Winter-proof your hairA salon guide to the colder months

There is a moment every November when we notice it in the salon chair. Hair that was glossy and easy all summer starts to feel different: a little rougher at the ends, quicker to frizz, crackling with static the moment a jumper comes off. Nothing has changed in your routine. The season has.

Winter is, quietly, the hardest time of year for hair. The good news is that it doesn't take a complicated regime to see it through. A few thoughtful changes, the kind our stylists at Escape Hair make for their own hair every year, are enough to keep it soft, shiny and strong until spring.

Why winter is so hard on hair

The air is working against you

Cold air holds very little moisture, and central heating dries the air indoors even further. Spending the day moving between the two draws moisture out of the hair, leaving the surface rough and the lengths brittle. That dry, raised surface is exactly what causes frizz, and dry hair holds static far more easily.

More heat, more often

Dark mornings, damp days and a calendar full of parties mean the dryer and straighteners come out more than at any other time of year. Repeated heat without protection leaves hair looking dull and dry, and the ends more likely to split.

Treat your hair like your skin in winter. You wouldn't skip moisturiser in January, so don't skip conditioner and heat protection either.

Hats, scarves and friction

Wool is wonderful for keeping warm, but a woolly hat or scarf rubbing against your hair all day roughs up the surface of each strand. It's why the hair around the crown, neck and shoulders so often feels the driest by February, and why hat hair is so full of static.

That long, hot shower

On a cold morning, a hot shower is one of life's small pleasures. Very hot water, though, strips away the natural oils that keep hair soft and the scalp comfortable.

Five salon rituals for winter hair

1. Never skip heat protection

If you only change one thing this winter, make it this. Mist a heat protector through damp or dry hair every time you reach for the dryer or straighteners. Our Shake and Protect spray pairs heat-protecting silicones with panthenol and wheat protein, so it shields and nourishes at the same time. Give it a good shake first to mix the two layers.

2. Turn the temperature down

Rinse with lukewarm water, finishing with a cooler blast if you're brave. Lower the heat setting on your tools too. Most hair styles beautifully at a lower temperature; it just takes a moment longer.

3. Put moisture back in

Winter is the time to swap to something richer. Our Argan Enriched shampoo and conditioner, made with argan oil and scented with Parma violet, are a lovely cold-weather choice. Concentrate your conditioner on the mid lengths and ends, where hair is oldest and driest, and give it a few minutes before rinsing.

4. Make time for a scalp ritual

Once a week, warm a few drops of our hand-blended Rosemary and Peppermint Hair Oil between your palms and massage it slowly into your scalp. Leave it for half an hour, or overnight, before washing. On other days, a single drop smoothed over the ends tames flyaways in seconds.

5. Choose silk-lined hats

This is the winter secret our stylists swear by. A silk-lined hat lets your hair glide against a smooth lining instead of catching on wool, so you get far less friction, frizz and static, and much less flattened hat hair when you take it off. Pair it with a silky scarf, tuck your lengths inside your coat, and let your hair dry fully before heading out into the cold.

And book a trim. Fresh ends simply look and behave better, and a winter trim keeps dry, split ends from travelling further up the hair.

Here until spring

Every head of hair is different, and the right routine for you depends on your hair type, your colour and how you style it. If you'd like a personal recommendation, pop into Escape Hair in Strensall or send us a message. Our team will happily help you find your perfect winter routine.