While winter is often a time of great joy that sees the build up to Thanksgiving and Christmas, extra time with family friends and nostalgic snowball fights. It is typically a time where temperatures plummet, humidity drops and our hair begins to face a unique set of challenges. From the drying effects of indoor heating to the damage caused by harsh winds, winter can wreak havoc on our precious locks. But there is a way to get your hair looking shiny and new.
 "Love the Rosemary Mint Shampoo! My hair feels fuller and healthier. Even my scalp feels better!" - Tina A. |
What Impact Does Winter Weather Have on Your Hair?
During winter, youāll typically find that the contrast in exposure between drier air and colder temperatures and the intensity of dry indoor heating can severely impact hair. This harshness can lead to a variety of issues.
- Dryness & Brittleness: Cold, dry air outside, combined with dry, heated air indoors, strips hair of its natural moisture. This results in dry, brittle strands that are prone to breakage and split ends.
- Scalp Dryness: The scalp also loses moisture in winter, leading to dryness, itchiness, and flakiness. This can exacerbate conditions like dandruff.
- Hair Breakage: Wintertime can significantly increase the already natural occurrence of hair breakage. Dry, brittle hair is more susceptible to breakage. Friction from winter clothing, like hats and scarves, can also contribute towards the damage.
- Static Electricity: Dry winter air increases static electricity resulting in frizzy and difficult to manage hair.
- Reduced Hair Growth: Reduced blood flow to the scalp, and also a vitamin D deficiency which is a typical side effect of winter months can contribute towards slower hair growth.
- Hair Shedding: Typically you would expect hair shedding to be a by-product of the summer sun; as we see with our pets. It is actually a seasonal thing for us humans too. Seasonal shedding is real. Dry conditions can lead to more hair shedding than usual.
The lack of moisture in the air is the primary culprit leading to a cascade of negative effects on hair health.
 "Your Tea Tree oil shampoo bar is a game changer for me. After decades of trying everything, I've finally found the one thing that gets rid of my scalp itch." - Dara N. |
How Does Your Diet Impact the Health of Your Hair?
Diet can significantly impact your hair health. Certain nutrients can drive hair growth, while a lack of nutrients can lead to hair loss.
Healthy hair growth relies on a balanced intake of various nutrients. Some of the key dietary considerations for your hair are:
- Protein: Hair is primarily made of keratin, a protein. Adequate protein intake is crucial for strong and healthy hair. You can get proteins from lean meats, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, beans and nuts.
- Iron: Iron deficiency can lead to hair loss. Iron helps red blood cells carry oxygen to hair follicles. You can get iron from foods like spinach, lentils, cereals and red meat..
- Zinc: Zinc plays a key role in hair tissue growth and repair. It also helps maintain the oil glands around the hair follicles which enables your hair to shine. You can get zinc from food products such as pumpkin seeds, nuts, beef, and oysters.
- Vitamin B: Biotin, B12, B6 and Folate are all essential vitamins for hair health. These vitamins are essential to keratin and red blood cell production which are key for hair growth. You can find B vitamins in whole grains, leafy greens, meat, fish and various dairy products.
- Vitamin C: Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps produce collagen, a protein that strengthens hair. It also aids in iron absorption. Found in various citrus fruits, garden berries and health-packed vegetables such as bell peppers and chillis; Vitamin C is good for more than just your hair.
- Vitamin D: A key role-player in hair follicle stimulation, Vitamin D is a powerhouse for hair growth. You can find Vitamin D in fortified foods and fatty fish products as well as natural absorption from sunlight.
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids: These healthy fats nourish hair follicles and promote a healthy and moisturized scalp. Found in fatty fish such as salmon and mackerel, flaxseeds, and walnuts.
How Does Your Shampoo Choice Impact the Health of Your Hair?
Your choice of shampoo can make a massive difference to the health of your hair; and not just your hair, but also your skin. You should carefully consider the ingredients when choosing a healthy shampoo for your hair and scalp.
 "I am 58 and have had scalp issues for most of my life - dermatitis and folliculitis. Goat Milk Stuff shampoos are healing my scalp and are the only shampoos that do not make my scalp itch. I use the Unscented Shampoo soap usually with an acv scalp rinse" - Maria N. |
Here are a list of things that you should watch out for when buying shampoos:
- Sulfates: Many shampoos contain sulfates, such as SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate), which are strong detergents. While these sulfates create a satisfying lather, they are also guilty of stripping your hair and scalp of natural oils. This can lead to dryness, brittleness and irritation especially if you suffer from sensitive skin and scalp or skin dryness.
