Does your hair have SAD? How to look after your hair in winter

Lacklustre, frazzled and flat. And that’s just your hair. Winter’s long, dark nights often seem to signal a perceptible shift in our hair’s joie de vivre. The question is, why? ‘Seasonal fluctuations in weather, diet and metabolism often impact the hair,’ says Anabel Kingsley, trichologist at Philip Kingsley, who adds that winter can be particularly tough on our follicles. ‘When you step from the cold outdoors into centrally heated buildings, the moisture content in the air changes,’ she explains. ‘This causes the protein bonds within the hair to expand and contract, which messes up whatever hairstyle you left the house with in the morning – and this can happen numerous times throughout the day depending on how often you go outside.’ So how can we put some swish back in?

‘As a general rule, the better care you take of yourself, the happier your hair will be,’ says Anabel. ‘A healthy, balanced diet will, without a doubt, encourage healthy hair growth. To ensure your hair is getting the protein it needs to grow, eat a palm-sized portion of protein at breakfast and lunch. Great examples are fish, eggs, lean meat, low-fat cottage cheese, quinoa, seitan and pulses.’ A dietary supplement can be a good addition to a healthy balanced diet, too.

Colour has the ability to give our hair a much-needed lift, but it can also leave it feeling frazzled, especially post summer. ‘My best advice to clients is to avoid bleach after the summer,’ says Sally Northwood, senior colourist at George Northwood. ‘Instead, I love using glossing treatments to refresh my client’s colour. On brunettes, a dark chocolate gloss can be applied to the root area with more of a toffee gloss on the ends. For blondes, I focus on soft caramel hues that give a rich, shiny finish.’

Sally adds that in order to keep coloured hair in tip top condition and preserve your new hue always opt for shampoos and conditioners specifically designed to care for coloured hair.

According to Anabel, winter can spell trouble for those who are prone to dandruff and celebratory favourites such as champagne or cold weather comfort foods such as cheese can intensify symptoms. ‘Sufferers often find their condition triggered, as these foods can exacerbate itching and flaking,’ she says.

So how do you look after your scalp if you can’t resist an apres ski indulgence? ‘Use daily toners and shampoos that soothe the scalp and calm any irritation as well as a weekly exfoliating scalp mask to lift away flakes and any accumulation of dead skin cells,’ she advises.

‘Hair can be left dry, brittle, dull and prone to split ends after the summer,’ says Anabel. ‘This is then compounded by cold weather and central heating, as the same things that dry out the skin on your face also dry out the scalp.’

‘A hydrating mask will help the hair to recover from the stress of sun, sea and chlorinated water,’ says Sally, who advises applying one at least twice a week for 10 minutes. ‘This is the time to give your hair some much-needed rehab.’ 

Main image: Getty Images