It’s never too early in the year to start dreaming of the feeling of warm sunshine on your face. It’s also never too soon to start preparing to have the perfect summer hairstyle. In fact, achieving fabulous summer tresses actually starts in winter. Read on to find out why, as well as what you need to do right now to get ready for the warmer weather.
Why your hair needs extra TLC in winter
Winter weather isn’t overly kind to hair. In fact, between the cold air outside and the heat blasting from radiators indoors, hair can end up dry and brittle, with plenty of split ends thrown in for good measure. Add in the constant application and removal of jumpers, hats and scarves, leading to the build-up of static, and it’s easy to see why winter hair seems to break and shed so much more easily during the colder months.
This means that your hair needs plenty of love during the winter to keep it in good condition. After all, the last thing you want is to head into spring with under-nourished, damaged strands, right? Then read on for some winter haircare tips that will help you prep for fabulous looking tresses when summer finally rolls around.
How to start preparing your hair for summer – in the middle of winter
Winter haircare is all about nourishment. There’s no such thing as too much moisture when it comes to keeping those strands soft and supple during cold weather! That’s why, according to All Things Hair, 29.33% of people rely on conditioner as their must-have winter product, while 15.67% swear by hair oil to keep their tresses nourished. The company found that 51.74% of people change their haircare routine in the winter months, reflecting the need for additional TLC.
So, what can you do to begin getting your hair summer-ready in the middle of winter? Start with a lovely, intensive conditioning mask. Something that’s going to seep moisture into each and every strand as you relax in the bath, dreaming of the day the weather is warm enough for you to hit the beach once more. Make it part of your routine each week to keep your hair looking and feeling as healthy as possible throughout the winter months.
It’s well worth thinking about what you’re doing to your hair daily as well. Are you blow-drying daily? Straightening? Using curling tongs? And are you using any chemical treatments to relax or color your hair? All of this will contribute to your hair becoming dry and brittle if you don’t take care of it.
What’s the answer? Well, thankfully there are a few steps you can take to keep your hair in great condition, and many of them won’t cost you a penny. Washing with cooler water, for example, is a great way to give your hair health a bit of a boost. That doesn’t mean you have to stand shivering under the shower while washing with icy cold water; using water that’s even a couple of degrees cooler than usual will do your hair some good.
A heat styling holiday is another quick win. Are you working from home more these days? If so, then why not reacquaint yourself with your natural beauty by ditching the hairdryer and letting your tresses air-dry? A few days’ break from the heat of styling – or even a day off from it once per week – can work wonders when it comes to refreshing your hair’s health.
Even swapping out your usual shampoo and conditioner for more nourishing products during the winter months can contribute to your hair being in better condition. And that, in turn, can help it to be in the best possible shape for the summer season.
Getting ready for your summer haircare routine
It’s also worth having a think about the products you’ll need for the warmer weather. Do you plan to spend time by the sea in the summer or splashing around in a chlorinated pool? If so, you’ll need ultra-nourished hair before the summer starts, along with a haircare routine designed to combat the impact of saltwater or chlorinated water (or both!) on your locks.
Summer also means protecting your cuticles (the outside of your hair strands) from damaging UVA and UVB rays, which can lead to everything from dryness, brittleness and split ends to frizziness and even thinning. The sun can also discolor your hair, leaving it looking faded and forlorn. So stock up well in advance with a range of products carefully curated based on your plans for the warmer weather.
It certainly won’t hurt to take a few heat styling holidays in the summer too, so use the winter months to get used to drying your hair naturally and styling without heat. After all, if you plan to sweep your hair up into a stunning up do, do you really need to subject it to a blast of intense heat from your hairdryer first?
Summer hair inspiration
The final element of achieving the perfect summer hairstyle, and one that can certainly help to fill a few quieter winter moments, is seeking inspiration for that style. After all, you need to know the summer look you’re aiming for well in advance if you hope to achieve it.
Are you planning on having beautiful, soft mermaid waves? A razor-sharp bob to keep you cool in mid-summer? A new color? Whatever you have in mind, starting planning during the colder months so that you can be ready when the time comes.
If you’re planning a longer look, that means growing your hair out while also still getting regular trims to keep it in good condition (there’s plenty of evidence that indicates regular trims can help you grow your hair faster). If you’re having your long winter locks chopped off, it’s time to research how different shorter styles will suit your build and the shape of your face. Whichever style you’re going for, there’s a lot of prep to do – which is why it’s essential to start now!