- pH Balance: The pH of your shampoo can affect your scalp's balance. Ideally, your scalp's pH should be very slightly acidic; but shampoos with a high pH can disrupt this chemical balance and cause dryness, irritation and even dandruff.
- Fragrances & Preservatives: Some shampoos are packed with fragrances, dyes and preservatives which although they may smell nice when squeezed from the bottle, they can take away your scalps natural oils and moisture causing redness and itchiness.
It is also important to consider that your shampoo should be selected based on your hair type. For example, people with naturally oily hair may benefit from shampoos that effectively remove excess oil, whereas people with naturally drier hair will need shampoos that offer moisturizing properties to aid with hydration.
 "Since I wash my hair every day while showering, regular shampoo dries my hair out. Since using the Almond goat milk shampoo, my hair has softened and the sheen returned. I especially like it since I no longer have a dry scalp." - Linda C. |
If you have color-treated hair, you should also make sure that you utilize shampoos that are specifically formulated to protect color and prevent fading.
Does Winter Weather Affect Curly Hair Differently than Straight Hair?
Winter weather does impact curly hair and straight hair differently. People with naturally curly hair will experience dried out hair much faster than people with straight hair, which leaves curly hair more susceptible to frizzing due to static electricity in the air. So it is important for people with naturally curly hair to introduce more moisturizing properties to their haircare routine to help avoid excessive hair breakage.
 "It (Rosemary Mint) is an excellent shampoo. My hair and scalp was clean with no build up. I let my hair air dry. I have wavy/curly hair. It dried without any frizz and the curls stayed in place which is highly unusual with my hair. I will no longer have to use products in my hair for frizz, volume or shine. Those problems are solved with the goats milk shampoo barā¦.pure shampoo with no chemicals." - Diane M. |
8 Tips for Healthy Winter Hair
With all of the above considered, here are our top 8 tips for keeping your hair healthy in winter:
- Avoid heat styling. As lovely as it is to blow out and straighten your hair, heat styling rather than air drying can be damaging to your hair, especially with the extra implications of cold wintry weather.
- Donāt take your wet hair outside. Avoid going outside with wet hair, as this can lead to significant damage to your hair. Make sure your haircare routine is complete before stepping out the door.
- Trim regularly. When finances and time allow, try to go for regular trims as the dry and cold air can cause breakage and split ends, which can be lessened with hairdresser appointments.
- Hydrate your hair. Hydrate your hair as much as possible. Moisturizing your hair during winter is one of the best ways to look after your hair. A great way to hydrate your hair and scalp is with a natural shampoo.
- Condition your hair. If you feel it is necessary after using a natural shampoo, using a good conditioner can really add a lot of much needed moisture into your hair, and it can help give your hair a glossy sheen in even the harshest of winter winds.
- Add extra oils. Your hair and scalp naturally produce necessary oils that help keep your hair from going brittle. But when winter comes, your natural bodily reaction may not be enough, so adding extra oils through application and through your diet may help.
- Use a humidifier. You can fight not just hair dryness but skin dryness too by using a humidifier overnight while you sleep. Using a humidifier will release water vapor into the air which can take the harshness away from winter dryness.
- Wear a hat. Whether you are stepping out into a full blizzard, or just a dry cold snap; it is always great physical and chemical protection for your hair if you cover it up and wear some form of hat or head gear. Covering your hair and scalp can help prevent your scalp from drying out and flaking.
 "I absolutely LOVE this OMH shampoo bar. It lathers well and rinses clean and quickly. My hair feels soft and not weighed down at all. I will be back for more!" - Diana C. |
Which Goat Milk Stuff Products Offer Winter Hair Protection?
As weāve established over years of torturing our hair, winter can be tough for our hair health. However using natural hair care products during winter can keep your hair in good health.
 "I had never tried a shampoo bar and was skeptical about ordering. However I gave it (Lavender Shampoo) a try and absolutely love it. My hair feels so light and clean." - Sheryl T. |
Natural shampoos are formulated with moisturizing ingredients to help keep your hair hydrated in the winter; and we have an amazing selection of natural shampoo bars that are packed with goat milk among other natural ingredients. Some of our favorite shampoo bars are: Unscented, Tea Tree, Lavender and Almond.