Winter is a season that you either love or hate. The change in temperature sets the stage for a change of wardrobe, look or general style. We often see colour and shorter hair cuts trend in the Spring/Summer season and longer tresses and bangs trend in the Autumn/Winter months.
 
One thing that is for certain is the need for change, this applies to haircare too. Curly hair textures more so during the winter. In the Middle East, we typically experience a lower degree of humidity resulting in less moisture in the air which heightens the chances of curly hair becoming more prone to dryness. The weather change, particularly the level of humidity experienced has both pros and cons, nonetheless maintaining healthy curly hair in the Middle East during the winter requires intentionality and the ability to adjust your haircare regimen.

Though, winter in the GCC, in particular the UAE may not see snow fall or below freezing temperatures as seen in the West. What is recorded is often a drastic drop in temperatures from peaks of 50 degrees celsius and upwards in the summer to lows of 15-16 degrees from November through to April.
 
Throughout this blog post we will detail considerations for curly haircare during the winter and how to adapt your washday regimen to suit the change in climate.

It is very possible to achieve and maintain all you desire with your curly hair texture - definition, moisture and all round healthy hair in the winter season, if slight adjustments are made to your curly hair routine.

By default, curly hair is more prone to dryness and when it comes to the winter season this is only magnified. You may find your hair and scalp tend to become more dry due to the wind and dry air that evaporates the natural oils your scalp produces which gets passed down the length of your hair, thus increasing the appearance of dry, dull and lacklustre curls.

To mitigate dry, brittle strands during the winter it is important to consider the following:

1. Product Ingredients

The first 5 listed ingredients contribute to typically over 70% of the product. These ingredients will be the driving force behind a product’s ability to deliver moisture, repair or offer curl enhancement - definition, volume or elongation.

Even in the cooler months, it is of upmost importance to place greater focus on moisture rich products. The first step to hydration and moisture is through your cleanser. This means starting right from your cleansing product, moisturising ingredients are extremely important. Common moisturisers and emollients found in cleansers include Glyceryl stearate, Glycerin and Cocamidopropyl Betaine.

Below we have listed 3 superior conditioning agents to look for in your conditioners and stylers during the season to enable soft, supple and defined curls.

Ceramides

Ceramides are luxurious when added to curly hair products as it aids moisture retention by creating a light protective barrier, by way of repairing and strengthening the hair’s structure thus reducing the escape routes for moisture. Examples of potent, naturally derived ceramides include hemp seed oil, grapeseed oil which can be found in Inahsi Naturals Mango Avocado Restorative Hair Mask or Inches Conditioned by Healthy Hair Studio by Enitan.

Marshmallow Root

Marshmallow Root is a fantastic emollient which spans across more than skincare - to haircare too, specifically curly hair where minimising moisture loss is a key goal. This emollient contains a high mucilage content almost like a thickening agent, which helps to retain moisture in the hair thus leaving curls looking and feeling hydrated. The added bonus of this ingredient is in its ability to define curls with its glue like texture. This is one ingredient to look out for in your curl gels, creams and foams in the autumn-winter months.

Slippery Elm

Similar in consistency to Marshmallow root - a rich gel like substance also rich in mucilage, often found in conditioning products such as a curly girl holy grail Kinky Curly Knot Today, it has the ability to smoothen and repair the hair cuticle, aid moisture retention as well as quick detangling.

2. Regular moisture boosts

For curly hair, your wash day routine should be used as the main opportunity to restore moisture to your curls. However, we all have different moisture cycles, largely driven by porosity and moisture retention techniques. With this in mind if your typical moisture cycle is 3-4 days, you may find that your curls do not retain moisture for this length of time in the winter, to extend your moisture cycle ahead of your next wash day, incorporate use of refreshers as and when needed to give your curls that moisture boosting pick me up. Refreshers can also help tame frizz and restore curl definition without weighing them down and leading to product build up.

3. Maintain a regular wash day routine

Contrary to popular belief, regular cleansing of curly hair aids moisture momentum, provided you are using the right type of cleanser - one that is free of sulphates, parabens and mineral oils.

A weekly or bi weekly wash day will set you on track. Where you feel your curls are constantly dry ahead of each wash day, consider incorporating a cowash into your routine to increase moisture impartation during the cleansing process.

Do not be afraid to use a clarifying shampoo once every 3-4 weeks, this works to improve your curls ability to retain moisture in the long run. Where you regularly use a number of styling products or sealants, build up will naturally occur. A clarifying shampoo will strip your curls of build up and thus allow your hair to receive that much needed moisture as your hair and scalp are unclogged. 

Alternatively, you can opt for a hair detox to deeply cleanse your hair and scalp, removing flakes, dead skin and build up that weigh down curls.  A hair detox is typically formulated with ingredients that clarify the scalp and strands whilst balancing moisture levels needed for curly hair. Look for a detox that contains ingredients such Bentonite or Kaolin Clay which contain clarifying properties to draw out impurities, excess oils, dead skin cells and debris without stripping your strands of moisture.

What you’ll get with a clay based detox is combination of cleansing and conditioning properties in one treatment. 

4. Protective Styling

Another way to protect your curls from the harsh conditions created by the autumn/winter season is through the use of protective styling. Protective styling is almost self explanatory, however there are steps to be taken in order for the style to be truly protective from environmental aggressors. Style such as braids, twist, pineapples are considered protective as they keep the majority of the hair hidden by allowing moisture to be kept in tact and the most fragile parts of your curls - the ends tucked away and free from day to day manipulation and friction. 

Before tucking away the ends of your curls in a protective style be sure to apply a sealant to prevent moisture evaporating too quickly. Couple this with satin or silk protection at night to reduce friction, moisture loss and breakage and your curls will thank you. 

In conclusion, it is essential you adapt your curly hair routine for all seasons and climates to provide the best environment for your curls to thrive whilst maintaining good moisture levels - the baseline for healthy curls.