For those of us attending hairstyling schools in Ontario or living somewhere north of the 49th parallel, winter is an annual – and unavoidable – fact of life. It’s also a very beautiful time of year. Who doesn’t marvel at the beauty of a single snowflake or enjoy a walk or a ski down a freshly snow-covered path?
But, let’s face it – our hair probably isn’t all too happy with the change of temperature. Winter may be the season of hot chocolate, fireplaces and Frosty the Snowman, but Frosty never had to deal with split ends, dry hair or the dreaded hat head.
Whether you have a sleek short cut, an experimental style inspired by the latest trends in hairstyling training or long, flowing hair – you need to protect it more than usual. Instead of braving the ice and rushing to the nearest pharmacy, check out these easy home treatments for winter hair and scalp.
Food for Your Follicles
Some of the best home hair care products can be found right in your kitchen. Here are some combos you should try:
- Avocado, extra virgin olive oil and honey: Apply this mixture to dry hair and cover for 30 minutes. Make sure you only use two tablespoons of the olive oil and one teaspoon of honey per avocado. Wash, shampoo and condition thoroughly afterwards.
- Lemon juice, olive oil and water: Just mix two tablespoons of each together and apply for 20 minutes before rinsing and shampooing. This moisturises the scalp and gets rid of flakes, so it’s perfect for a dry, itchy scalp.
- Egg yolk, olive oil and water: Shampoo first, and while your hair is still damp, apply a mixture of two egg yolks, 1/8th cup of water, and two tablespoons of olive oil. Let stand 15 minutes before rinsing with warm water. The protein in the eggs gives your hair more body to help fight flat, dry winter static.
Add a Little Mayo
What do you get when you combine two known natural hair remedies (eggs and oil) with a third (vinegar)? The answer can be found in most tuna salad sandwiches and right next to a plate of fries! We’re talking about mayonnaise.
Mayo is also a great homemade hair treatment because it’s a disinfectant and moisturizer all rolled into one gooey formula. The idea of smoothing a clump of mayo into your hair may not sound terribly appealing, but it does do wonders for the kind of dryness Canadian girls face for a good six months straight.
A half a cup will do the trick. Make sure you really massage it in well, cover your hair for 15 minutes, and then shampoo thoroughly.
Suds to the Rescue
You may prefer wine or enjoy a cocktail from time to time – but head’s up! Your hair loves beer. This might not be a remedy you’ll learn about in hairdressing school, but the yeast in beer really does make it an excellent conditioner.
You can mix flat beer with one tablespoon of canola oil and a raw egg, or with two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. Let the beer soak in for 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water and shampoo. Of course this remedy applies only to hair gurus who are of age!
What unique home hair remedies have you tried?
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