Winter Hair Care

Have you ever done strange things as a practice you did not understand why you were doing them? For example, do you pick your purse off the floor the moment you realize your mom always said, “Don‘t put your purse on the floor or else you’ll be broke?” Do you refuse to turn on the air conditioner in your car because someone told you doing so burns more gas? Or do you not wear white after labor day? These are a few things that come to my mind when I think about my family, friends and myself doing things out of habit or because someone told us. 

As it relates to habits, it would be more like routine or rote memory; doing things on auto pilot. The latter, would be, because momma (or an elder) said so. Rather putting your purse on the floor will have money flying out your purse faster than you can spend it or turning off the AC in your car will save on gas or if wearing white after labor day will cause a fashion faux pas; we all are a lil guilty of doing strange things we have no clue because Momma said so or because of something we heard or read. I can say the same about hair care. 

As a hairstylist, I hear strange things about hair care and hair styling. The winter is fast approaching. It is during this time of the year I continue to hear winter weather causes hair to fall out or contributes to damaged hair. 

Most wives tales are turned into beliefs after years or generations of saying them. For many wives tales are not only said, but they are also done. As a hair stylist we hear and see of many wives tales. Winter season is approaching, so are the wives tale about winter and hair. While, I have no idea how they got started, I am interested in putting an end to three popular wives tale. I will identify three wives tales, their culprits and conclude with three solutions. Perhaps these three winter wives tale will be in their last season!

Winter is here. These are the three wives tales I hear the most: winter causes hair to fall out, become dry and compromise hairstyles.

Winter can't make hair fall out, but lifestyle changes can. Cold weather does affect hair, but not drinking enough water will parch hair faster than mercury moving on a thermometer. As for hairstyles not lasting, provided the elements does not physically wet the hair, not combing hair to recreate the look is more responsible than the weather, a hat  scarf or wool coat.

The first solution for a less active lifestyle is to exercise. Exercising promotes blood flow. Blood flow carries vital nutrients to hair; thus making it strong and healthy. During winter months, it is not uncommon to become more sedentary. It is cold outside. People are more apt to simply go home and snuggle with someone or under the blankets after a long day. The decrease in physical activity can influence performance and appearance of hair. 

The solution for dry hair during the winter month is water intake. Drinking plenty of water is crucial to healthy hair. During winter months, warm and tasty cocoas, coffees, teas and fine spirits are the choice of many when it's cold outside and holiday parties are everywhere. An increase in beverages with decrease in consumption of water is common. The lack of drinking plenty of water contributes to hair feeling dry, looking dry, scaly scalps; thus making hair more susceptible to breakage. 

Cold weather, snow and slushy grounds are enough to make the average bear say, "Bah humbug," to caring for hair. The solution to saving a hair style during the winter months is to comb it. Prior to going out into the elements, cover your entire head of hair. Once snow, rain, sleet or slush hit it; the style is over. Second, upon taking your hats, scarves and coats off, comb your hair thoroughly. Fluff, shake and go or running your fingers through your hair are sure to promote dryness. Materials rob hair and scalp of oil. Therefore combing immediately after removing hats, scarves and coats will quickly restore your hair's natural luster. Wear hairstyles that are sleek, simpler or braided. Sleek and braided hairstyles are low maintenance. They also look stylish between work and social functions. 

A decrease in physical activity, water intake and grooming are the culprits to dull, dry hair and scalp during the winter months. When it is cold outside, do go inside. Just remember to keep moving, drink water, comb your hair frequently to prevent hair damage during the winter season. 

Winter is here. As it arrives, sunshine leaves. The nothing to do blues will make you want to snuggle, sleep in and not want to get up and work out. They will entice you to consume one more hot cocoa, one more shot and of course one more hour on the sleep. 

Before you hit the snooze button, take one more drink and run your fingers through your hair, remind yourself to care for your hair. Just because it's cold outside, your hair can still look and feel nice! 

To learn more about hair care, visit www.lwrightbooks.com to order my new book, What They Don't Tell You at the Hair Salon.

Hats Off

The cold weather is actually good for mother earth for many reasons that I am not qualified to explain, but according to weather experts, environmentalists and nature experts; cold weather is essential. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Try telling that to our hair, right?

