The Beauty Bar Blog

Tag: winter

Tips to Fight Dry Winter Hair and Skin

The falling temperatures, wind, dry heat indoors, and hot showers associated with winter can take a toll on your skin and hair, causing them to appear dull and lifeless. Here are some tips to combat these common winter problems.

To keep your hair moisturized and healthy-looking, use a conditioner with silicone to protect the outer cuticle layer and lock in moisture. Conditioners containing quaternary ammonium compounds, or quats, can help keep your hair soft and silky and prevent flyaways caused by static electricity.

Itchy and flaky scalp can be a result of simple dry skin or dandruff, which is caused by a yeast-like fungus. Try a hydrating shampoo and conditioner for a week. If they don’t help, try an intensive-care product. If that still doesn’t relieve the dryness and flakes, you have dandruff and need a medicated shampoo containing pyrithione to kill the fungus.

During the winter, dehydrated skin cells are replaced less often and build up. Circulation also slows down. These factors can combine to product a dull complexion. You can relieve this by drinking extra water and eating foods full of omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon and nuts. You should also consider taking omega-3 supplements to give your skin an extra boost. Wash your face every day with a milky or creamy cleanser, and then apply a cream or balm, instead of a lotion, to retain more moisture. Choose a brand that contains antioxidants, humectants, and emollients.

Since your arms and legs have fewer oil glands, they tend to dry out more in the winter. Replenish moisture in your skin by taking a warm bath with water and two cups of skim milk. Soak for 15 minutes, pat your skin dry, and then apply a milk-and-honey cream for additional moisture.

Following these daily tips can help you prevent many of the common hair and skin issues that come up during the winter and keep you looking your best.

Expert Tips for Cold-Weather Hair Care

With summer over and cold weather here, your hair will need some extra TLC to stay looking shiny and healthy this fall and winter.

Use a clarifying shampoo or get your hair professionally clarified to get rid of residue from summer styling products. You only need to wash your hair with a regular shampoo every other day. Washing too much removes natural oils from the hair that moisturize the scalp and protect the strands. Deep-condition your hair once a week to protect the ends.

If you blow-dry your hair, keep the heat on the low setting and hold the dryer at least six to eight inches away from your scalp. Use a spray to protect your hair from damage before heat styling, and use tools with a protective coating and an ionic generator to minimize heat damage.

Use quality hair care products, especially those that contain natural botanical extracts, such as rosemary, nettles, and chamomile. Also try those that contain protective oils that repair hair follicles damaged by frequent shampooing and styling. Use an anti-frizz product to prevent unruly hair.

Nutrition is important. Fall foods, such as pumpkin and cranberries, have seeds that yield a pressed oil that is anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory. Those oils protect hair follicles against free-radicals that can cause damage. Grapes are also good anti-oxidants. Oils from pumpkins, cranberries, and red grapes are being used in many hair care products. You should also eat foods high in protein and omega fatty acids, such as salmon, nuts, eggs, and cheese.

It is also important to stay hydrated during the fall and winter to keep your hair strong and shiny. If you don’t like to drink water, try green or herbal tea.

Take a supplement to repair and rejuvenate your hair. Choose one that contains a combination of herbs, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, amino acids, and other nutrients.

If you follow these expert tips, you can keep your tresses looking healthy and radiant all winter long.

Cold Weather Skin Care Tips

With temperatures dropping by the day, you need to take extra care of your skin to prevent dryness, itchiness, and cracking. Here are some helpful tips from WebMD.

Visit an aesthetician or dermatologist at least once. He or she can analyze your skin type and suggest changes to your current skin care regimen, including inexpensive products you can try at home.

Clean your face with a cleansing milk, mild foaming cleanser, alcohol-free toner, or deeply hydrating mask. Using an oil-based moisturizer will help you retain more moisture than you would with a water-based variety. Be sure to choose an oil that won’t clog your pores, such as avocado, mineral, primrose, or almond oil. You can also opt for a lotion containing humectants, substances that attract moisture to the skin.

Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen on your face and hands (if they are going to be exposed) 30 minutes before you go outside. Reapply if you are outside for a long period of time.

Wear gloves to protect the thin skin on your hands from the elements. Avoid wool, or put thin cotton gloves on under wool ones to prevent irritation. Remove wet gloves and socks, which can cause itching, cracking, sores, or a flare-up of eczema.

Use a lotion on your feet that contains petroleum jelly or glycerine. Exfoliate often to remove dead skin and help moisturizers penetrate the skin better.

Place several small humidifiers throughout your home to replace the moisture lost from heating. Avoid long, hot showers or baths, since they can break down the lipid barriers in the skin and cause it to lose moisture. Instead, take shorter showers or baths with warm water. For itchy skin, try a lukewarm bath with oatmeal or baking soda.

If these tips don’t work, seek the advice of a dermatologist. You may need a prescription lotion or other treatment to help you make it through the winter.

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