Winter hair Care

There's no doubt that the onset of cooler temperatures and the fewer hours of sunlight bring with them a new set of hair demands. Blustery winds snarl hair. Snow, rain, and icy cold make hair brittle and dry. Did you know indoor heating can be as damaging as spending the afternoon under a hair dryer? From split ends to dry frizz, static electricity to hat hair, when it hits, a bad winter hair day can last for months.

Somehow girls who know they have to use conditioner in the summer months because of the heat and the sun, forget that from December to February, indoor heating can totally dehydrate your winter hair. Not to worry. No matter what's causing your hair woes, you can take the protective, replenishing steps to insure your hair does not get damaged. Here are BeingGirl's top ten winter hair care tips.

Winter Hair Tip 1

If you've ever tried to pull socks out of the clothes dryer, you know that static electricity can be a powerful force. When cold conditions cause static to play havoc with your hair, use the same remedy you would on your laundry: a fabric-softening dryer sheet like Bounce. Rub it lightly on your hair and it will remove the static. Or mix two tablespoons of fabric softener with one tablespoon of water and use as a rinse.

Winter Hair Tip 2

Wear a scarf, hat or cap to protect your hair from the cold and wind, but make sure it's not so tight it interferes with the circulation in your scalp.

Winter Hair Tip 3

Avoid taking hot showers or washing your hair in hot water. Use warm or cool water instead. That way the heat won't dry out and/or damage your hair and skin.

Winter Hair Tip 4

Shampoo less frequently and condition after each time. Lock in the moisture by running your hair through cold water. This has the added benefit of giving your hair added shine. Don't rinse out your conditioner completely. Leave in about 25 percent of it. If your hair is too fine, thin, or soft for that, leave the conditioner just in the ends.

Winter Hair Tip 5

Limit the use of blow dryers and curling irons. If you must use them, try using a leave-in conditioner first. Diffuse it on low heat, concentrating on the roots. The less you deal with styling tools, the better off you'll be.

Winter Hair Tip 6

Don't go outside with a wet head. Aside from the fact that your mother will yell, you risk breakage. If your hair freezes, it may break.

Winter Hair Tip 7

Check out your hair spray to make sure it doesn't have a high alcohol content. Likewise avoid spraying perfume in your hair. Both tend to make hair feel dry and brittle.

Winter Hair Tip 8

A humidifier can help by adding moisture to the air, which cuts down on static. Also drinking a lot of water will keep you hydrated on the inside.

Winter Hair Tip 9

Regular trims every 8–10 weeks are important to get rid of parched ends and give curls more bounce.

Winter Hair Tip 10

If you want to supplement your store-bought products with an all natural treatment, put a few drops of warm, natural oil—olive, safflower, avocado, or jojoba—in the palm of your hand, rub 'til the skin glistens, then starting at the ends, work upwards to the roots. Leave on overnight.

How to Get Wavy Hair Using Mousse

Wavy hair looks great on everyone, regardless of the hair type or style. It is a great way to add glamour to straight hair, and is a sexy look for a night out on the town. Getting wavy hair can be a lot of work. Using a curling iron or crimper or going to the salon can be either timely or costly. However, getting a beautiful, wavy style doesn't have to be difficult. It can be easily done at home with mousse and ponytail holders.

Instructions

1. • 1
     Wash and condition your hair. Towel dry, and comb out any tangles. Your hair needs to be wet, but not dripping.
   • 2
     Squirt a golf-ball-size amount of mousse, SPICE NEO Foam Soft Bouncy( great for wavy style) into your hair. Rub the mousse between your hands. Turn your head upside down, and run the mousse through your hair, from the roots to the ends.
   • 3
     Flip your head back up. Use the comb to section your hair into four parts: two upper layers and two lower layers. Secure each layer with a hair clip. As you separate the layers, be sure that the mousse in each section is completely absorbed. There should not be any white streaky areas.
   • 4
     Unclip one upper section. Use the comb to grab a 1-inch section of hair. Comb the hair through, and then holding it at one end, begin twisting until the hair section is twisted end to end. It is important to comb each section through before twisting it. This will remove any tangles, and make sure all the mousse has been equally distributed.
   • 5
     Roll the twist into a minibun, and secure with a ponytail holder. Continue this process until all hair in the section is twisted and secured with a ponytail holder. Repeat for the opposite upper section, and continue the process on the lower sections.
   • 6
     Keep the hair twisted until it is completely dry. As it dries, the mousse will hold the structure of the twists. This will create beautiful, flowing waves when the hair is undone. It may take overnight for the hair to dry. If you are in a hurry, use a blow dryer.
     
