Around this time of year, you hear a lot of talk about treating dry, itchy skin. And for good reason; with the the weather at its worst, and people spending the majority of their time in artificially heated spaces, the surface of your body definitely needs a touch of special attention to continue looking great. Be it your face, hands, or anywhere else, a little bit of extra moisture will certainly go a long way.

What many don’t realize, though, is that it’s not just your pelt that gets parched during the colder months—due to many of the same reasons, winter can actually take a toll on your hair as well, sapping it of moisture just like it does your skin. To that end, we’ve compiled some of the best ways to nurse dry, frizzy follicles back to better health, here. So that when spring rolls around, you scalp can emerge looking alive.

Wash Less

As we’ve said before, unless you’re working out every day, there’s no reason you need to be shampooing more than a few times a week. That sentiment holds twice as true when your hair is already feeling dehydrated. So at least until your locks are starting to feel soft and smooth, dial back the frequency to once or twice a week. That way, your scalp’s natural oils can build up back to pre-drought levels, refreshing hair naturally.

Now, when you do wash, there are a few rules you need to follow. First off, turn down the heat, because though rinsing with scalding water might feel nice on a cold winter day, it can actually hurt more than it helps. Also, make sure not to use shampoos with the word “clarifying” in their name. These products are often harsher than others, stripping the hair of elements it needs to stay healthy. “Nourishing” products are definitely a better bet.

Condition Right

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Things are looking particularly high and dry atop your head? Then it's time to take your conditioning game to the next level. Start by replacing whatever standard conditioner you’ve been using with a moisture-specific option, using it every time you cleanse your mane (plus on its own every now and again, for good measure). Follow that up with weekly deep conditioning treatments, like this one by Rene Furterer. Designed as a mask to nourish and restore super-dry hair, this stuff takes only 20 minutes to leave your hair feeling soft and frizz-free.

Dry Better

When your hair’s already out of sorts, the last thing you want to do is make things worse. That’s why it’s important not to towel dry because, since your hair is at its most vulnerable when it’s wet, excess friction can damage it even further. Instead, try one of the following two options: a) airdry, or b) use a ceramic ionic blow dryer, which uses charged particles to dry hair quicker, allowing it to retain vital moisture. Sure, the latter is a bit more expensive, but trust us, the investment save you time and money in the long run when it comes to the health of your hair. If you do go that route, though, make sure to also apply something like Jack Black MP10 Nourishing Oil beforehand, which will help to lock in moisture.

Style Smart

Thought taking care of dry hair ended in the shower? Well think again, because your styling products can have just as much of an effect on the health of your hair as anything else—it all comes down to their ingredients. The worst culprits in drying out your hair: fragrances and alcohols. Keep an eye on that list on the back of the bottle, and be sure that neither makes an appearance.

A few more things: firstly, for the same reasons you don’t want to towel dry, avoid combing your hair when it’s wet. However, you do want to brush more, as that will spread out oils more evenly throughout your hair. Finally, though the weather may require otherwise, keep your wearing of wool hats to a minimum; though warm and cozy, they do have a habit of stealing hair’s moisture for their own.

Give It A Rest

So, you decided to give that silver-haired look a shot when Zayn did. Or maybe you went platinum like Lucky Blue. Awesome. We bet it looks great. As you can imagine, however, color treatments like these can damage hair pretty badly, especially if done improperly. So, should your hair feel dry and straw-like, maybe don’t dye it again for a little while.

Change Up Your Diet

Last but not least, let’s talk about food. Because every single thing you put into your body has an effect on how it looks. For more naturally soft hair, increase your intake of healthy fats like Omega-3s, found in fish like salmon and mackerel, as well as avocados. Eggs will also help due to their high biotin content, promoting hair growth and a handsome scalp.

And who doesn’t want one of those?

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