While the holidays are often a time for casual gatherings with close friends and family, they are also a time where there are a lot of formal events, dinner parties and all those special activities that require you to look your very best.
The Holiday Hair Cycle
Unfortunately, this high demand for socializing over the holiday season can result in overstyling and damage to your hair. You tend to use the flat iron, the blow dryer and the curling iron more frequently, plus the use of hair products tends to increase dramatically. These products can include styling gels, foams, sprays and even sculpting waxes cause build-up on the individual hair shafts creating a lifeless, limp look.
To get away from this, most people turn to shampoos that are designed to strip these products from the hair. However, not only do they strip the product buildup, but they also remove the natural protective oils.
Even using quality conditioners cannot replace these natural oils once they are rinsed down the drain. While they do have some short term benefits, they may result in an oily or almost matte look. This, in turn, removes even more body and shine from the hair, creating a need for more products. In just a very short period of time, a vicious cycle starts and becomes a disaster for a healthy head of hair.
To help your hair survive the holiday season, here are five very important tips that will make you feel great about your look while minimizing the risk of damage. The more of these you can incorporate the better the results.
#1: Wash When Needed
Depending on the natural oils in the hair and scalp, washing your hair may not need to be a daily routine. For those with oily hair, washing daily is often required. Carefully choose your shampoo and conditioner to use the brand and the product that is most effective for your hair type.
Those with dry hair and scalp or those living in very dry conditions, including if the air in your home or office is dry in the winter, wash every other day or as needed. Moisturizing shampoos, conditioners and scalp treatments will be a must in these conditions. Ideally, after you are out of the shower or the tub, be sure to comb through a protective product that helps to provide long-term moisture to the hair and scalp.
#2: Eat a Healthy Diet
Over the holiday season, it is easy to fall into unhealthy eating habits by snacking, nibbling and catching meals where you can. Instead, think carefully about how your food provides the nutrients for the body, including your scalp and hair.
Plan to include lean meats for protein, leafy dark green vegetables and fresh fruit for a healthy menu plan that benefits your hair. Remember that zinc, iron and Omega-3 fatty acids are also important for hair health and growth.
#3: Limit Product Use
A very common styling mistake that anyone can make is to assume that more of a good thing is always better. In reality, at least when it comes to styling products, using the minimal amount to create the style you want is always the best.
Another important tip is to purchase quality hair products from shampoos and conditioners through to styling products. They will cost a bit more, but they will be much gentler and safer for your hair all year round.
#4: Avoid Styling with Dry Air or Direct Heat
Whenever possible, plan to wash, dry and style your hair before the last minute. This gives you time to skip the blow dryer and allow the hair to simply air dry, reducing the drying effects of even the warm air setting.
For those needing curls, consider investing in a quality set of steam rollers. They use the moisture and gentle heat to create the curl without the damage of hot rollers. If you do need to use direct heat products such as flat irons, curling irons or hot rollers, always use a heat-protectant spray on your hair.
#5: Avoid Tanning Beds
If you are thinking about popping into the tanning salon to get that golden glow for the holidays, don't use a tanning bed that exposes your hair to UV light. Hair exposed to UV light in these beds can become dry and brittle. It can also very quickly change the shade of colored or highlighted hair. This typically results in a lighter or a more bleached look that is not always flattering for all color options.
When in doubt, talk to a hair professional stylist about your hair care routine over the holidays. Choose quality products and find ways to take care of your hair over this busy season.
Contact the hair specialists at Unique Hair Concepts to learn more.