     

     

How to Get Rid of Split Ends

If you have hair, odds are you have at least a few split ends.  A few aren't much of a problem; you probably wouldn't even notice them unless you lifted a section of hair up close to your face and crossed your eyes looking for them. But if you have a lot of split ends, they can wreak havoc on the texture and overall appearance of your hair by contributing to frizz and flyaways. we'll discuss trimming the damaged ends of your hair because it's the only way to actually get rid of split ends. It is possible to temporarily seal the split by applying a product that coats each strand with a thin layer of silicone, so split end menders are covered at the bottom of the page as well. Ultimately, though, the best way to stop split ends is to prevent them. For strategies proven to minimize hair splitting, read on.

How to Prevent Split Ends

Protect your hair from breaking. Your daily hair care routine can actually do a lot of damage to your hair if you aren't careful. In the shower, rather than pile your hair on top of your head and scrub it vigorously, massage shampoo into just your scalp; the rest of your hair will get clean as you rinse the suds out. Because a brush can tear wet hair, always use a wide-toothed comb instead. Once your hair is dry, a wide brush with a pad beneath the bristles is the gentlest way to remove tangles. Since it's even possible to damage split end-prone hair when you move around in your sleep, a satin pillowcase can help your hair move with you instead of stretching or breaking.

Protect your hair's natural moisture. Most experts agree that it's unnecessary to wash hair every day, and doing so not only wears down the hair, but also strips away the oils from your scalp that naturally moisturize your hair. Instead, try washing your hair just once every two or three days. Using a salon shampoo and conditioner can also help prevent split ends from forming because more expensive products generally have higher concentrations of gentle detergents and high quality moisturizers. Regular deep conditioning treatments to replace lost moisture can also help protect your hair from split ends.

Protect your hair from heat. Regular blow drying and heat styling can make hair dry, brittle, and more prone to split ends. Letting your hair air dry more often and working with your hair's natural texture rather than fighting it with straighteners or hot rollers and curling irons will help prevent hair breakage and splitting. If you must blow dry, straighten, or curl your hair, use a lower heat setting and apply a heat protection spray or serum before styling to give your hair an extra shot of moisture and coat the hair shaft with additional line of defense against the heat.

Protect your hair from chemicals. Many common chemicals can dry or break down hair cuticles, leaving it vulnerable to splitting. If you color, perm, or chemically relax your hair, waiting as long as you can between treatments and using high-moisture shampoo, conditioner, and styling products can help keep it looking smooth and healthy. You should always wash your hair after swimming, especially in chlorinated pools or hot tubs, and since the salt in your own body sweat can be hard on your hair, it's also a good idea to shower after a workout or any other activity that leaves you feeling sweaty.

Protect your hair from the sun. Heat and UV rays from the sun can dry and damage your hair just as they do your skin. If you'll be spending time in the sun, a wide-brimmed hat is the most certain way to keep harmful rays off your hair (and your face, too), but if you aren't a hat wearer, many brands of leave-in conditioner are formulated to contain sunscreen. These products are most effective if you work them into your hair with your hands to coat as many individual strands as possible, as thoroughly as possible.

Hair Pump Up Your Volume!

Cleanse carefully: Use Peace conditioner and Caretrico shampoo (even if you have curly hair) and apply conditioner only to ends. "These products are formulated explicitly not to weigh hair down," explains London-based stylist Peter Gray.

Give your roots a boost: "Everyone can benefit from a root lifter," says celebrity stylist Harry Josh. Apply the product before blowing dry, from midshaft to root ‑- unless your hair is fine, in which case you should aim for the base of your roots only.

A better blow-dry: For maximum oomph, lift sections of hair toward the sky as you blow-dry, directing hot air toward your scalp. This "cooks" the roots and dries them in an upright and lifted position.

Upside-down is not a do: Flipping your head over to blow-dry gives your hair width (think Bride of Frankenstein), not height (think Gisele), notes Josh.

Learn to back-brush: Instead of teasing your tresses with a comb (a surefire way to get volume, even if your locks are limper than yesterday's linguine), use a flat-backed brush, which will damage your hair less since the bristles are spaced apart more widely, says Gray. His favorite brand? Mason Pearson.

Try a tail: If you have natural volume but can't quite seem to rein it in, New York City-based some stylists suggests a look they call "The Puff" (see model at far right). Start with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner, then apply a cream-based styler. Next, diffuse your wet locks and gather into a high pony. The result? Sexy but subdued body.

Mist, don't douse: The ultimate volume slayer: Spice hairspray. If you must use a finishing product, we recommends spritzing it into the air and walking through the ensuing cloud. Or, spray it onto your hands and then run them over your tresses.

Exaggerate your ends: If your hair is curly or wavy, you tend to have body at your roots and straggly ends. For balance, Kerry Warn, who has styled volume vixen Nicole Kidman, often blow-dries hair straight first, then adds body back in using a curling iron or rollers from midshaft down.

Read more: Big Hair: Pump Up Your Volume - Marie Claire