Winter can be harsh on hair, leading to dryness, static, and breakage. A healthy winter haircare routine focuses on hydration, nourishment, and protection—both inside and out. Begin with a gentle, sulfate-free shampoo formulated to gently cleanse without stripping natural oils. Look for moisturizing ingredients like argan oil, shea butter, or coconut milk to keep your scalp balanced and your strands smooth. Wash your hair less frequently—two to three times a week is ideal—to prevent over-drying.
Once or twice a week, treat your hair to a deeply hydrating mask. A rich hair mask containing keratin, avocado oil, or honey can help repair damage caused by indoor heating and cold winds. Apply it from mid-lengths to ends, leave it on for at least 10 minutes, and rinse with cool water to lock in moisture.
Finally, nourish your hair from within with a balanced diet and nutritional supplements. Omega-3 fatty acids, biotin, and vitamin E support stronger, shinier hair by promoting healthy scalp circulation and cell renewal. Combine these with a balanced diet rich in protein and leafy greens for the best results.
With consistent care—gentle cleansing, deep conditioning, and proper nutrition—you can maintain soft, resilient, and glossy hair all winter long.
How To Pick The Right Shampoo For Cold Weather
When selecting the right shampoo for fall and winter (and any season, really), it’s always best to choose a sulfate-free, silicone-free, and paraben-free formula. A pH shampoo of 5.50-6.50 is perfect, not just for healthy hair but also for a healthy scalp. Volumizing shampoos tend to clean hair lightly, which means they often shy away from the hydrating compounds needed to protect hair from cold weather. Hence, it’s highly recommended that you choose a shampoo specifically designed to hydrate your hair, control frizz, or repair damage.
Let pH be your guide for selecting the right shampoo, but also consider whether the formulation contains raw ingredients like coconut oil, vitamin B5, and pantothenic acid. These ingredients are designed to penetrate the hair shaft, repair damage caused by cold weather or strong winds, provide a protective coating, and keep your hair looking nice and sleek.
Zuma Nutrition Organic Shampoo, $39.95
Indulge in Zuma Nutrition’s Organic and Wild-Crafted Shampoo, a gentle, plant-based formula featuring wild soap nuts, naturally fermented probiotics, and artesian spring water to nourish your scalp’s microbiome while delivering radiant, hydrated hair that doesn’t strip natural oils. Completely free of sulfates, parabens, synthetic fragrances, and hormone-disrupting chemicals, this hypoallergenic, non-toxic blend is dermatologist-recommended for sensitive skin and safe for daily use by the entire family, including children. Embrace eco-friendly, biodegradable luxury that soothes irritation, controls oiliness, and promotes vibrant strands—trusted by thousands for its pure, effective simplicity.
Pure, Plant-Powered Cleanse: Organic Shampoo Free of Hormone Disruptors, Safe for the Whole Family, including Kids.
Harklinikken Balancing Shampoo, $47
This award-winning Balancing Shampoo is designed to deeply cleanse and strengthen your hair, whilst also working to balance your scalp’s pH level and create the optimal environment for hair growth. This clarifying formula leaves the scalp feeling revitalised and hair looking more vibrant. Suitable for daily use, it is enriched with cleansing Rapeseed and soothing Organic Oats.
Invest In A Great Deep Conditioning Mask
Healthy-looking hair is hydrated hair, so during the months when things can feel a little drier than usual, you’ll definitely want to use a hair mask. A weekly or monthly hair mask helps to deeply condition strands, replenishing your hair with the moisture it craves. Look for masks that strengthen damaged hair and help prevent future damage.
If you suffer from dandruff due to a dry, flaky scalp during the winter months, apply a heavier oil treatment, such as coconut oil or castor oil, directly to the scalp. Allow the oil to sit for 20-30 minutes to moisturize the scalp deeply, then wash your hair as usual.
MAREE Hair Mask, $34.15 (was $59.95)
The Keratin Hair Mask is a deeply nourishing treatment that works to repair heat-damaged hair. It softens strands to eliminate tangles and frizz, making your hair easier to manage and style. By hydrating from the inside out, it restores your hair’s natural protective layer and replenishes lost protein to increase density. Regular use also helps to smooth and repair the appearance of split ends.
