Fall is finally here and that means it’s time to put away the shorts and start bundling up. With the change in seasons coming, brisk winds, cold temperatures, and snow are all on the horizon for most of us. As the temperatures drop, everything from our skin to our hair will experience the effects. Especially prone to dryness, our hair could use a little extra TLC this fall.
If you need advice on how to keep your hair healthy, look no further. Here are four tips to help you keep your locks lustrous this fall.
Minimize Seasonal Stress
Stress is one of the leading causes of hair loss and when the temperatures lower, stress tends to increase even more for some people. This is also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Feelings of stress, anxiety, sadness, and depression are common in people who experience SAD. These negative emotions not only affect your mental health but aspects like your hair and skin health. Severe mental strain can cause male pattern baldness and alopecia if left unchecked. Make sure you are taking note of your mental state as it gets colder and minimize tension when possible. Channel practices used by spa professionals to help ease your mind while also pampering yourself a little. In addition to creating a spa experience, you can also try activities like meditation and yoga to bring some tranquility to your life
Moisturize and Trim
As stated above, cold weather tends to dry out a person’s strands making it easier for breakage to occur. To reduce some of the damage done by low temperatures, moisturize your hair often. Moisturizing your hair is extremely important as it is what helps prevent breakage and split ends. Hair moisturizers can be found in most department stores and supermarkets. Knowing what kind of hair texture you have will make it easier to determine which product will work best for you. If the damage from the cold weather has already been done, then don’t try to hold onto the damaged ends. It won’t do you any good as holding onto unhealthy strands allows the breakage to extend up the hair shaft, causing even more damage.
Try Hair Treatments
Hair treatments are a great way to quickly rejuvenate your hair. If you are noticing your hair feeling dry or brittle, a hair mask or treatment can help bring much-needed hydration back into your strands. Whereas a hair moisturizer should be used almost daily, hair masks can be used weekly or biweekly as the effects last longer. You can also create a homemade hair mask if you are a do-it-yourself kind of person. Key components like honey and olive oil are great to include in your masks as they provide many benefits to dull, damaged hair. Another avenue you can take if you are not comfortable doing a treatment at home by yourself is going to a spa/salon to have a professional do it for you. Just remember to follow the necessary steps to keep yourself and the staff safe.
Eat Balanced Meals
Did you know that the foods you eat can actually affect your hair? Taking care of your body on the inside first is one of the most important steps in maintaining hair health during the fall. Processed foods and overly sugary snacks don’t provide much nutritional value nor do they have the key ingredients needed to promote healthy hair. Salmon, yogurt, and spinach are three foods that improve overall hair health. Trying to incorporate nutritious foods in your meals may not come naturally for everyone. So implementing these changes does not have to happen right away. Instead, slowly start phasing in the foods you need so you won’t get discouraged and watch your hair start to shine.
Remember, your hair is not the only part of your body that is affected by outdoor elements. Your skin, nails, and overall well-being can be affected by cold weather too. To make sure you’re taking care of your entire body, as well as mental and physical health, consider designing a self-care space for increased wellness.
