-two punch—are key. "It is important to use a deep conditioner once a week at home to replenish moisture during the winter months," he says. "This will help keep the cuticle hydrated, which will help prolong hair color."
Try an oil.
Celebrity hairstylist Lacy Redway recommends adding deeply-nourishing oils, like avocado, jojoba, and almond, into your regimen, as each of these will seal moisture into your strands. "Apply them directly on wet or damp hair," she instructs, noting not to be heavy-handed if you are on the fine side. StyleSeat pro stylist Susan Williams likes Surface's Bassu Hydrating Oil ($31.33, amazon.com). "It features key ingredient bassu oil, which comes from a nut in Brazil," she says. "It has a smaller molecule, so it can penetrate into the layers of your hair without weighing it down. The product also contains amaranth plant protein, which is plant-based and can help hair retain color. The combination of these ingredients shows incredible results."
Use high-quality styling tools.
In addition to using the right products, styling with high-quality tools will protect your hair's color, too. Ponce recommends reaching for blow dryers, flat irons, and curling wands that are designed to style with minimal heat, like T3's Cura Hair Dryer ($179.99, amazon.com), which uses ionic technology to speed up drying time, and the brand's Lucea ID 1" Smart Straightening & Styling Iron ($149.99, ulta.com), which tailors heat to your hair's texture. And don't forget to protect your scalp, which is always impacted by cold weather, explains Redway: "Use Nexxus Clean & Pure Scalp Scrub ($16.99, ulta.com) to help purify your scalp before adding moisture back into your hair," she suggests.