This 15X award-winning intensely conditioning mask that delivers a balance of protein and moisture to help support and strengthen dry, damaged hair.
Haircare Starts Within
Healthy hair begins from within—what you feed your body directly impacts the strength, shine, and growth of your hair. Proper nutrition provides the essential building blocks for strong strands and a balanced scalp. Supplements can support this inner foundation by providing key nutrients, such as biotin, collagen, and antioxidants, that promote hair growth and vitality. These ingredients work at the cellular level to strengthen follicles, improve elasticity, and reduce thinning. When combined with a balanced diet, hydration, and a mindful hair care routine, supplements can help nourish your hair from the inside out, resulting in thicker, healthier, and more radiant locks.
Beautycore, $49
Beautycore supplements are expertly formulated to support healthy hair, skin, nails, and joints from the inside out. Developed with guidance from Dr. Mamina Turegano, a triple board-certified dermatologist, each product is rooted in science and designed to help women feel confident and radiant at every age.
How To Beat Hair Static
Stepping out with static-filled hair can be a bit embarrassing. To help prevent it, opt for silk, cashmere, and wool fabrics for your coats, scarves, and other items. Synthetic fibers and fabrics can cause a significant amount of hair static. Here are some other ways to help prevent hair static in the winter:
- Skip plastic combs and use a metal one instead because plastic can attract static.
- Rub a dryer sheet on your pillow before bed. Some people even rub a dryer sheet on their hair, but we recommend you simply start with your pillow first.
- Dry your hair with an ionic blow dryer. They are said to emit negatively charged ions to beat dry stands. The drier the hair, the more likely it is to become filled with static.
- Run a light moisturizer or hair serum over your ends.
How To Protect Hair Against Cold Weather
Extreme cold can be just as damaging to hair as extreme heat and UV exposure, especially if you have a color or chemically treated process. So, consider using a protection serum! When it comes to protecting your hair from harsh winds, you’ll want to opt for a serum over a protective oil, as heavy oils can cause your hair to appear greasy and flat. You’ll also want to avoid being outdoors with wet hair in extreme cold, as frozen hair can actually snap off.
A good serum will offer protection against heat, extreme cold, UV rays, and humidity. The Kérastase Serum protects the hair from all four without weighing it down. Simply apply a pea-sized amount to sectioned-off wet hair before blow-drying. Your hair will feel and look thicker! You can also apply a small amount to dry hair to smooth frizz.
John Frieda Anti Frizz Hair Serum, $18.35
With an updated formula, fall in love with this iconic serum, which can now be used for both wet and dry hair. This is a great way to manage frizzy hair and leave locks with a silky, smooth finish.
Kerastase Nutritive 8H Magic Night Serum, $62
This luxurious overnight nourishing leave-in serum, formulated with niacinamide, nourishes, hydrates, detangles, and enhances shine for up to 8 hours.
Use A Humidifier This Season
Want to know a surprising way to fight dry hair in the winter? Use a humidifier. Indoor heating causes the air in your home to become very dry, pulling moisture out of your hair. Humidifiers help rehydrate the air to keep your locks looking lustrous. During the colder months, indoor heating tends to zap a lot of moisture out and dry the hair out, sometimes leaving a dry, flaky scalp. Opt for an overnight hair mask and sleep with the humidifier on for an extra hydration boost.
Pure Enrichment® MistAire™ Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier, $39.99
Ultrasonic cool mist technology safely and quickly moisturizes dry air for up to 25 hours of continuous operation in medium to large rooms up to 250 square feet. The powerful mist output with high and low settings makes this humidifier ideal for bedrooms, baby nurseries, offices, and indoor plants.
Honeywell Cool Moisture Humidifier, $79.99
This cool air humidifier effectively brings invisible moisture to your home, utilizing UV technology and a wicking filter to help purify the water and capture minerals for a cleaner mist.
All brushes are not created equal, and if you’re experiencing thinning hair, there are certain brushes you should be using (and avoiding!) to keep your hair looking full, shiny, and healthy. Keep reading to learn what to look for in your perfect hairbrush, along with the best hairbrushes for thinning hair.
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