For just as many people who love cold weather, there are equally as many who do not like it. Particularly, those with hair and skin issues. While cold weather has its many benefits, many people don't like it. Some outright hate it. They blame it on all kinds of things. The most popular thing cold weather gets blamed for is causing the flu. The second most popular thing cold weather gets blamed for is damaging hair. 

My job as a hairstylist is not limited to styling hair. My primary job as a hairstylist is to be an educator. I'm more in the mode of giving correct, up to date information and training people how to do their hair themselves than standing behind the chair and styling it. Women are no longer wanting to look good in the mirror at the salon. They want to look good hours and days later; long after they have left the salon. The best way to assure all of my customers results beyond the chair is to give them accurate information with hands-on training to do their hair themselves. 

So this ndogo blog aims to debunk the myth that cold weather damages hair. A few weeks ago, I was working in the salon. As I walked through greeting everyone hello, a customer asked, "Did you guys switch shampoos? Did the company change the formula of the shampoo? Or perhaps you guys did something different this time compared to the last time?" I responded, "No." 

As a licensed professional, I firmly stand behind the brands of products and the techniques we use to care for scalp and hair because I research these things extensively. I am in a constant state of learning, getting feedback and analyzing. To date, they have been proven and effective. I am serious about the things I choose to use and do to scalp and hair to increase the likelihood of happy satisfied customers. That has been the foundation of my service from day one. To be exact, that is why the name of the salon I work at was named, "Reverence."

Her next response was, "Maybe it's the cold weather? I heard that when the weather changes, so does our hair. Doesn't the cold weather cause our hair to shed? " Again I responded,  "No." The look on her face was pricelessly inquiring!

The truth is, cold weather does not make hair fall out or shed. I know. I know what you're thinking. The cold weather is drying. The cold weather is blowing. The cold weather is blistering. Yes, all of that is true about cold weather from an external and superficial point of view. But let's break things down physically.

According to an extensive study conducted at Oxford University in the UK, cold weather could not possibly cause hair to shed, break and fall out. In fact, their research reflects the opposite. Their research reports, "during the winter months, our body naturally produces more melatonin to help regulate the hair growth cycle and this should, in theory, mean you shed less hair."  I shared my findings with the salon customer. As she set under the dryer with her intense moisturizing scalp and hair treatment, she replied, "Oh my! I see. I've been taking melatonin to help me sleep." I winked my eye and replied, "See you are throwing off the natural growth cycle of your hair by taking extra melatonin. That is causing the excessive hair shedding you don't like. And pulling that wool hat on and off. It's making your hair and scalp do things you can't stand!" She smiled in amazement. 

Those of us who live in colder climates actually need more hair to serve as an insulator of the cold, so our body naturally works in harmony with mother nature to ensure that we can make it through the colder season and the opposite for those who live in hotter climates. While the blistering drying cold air makes us fussy and agitated; it is not solely responsible for hair damage.  So what is?

Turning up the heat in our homes, wearing drying wool hats and not replenishing oil on the hair and scalp are the other culprits to dry and damaged hair during the cold wintry season. The moment the weather turns cold, we turn up the heat on our thermostats. Oxford University reports, "The fluctuating temperatures inside the home affects scalp and hair. Turning up the heat inside your home, then going outside in the cold air is one of the culprits to dry scalps that cause hair to shed excessively.  Skin climatizes. In other words, skin actually adjusts to the varying temperatures that we are in and out of throughout the cold seasons. Women going through night sweats or hot flashes also experience this phenomenon caused by the skin responding to the fluctuating temperatures from the body of going from wet to dry. When you sweat, your scalp becomes moist. When your skin and scalp stops perspiring, dry, scaly scalp can often time happen. 

The report also reflects that, "the environmental changes and not treating your hair and scalp appropriately to counteract the dryness lead to damaged hair. Understand, the scalp is more prone to dehydration with the cold weather and intense indoor heat, which can result in dry scalp and brittle hair. These changes in temperature can really damage your hair and scalp; team them with wearing hats that can cause stress and friction on hair strands and you could be pulling out clumps of hair every time you take your hat on and off"

Wool caps, wool hats, cotton caps are super absorbent and are awesome at keeping the head warm, but notorious for wreaking havoc on our hair and scalp every time we put one on and take it off throughout the day. Fabrics like wool and cotton can be heavy and super absorbent, They pull vital oils away from the hair and scalp. 

