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The days are shorter. The temperatures are colder. Winter is coming. But, is your natural hair routine ready for these changes? Here are 9 Winter natural hair care essentials that you will not want to do without this season.
Why is Winter so harsh on natural hair?
There are a couple reason why Winter time is rough for our hair. First of all, the colder temperatures pull moisture out of our hair. Then, inside, the heat creates warm, dry air. Both of these environments are bad for natural hair, but constantly switching between the two is even worse. Combine this with the friction of hats, scarves, and sweaters on our hair, and it is just breakage and dryness galore! And with dry hair comes frizz, breakage, and split ends–a naturalistas biggest enemies. These are all reasons why we need to really take care of our hair and keep it moisturized in the Winter. Are you ready for the first of 9 Winter natural hair care essentials?
Gentle shampoo and co-wash
With the weather already drying out your hair, the last thing you need is a stripping cleanser! A milder shampoo, like the Maui Moisture Curl Quench Shampoo, is nourishing and cleansing, and the ingredients like aloe vera and coconut oil defy frizz. Or, if you’re a co-wash girl, a product like the EDEN BodyWorks Coconut Co Wash is perfect for this time of year. With ingredients like coconut oil, shea butter, and aloe vera, this thick and creamy co-wash will keep your hair hydrated and shiny. What are your favorite gentle cleansers for Winter? Leave them in the comments!
Moisturizing deep conditioner
Deep conditioning is an essential part of any healthy natural hair journey, but is is especially important during the colder months. After shampooing, deep conditioning is what puts moisture back into our strands and repairs damage. (I have an entire post dedicated to the deep conditioning process, which can be found here) During the Winter season, you CANNOT skip deep conditioning! I repeat, DEEP CONDITION EVERY WASH DAY! Skipping this step will ensure that your strands are dry, thus increasing your chances of breakage. It is also important to use thick, creamy, moisturizing deep conditioners in Winter. My favorites for this time of year are the TGIN Honey Miracle Hair Mask and the Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Hair Masque. Both of these deep conditioners are THIIIIIICK, and they are super moisturizing!
Steam
I always love deep conditioning with steam, but during Winter, it is essential! Steam opens the hair cuticles and allows more moisture to penetrate the strands during the deep conditioning process. You can steam with an electric cap, a microwavable cap, or even just a warm towel. If you’ve never deep conditioned with heat, now is the perfect time to incorporate it into your routine!
Creamy/thick leave-ins
If you’re a Type 4 natural like me, you probably usually stick to thick leave-in conditioners anyway, but if not, now is the time to start! As we know by now, retaining moisture is the biggest natural hair challenge this season, so a creamy, moisturizing leave-in conditioner is the way to go. I LOVE the TGIN Butter Cream Daily Moisturizer for this because babyyyyy she is thick and hydrating! A more affordable option is the Texture ID Styling Creme (my favorite natural hair product of all time).
Jamaican Black Castor Oil
I struggle with dry scalp year-round, but it can get really bad in the Winter time. To combat this, I use Jamaican Black Castor Oil (JBCO) on my scalp. This oil is thick, and it locks in moisture really well, especially in protective styles. This is the one I use because it is mixed with peppermint oil. It smells amazing, and it leaves a tingling sensation on my scalp that feels divine. (Side note: if you’re struggling with breakage or thinning edges, JBCO is the solution!)
Diffuser
I love air drying my air in the warmer months, but in Winter, I cannot leave the house with wet hair! (Think icy, stiff, frozen curls) So, a diffuser is another one of my Winter natural hair care essentials. I know a lot of naturals swear against any type of heat during this time of year…but I’m not one of them! Dry those curls, girl! (Link to the diffuser I use, under $20)
Heat protectant
Naturals who straighten their hair know that the cooler months are what we like to call “Silk Press Season”. To maintain the straight hair look, make sure you invest in a quality heat protectant. Silk presses are great for cooler months because they are dry, require less manipulation, and look great under different hats. But, the last thing we want is heat damage. So, if you plan on straightening your hair, make sure you grab a heat protectant.
Protective styles
I do protective styles every couple of months, but Winter is really a great time for protective styles. Why? Your hair is tucked away and not manipulated, cutting down on breakage, friction, manipulation, and moisture loss–it’s protected! My favorite protective styles for Winter are mini twists on my real hair, Marley twists, box braids, and wigs. Whichever protective style you choose, just make sure it’s not too tight and that you’re still taking care of your natural hair underneath the style.
Satin-lined hats
I love hats, berets, and beanies just as much as the next girl, but they can really cause friction and breakage on our natural strands, especially our edges! Luckily, so many businesses make satin-lined hats just for us! If you want to grab one, I would check out Etsy because so many different Black-owned shops make and sell them there. Or, if you’re on a budget, keep your scarf on under your hats. No one’s even gonna know!
What are your Winter natural hair care essentials? Are there any tips we missed? Make sure to leave them in the comment section!
