How to care for your hair during the winter

Colder months are a welcome break from the sweltering heat of summer and unbearably high humidity of monsoons. However, winter brings along its own set of troubles for your hair. Here are some tips that will help your haircare routine during the winter.

• Reduce the frequency of heat-induced styling: When the temperature dips, the dry weather makes matters worse for your hair, especially when you use heat-induced styling tools like a blow-dryer or flat iron regularly. We are not asking you to brave the cold with wet hair after a wash. Instead, blast-dry hair or use a generous dose of heat-protecting products before you use that iron on blow-dryer to avoid dry, dull, and brittle hair.

• Use a nourishing shampoo: During winter, most witness a rise in hair fall. This has a lot to do with hydration. Lower temperatures draw the moisture out and leave hair feeling brittle and susceptible to breakage. But what’s worse, they may cause a dry scalp, which can prohibit the re-growth of healthy hair. Nobody likes the feeling of stripped strands after shampooing, and the makers of Indulekha Bringha Anti Hair Fall Shampoo know it. More than a shampoo, it’s actually an Ayurvedic medicine for hair fall. The great thing about Ayurveda is that it not only prescribes the importance of herbs, but also the ways they must be extracted and incorporated. The Indulekha Bringha Anti Hair Fall Shampoo is loaded with seven herbs such as—Bringharaj, Neem, Tulsi, Shikakai, Amla, Madhyantika, and Rosemary. Wash your hair thrice a week after massaging it onto your scalp to reduce hair fall and for overall hair health. It has no added artificial colour or fragrance. It is also paraben-free and can be used by those with chemically-treated (permed, coloured, or straightened) hair.

• Conditioners apply: A monthly or fortnightly in-salon deep conditioning treatment makes sure your hair is in pristine condition during winter. If you have unruly curls, or extremely frizzy or dry hair, a leave-in conditioner will help a great deal in keeping your mane in check.

• Something little extra: Apple Cider Vinegar is the best friend your hair needs during colder months. The acidic pH of apple cider vinegar is said to regulate hair back to the ideal operating pH, which is often upset by harsh haircare products and chemical-laden styling products. This magic potion also acts as a clarifying solution for the scalp, without disturbing its naturally occurring hair oils. After washing your hair with a shampoo, dilute a few spoonfuls of apple cider vinegar with water and rinse your hair using it. Then, wash off with room-temperature water.

• At-home honey and coconut oil mask: Winter can be harsh on the scalp as well. This winter hair mask will work wonders not only on your scalp, but on your hair as well. Moisturise your hair from the scalp to the ends with a spoonful of honey. Make sure to add a few drops of virgin coconut oil to two spoons of honey to do away with the stickiness. Coat your scalp and strands thoroughly with this diluted mixture, and rinse it off after 20 minutes. The antiseptic and antibacterial properties lend a second layer of defence against dandruff, dermatitis, psoriasis, and other scalp conditions. Parched strands will also get a new lease of life and nourishment.