The holiday season is upon us, folks! While we may not be able to agree if Pumpkin Spice Lattes should be a thing, I think we can all agree that Winter Curly Care tips are certainly a welcomed menu item! Ecoslay to the rescue! In November's blog post, we'll chat about why the cold weather causes our hair to misbehave and and what can be done to make our tresses a bit more manageable this time of year.
So, what's the problem anyway?
Well, you see, when the dewpoint drops below 35 degrees Fahrenheit, your common humectants begin to do more harm than good. They actually pull moisture from your hair, making it drier. This. in turn, causes all those words that keep a curly girl up at night: frizz, flyaways and breakage (Oh My!).
But, Never Fear! Ecoslay is Here!
We've dug up a pretty exhaustive list of tips to help you out over the next few months!
- Incorporate some film-forming humectants into your routine - These type of humectants help to lock in the moisture during the winter months! Some examples are: flaxseed, okra, aloe vera, pectin and xanthan gum. You'll notice that these just happen to be found in our Orange Marmalade, Jello Shot and Banana Cream!
- Make sure that your conditioners contain good fatty alcohols (Cetyl, Stearyl, Cetearyl, Myristyl, Behenyl and Lauryl) to really slather on the nourishment.
- Opt for a heavier cleanser. The same shampoo that weighed you down in the summer time might be just what the doctor ordered in the winter! Consider adding a cleanser like Peppermint Schnapps with nourishing oils into your rotation!
- Deep condition more frequently and for a longer duration. If you're deep conditioning once a week for 30 minutes, you might want to double-up! Try increasing to twice a week or for an hour instead of 30 minutes.
- Turn up the heat! Typically, high porosity curlies can skip the steam treatment or heat cap. However, in the winter, you might want to incorporate it into your routine. And if you're low porosity, don't get lazy on me - be sure to use heat each and every time that you deep condition to ensure that those cuticles get opened up and all that Banana Cream goodness is injected into your lovely strands!
- Use a leave-in! Again, in the summer time, Rice Pudding might've been a bit too heavy for you. But, definitely consider adding it in in the Winter - a little extra moisture goes a long way and a leave-in conditioner is a great way to get a nourishing boost!
- Seal the deal. While you might not need an oil to break your gel cast, you should strongly consider using one to seal in the moisture after your wash day. Oil and water don't mix, right? So, this means that it will help keep that precious moisture from escaping and leaving your strands parched. Give Moonshine or Cayenne Lemon Squeeze a whirl! Moonshine has the added benefit of conjuring up holiday vibes with its scent of Cinnamon, Ginger, Orange and Lemongrass!
- Line 'em up! We all love to bundle up in scarves and hats when it's cold outside but have you considered how damaging those materials might be on your hair? Those rough cottons can damage our cuticles, leaving our hair dry, frizzy and damaged. Luckily, it's pretty easy to find satin-lined hats and scarves (Grace Eleyae's Warm Collection is one of our favorites) or even to make your own!
- Protective Style. One of the great benefits of protective styling is that it keeps your delicate strands shielded from the elements! Also, when you put your hair up into that bun, it helps to lock in moisture that might otherwise escape - talk about your Win Win!
You Still There? :)
Whew! You made it to the end! I hope that these tips will help you weather (get it? weather...) the upcoming temperature changes and keep your curls on 10! Please chime in with any tips that particularly resonated with you or those that you've tried and were a total fail!
XOXO,
Adria