Baby, it's too cold outside to not wear a hat. That is true. The solution is to wear hats that have a satin or silk linings on the inside. Satin and silk are not super absorbent. Silk and satin-like fabrics do not create friction that dries hair and promotes shedding and breakage. You could also tie your hair down with a silk or satin scarf under your favorite wool hat.  

Another solution is to turn down the heat in your home and shower. Remember hot homes and hot shower feel great, but the moment you walk out that door; the hair and scalp, like skin, will respond to the climate. Using oils such as olive, grapeseed and sunflower seed oil on the scalp will help alleviate symptoms of dryness as a result of climate change and wearing wool and cotton hats. Taking oils internally help hair and skin equally as applying them. Flaxseed oil, cooking and eating with olive oil are great options to nourish and replenish hair and skin from living in temperature fluctuating environments are great options to offset the dry air. 

Lastly, be sure to use shampoos and conditioners that have moisture-binding agents in them. Be sure the pH levels are between 4.5 -7. Lower pH results in hair that is more supple, much easier to manage and less dryness of the scalp.  Purchase products that are formulated with oils that help protect hair, hair color and the scalp from the drying effects of living in climates that fluctuate as the result of leaving warm spaces and going out into the cold air. 

Paying attention to what you are doing or is not doing to your scalp and hair during the cold season is important. Doing so will help prevent or remedy the things we "believe" the cold weather is responsible for as it relates to our hair and skin....lol 

Put the right hat on. Baby, it's cold outside! 

Seasons No Reason to Change

Seasons

I hear some pretty quirky things as a cosmetologist. As the Fall season approaches, the quirk around the Fall and Winter season affecting hair to the point of hair loss, damage and breakage is a concern to many.

I am not one to belittle my clients concerns when they sit in my chair no matter how quirky I think it is. After all, it is the quirky myths and concerns that my customers share with me that gives me the inspiration to write my blogs. And since this is my blog Ndogo, I am going to cut the quirk and get straight to the point.

So back to the quirky question, "Does the changing seasons affect hair?' The answer is yes. It is true that seasons affect our hair because when the seasons change so does the sunlight, our hormones, eating and levels of activity. While the changing seasons do affect our hair, they do not do so to the point of severe hair loss, damage or breakage. That should remove some of the quirk.

What I like to do with my customers is show a correlation between the varying benefits of a active life style , healthier eating choices, regular bowel movements, water intake, rest and a sound mind that takes place during the warmer months that results in so much hair growth and performance. The change of seasons alone rarely result in significant changes in the overall feel, integrity and performance of your hair. However, when you couple colder seasons with an increase in eating cooked foods, less movement (i.e. exercising, walking, dancing and the likes); hair will immediately become compromised.

Spring is the real new year!

During the Spring time, mother nature has it where everything that was planted during the earlier seasons can come to full fruition in divine order. Therefore, it is not uncommon for us to notice hair grows a tad bit more as the weather warms and the sun shines more. In addition, as the weather warms we have a tendency to eat more raw foods, fresh fruits and vegetables. We also drink more water. When we eat less processed and cooked foods, our bodies benefit more because our bodies are not busy trying to break down all that cooked and heavy foods. In return for eating fresh whole foods and drinking more water; our hair IMMEDIATELY reaps the benefits. 

In conclusion, the seasons do have some affects on the hair and the growth. However, when it comes to buying more products, getting more treatments, hair falling out and hair breaking; those things are actually a result of change in our diet, lifestyle, water intake, sleep and bowel movements that changes as we change when the seasons change. 

Seasons are no reason to change, but most folk do change. It is the changing of the life style when the seasons change that has more of an impact to what you may not like about what is going on with your hair. Many blame the changing seasons, scarves, hats, coats, sweat and so on. It is not. Granted in the cooler months, wearing a light jacket and eating cold watermelon may not be your number one choice on a cold frigid day; but wrapping the collar of your wool coat in plastic and eating a hearty portion of smothered chicken with mashed potatoes, biscuits and lemonade could prove to be quite compromising when it comes to the integrity of your hair and scalp more so than falling temperatures and less sunshine.

As the seasons change make it your business to continue to eat more fresh uncooked foods, drink plenty of water, stay active, have regular bowel movements and keep thinking those happy thoughts. When the seasons change, as they always do; your hair will be just fine!

Do you see what I'm sayin'?