5 Tips for Fighting the Frizz this Winter

Winter in the UK is approaching, fast. My hair more than anything suffers at this time of year. Cold temperatures, never ending rain, blustery winds and central heating mean my hair can be just a nightmare to tame. However, over the last year or so, I've found a few ways to manage the frizz (at any time of year) that I'd love to share with you.

1. Go au naturale

You might not have ever looked at the ingredients list on the back of your shampoo bottle but lots of high street (and very popular) hair styling brands contain chemicals, parabens and silicone to make your hair look “healthy” and shiny but aren't actually doing your hair any good whatsoever. These types of products for frizzy hair might help alleviate problems in the short term but long term they aren’t getting to the root (excuse the pun) of the problem and ultimately will make your hair worse.

It’s much better to use shampoos, conditioners and hair styling products that contain only natural ingredients. My personal favourite products are from Phyto and newly discovered Faith in Nature (read my review here).     

Since ditching high street hair products my hair has just been so much easier to manage. The prices might be slightly higher but generally the products last longer and they really are worth the extra couple of pounds.

2. Tone down the heat

Often, when it comes to frizzy or damaged hair, the advice is to stop using hair dryers, straighteners and tongs altogether. Now, I don’t know about you, but for me this is just totally impractical and near impossible. If I don’t style my hair I end up tying it up in a top knot or a high bun, which is even worse for your hair than heat styling.

A way to get around this is to leave your hair dry naturally until it is just damp and then blow dry it on the lowest heat. This way you’re cutting the amount of time that heat is applied to your hair by more than half, and with a lower heat as well, this makes a huge difference.

Try to keep use of straighteners or curling tongs down to a minimum, for example, only for nights out or special occasions.

When you do apply any heat to your hair always use a heat protecting styling product. I use this Kerastase Nectar Thermique leave-in conditioner for dry to very dry hair.

3. Get friendly with your hairdresser

I used to never go to the hairdresser! As a child I was taken to the hairdresser about once a year to have my locks cut into a bob ready for the summer. Then in my teenage years and early twenties I visited even less, believing that if I never cut it my hair would grow longer (how wrong I was). I’ve even cut my own hair a few times (not a good idea!).

In the past year or so I've been going to the hairdresser every 8 weeks to have a little trim and it’s made such a difference to the condition of my hair. Going back to the same salon and having a good relationship with your hairdresser is also really important. It means you’ll be more comfortable asking him or her questions about your hair and since they’re experts you’ll no doubt get some great advice which will be tailored to your hair and specific needs.

If you’re prone to frizzy hair that breaks, like me, then it’s best to have shorter hair that is healthy rather than hair that is long but in terrible condition.  

4. Be gentle

Love your hair and it will love you back. Never, ever use a hair brush (not even a tangle teezer!). Use a wide toothed comb (or even your fingers) and only comb your hair very gently when it’s wet. Brushing vigorously will cause your hair to weaken and eventually break, giving you the look of fly-aways and frizz.

As mentioned before, try not to tie your hair up too much as tight hair bands cause a lot of breakage. If you must tie your hair up get the endless hair elastics as opposed to the ones with metal parts on them.

In winter try to protect your hair as much as possible from the elements when outside with hats and scarves.

5. You are what you eat!

Lots of water, veggies and fresh air! Being healthy on the inside will show on the outside, I just wish I headed my own advice on this one a bit more!     

Isobel x

Images found at weheartit.com.