THREE STEPS TO WINTER-PROOF YOUR HAIR

We’ve officially entered the realm of 'bad hair season'. Here's how to tackle it, head on...

Every autumn, like clockwork, beauty editors dust off the same old narrative about dry skin. Cue the bone-chilling temperatures, arid central heating and icy winds supposedly wreaking havoc on our faces. And while yes, dry skin exists, let’s be honest: no one but you will notice. Hair, however, is another matter entirely.

Winter is deeply unkind to hair. There’s the frizz-inducing drizzle, the static from overheated rooms, the freezing temperatures and, just for fun, bone-chilling winds. Together, they create the kind of conditions that can undo even the best blow-dry before you’ve reached the end of your street.

In summer, undone hair reads cool and effortlessly beachy. In winter, that same laissez-faire approach simply looks like you’ve lost control of the situation. Winter hair isn’t sexy by accident; it requires effort and strategy. We’re diligent with our serums and creams, yet somehow forget that a few centimetres north lies one of the most visible indicators of how well we’re coping with the weather.

As if we needed confirmation, Met Office Chief Meteorologist Matthew Lehnert has warned that while temperatures may start to rise this January, we can also expect, “heavy and persistent rain, alongside strong, high-speed winds.” Wonderful. At this point, I’d rather be bone-chilling cold.

As we’re officially entering the realms of a Bad Hair Season, here’s how to battle it, whatever your budget or hair type…

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1: WIND-PROOF SPLIT ENDS

Winter winds strip hair of moisture and natural oils, leaving it dry, brittle and prone to breakage. As hydration drops, the hair’s outer cuticle lifts, creating a rough, scale-like surface. When strands rub against each other - or your scarf, coat collar or hat - friction takes over, causing damage that eventually leads to split ends.

Avoid breakage by using products that strengthen hair from within the strand and surround the cuticle to give it more slip. Pay special attention to the underneath section where coats and scarves rub:

-Pantene’s Molecular Bond Repair Leave-In, £7.50 works pre-blow-dry to reinforce and nourish hair at a molecular level, smoothing frizz, sealing split ends, and leaving hair stronger and more resilient without weighing it down. Think of it as a cold-weather insurance policy for your hair.

- Redken’s Extreme Anti-Snap Leave-In Treatment, £23*, floods broken hair with a blend of reparative ceramides and lipids to reduce friction.

-Pureology Hydrate Shampoo, £24* is sulfate-free and colour-safe packed with rich hydration, like a cashmere wrap for winter hair. Or try OGX Argan Oil Shampoo, £7, which delivers the kind of softness and manageability you’d normally expect from a much pricier shampoo.

-Curly hair is more susceptible to breakage. Boucleme Curl Cleanser, £17*, is formulated with argan and virgin coconut oils to moisturise the hair cuticle.

2: FEND OFF FRIZZ-FORMING DRIZZLE

Across the UK, January brings some of the highest outdoor humidity levels of the year, hovering around 85–89%. Hair is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs moisture from the air. As water molecules in the air soften the hydrogen bonds responsible for hair’s elasticity, all bets are off. Styled hair begins to unravel, tonged curls drop, and painstakingly straightened lengths puff and fray. In short, humidity doesn’t just ruin your hair, it actively undoes your efforts causing flyaways, frizz and a general loss of control.

- Kérastase Première Repairing Anti-Frizz Filler Heat Protecting Hair Serum for Damaged Hair, £45*, not only acts as a heat protector and stops flyaways, but the peptide and amino acid blend also targets the hair’s internal structure, rebuilding from within, leaving your hair looking plump and hydrated. For a more purse-friendly alternative, while L’Oréal Paris Elvive Bond Repair Leave-in Serum, £16.99, may not contain the peptide blend that rebuilds strands from the inside, it helps shield hair, smoothing and coating it against the elements.

-If you have fine hair, switch serums for a lighter humidity slaying spray like Color Wow Dreamcoat, £23* which was developed in a simulated rain-like atmosphere.

- For coarse, thick hair that swallows product, Moroccanoil Blowdry Concentrate, £18.35*, will wrap itself around hair stopping moisture from penetrating the hair fibre.

3: BATTLE STATIC AIR

You might think you’re dodging a bad hair day by hibernating indoors, but think again. Central heating creates a dry atmosphere; the lack of water vapour in the air causes a build-up of micro electric charges, meaning the fibres repel each other, and hair looks static. Look for replenishing products and treatments that stave off dryness. Oils are perfect.

PS: Wool is a prolific generator of static electricity, turning jumpers, scarves and coats into silent saboteurs. Consider this the perfect excuse to invest in cashmere instead ;)

- Keeping hair moisturised is the only way to tackle static. John Frieda Weightless Wonder Shampoo, £6.99, offers hydration without the heaviness, feeding hair exactly what it needs without ever weighing it down. Good for winter hair that feels dry but collapses easily.

- Think of Chāmpo’s Perfecting Cream, £28 as central heating defence in cream form, delivering targeted moisture without weight, smoothing the cuticle to reduce static and frizz while keeping hairs shape and polish. Like a winter hair insurance policy. I mix mine in the palm of my hand with a drop of Beauty Pie Hair Elixir, £15, but use whatever hair oil you have.