Skin and Hair Tips to Combat Winter Dryness
There’s so much to love about wintertime: hot cocoa, family gatherings, and sweater weather… We could do without the dry skin and hair that comes along with it, though! The cold weather and dry indoor heat can do a number on your skin and hair, leading to a dry, flaky complexion and frizzy locks prone to breakage.
Here at The Studio Academy of Beauty, we love helping people look and feel their best. That’s why we’ve come up with some tips to keep your skin and hair looking beautiful and moisturized all winter long!
How to Combat Dry Skin During Winter
Use a Humidifier in Your Home
When the air is dry, your skin is dry. Place a humidifier in your home to add much-needed moisture to the air. For the best results, put it in the room you spend the most time in, such as the living room or bedroom.
Exfoliate Your Skin
Exfoliating your skin is always important, but that’s especially true during the wintertime. If you’re not already exfoliating your face regularly, invest in a mild exfoliator to add to your self-care routine. Always follow exfoliation with moisturizer, which will penetrate even deeper into the skin once you’ve scrubbed away oil, dead skin, and buildup. For even deeper exfoliation and targeted treatment for dry skin, consider scheduling a facial.
Your face isn’t the only area you should exfoliate, though! Remember to exfoliate your body with a good body scrub or an exfoliating glove. Spend extra time on rough areas such as elbows and feet.
Use Creams Instead of Lotions
You’re probably already using lotions, but during the wintertime, your go-to lotion may not provide enough moisture to combat dry skin. One solution is to switch to creams during winter to give your skin the extra moisture it needs. It’s especially important to moisturize your skin after showering and washing your hands, but try using creams throughout the day as well. Put some in a travel-sized container so you can stay moisturized no matter where you go.
Ditch the Harsh Soaps and Cleansers
Yes, that sugar cookie scented hand soap smells amazing, but unfortunately, it’s not doing any favors for your skin. Over the winter, switch to unscented soaps, cleansers, lotions, and hand sanitizers. They contain fewer additives, so they’re much easier on your skin. Try switching out any other harsh soaps as well (cleansers with high alkaline levels or harsh surfactants are no good!) and opt for gentler options that help your skin retain moisture instead.
Consume Healthy Fats
Healthy skin isn’t just about what you put on the outside. It’s nourished from within. During the winter, try to eat a diet that’s rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Avocados, salmon, olive oil, and nuts are all great choices. These foods can improve your overall health and help you maintain softer, smoother skin.
Remember to Stay Hydrated
Staying hydrated is an important part of keeping your skin healthy and soft, so make sure to drink lots of water. Take your reusable water bottle with you wherever you go and try to cut back on alcohol, coffee, and caffeine.
How to Combat Dry Hair During Winter
Do Weekly Deep Conditioning Treatments
Give your hair a little extra love during the wintertime and commit to doing one deep conditioning treatment per week. This will allow moisture to penetrate deeply into your hair.
Use Leave-In Conditioners
After you shampoo your hair and use a moisturizing conditioner, use a leave-in conditioner as well. This will help to keep your hair moisturized and reduce static.
Shampoo Less Frequently
Washing your hair tends to dry it out, so shampoo your hair less often during winter. When it starts feeling oily and heavy, spruce it up with some dry shampoo or wear a cute chunky beanie.
Take Cool Showers
We know it sounds tempting to take a long, hot shower on a cold day, but that can dry out your hair and skin. Instead, shower with lukewarm or cool water to retain moisture in your skin and hair.
Use Less Heat Styling Tools
Hairdryers, curling irons, and straighteners create beautiful hairstyles but keep your hair healthier during the winter by limiting your use of heat styling tools. If you are reaching for the hair straightener or similar tools, always remember to use heat protection.
Limit Chemical Treatments to Your Hair
To reduce hair dryness and the risk of breakage, limit the number of chemicals that are applied to your hair. This means cutting back on hair coloring, relaxers, and perms – at least until spring! If you want to switch up your look, visit one of our student salons and spas* at The Studio Academy of Beauty. Our students can skillfully apply high-quality products to your hair so that it looks beautiful with minimal damage!
Don’t Go Outside with Wet Hair
We know that life gets busy around the holidays, but that doesn’t mean you should go outside without drying your hair. If you go outside with wet hair when the weather is cold, it makes your hair color fade more quickly and increases your risk of breakage. It’s just not worth it!
Need Some Help Combatting Dry Hair and Skin this Winter?
If you’ve followed our tips, but your hair and skin still need a little help, come visit one of our student salons and spas. We have three convenient locations in Arizona where our talented student stylists can provide a wide range of services to restore moisture to your hair and skin. Treat yourself to a deep conditioning treatment, an exfoliating facial, or both!
While you’re at the student salon and spa, our students would also be happy to provide you with personalized beauty tips and product recommendations. You’ll leave the student salon and spa feeling healthy, refreshed, and beautiful! Contact us to schedule an appointment today.
*All services provided by students under the supervision of licensed professionals.
