5 Ways To Upgrade Your Winter Hair Care Routine

As the seasons change so does your skin — and hair. In winter, the lack of moisture in the air — coupled with aggressive central heat and harsh elements like wind — can all leave hair dry, brittle, and full of static. Moreover, it can contribute to an itchy irritated scalp, as well as more fallout than usual. Hair fall — not to be confused with hair loss, which is more than 100 strands being lost from the root per day — can be caused by a variety of factors including hormones and pregnancy, repeated brushing, and excessive heat styling. But it’s the intense dryness brought on by the cold climate change that results in a weakened root and hair breakage, and in turn, more fallout. *Believe it or not, 88 percent of women experience hair fall, with 40 percent of women being under the age of 35. So if you’ve been noticing more fallout than you’re accustomed to, just know you’re not alone.

To address the issue, Kérastase created its Genesis line, which is specifically designed to treat hair fall due to breakage and a weakened root by strengthening the hair fibre — regardless of what hair texture or level of thickness you have. With insight from a panel of multi-disciplinary experts, the collection is capable of reducing hair fall by a whopping 84 percent. Ahead, find five ways to do that with the products:

Wash and condition

While Bain Nutri-Fortifant is best for medium to thick hair, Bain Hydra-Fortifant is most ideal for fine and greasy hair — however, both clarify and reinforce the hair fibre with a combination of powerhouse ingredients. This includes edelweiss native cells, which help resist extreme conditions, as well as ginger root, an antioxidant that protects against daily environmental aggressors to help decrease the chances of hair fall.

Add a treatment

After shampooing, follow up with Fondant renforçateur — an ultra-fortifying conditioner designed for finer strands that helps strengthen hair with every use. If your hair is on the thicker end of the spectrum, go for the luxe Masque Reconstituant, which is ultra-rich and works to deeply nourish and fortify damaged zones of the hair fibre. The next-gen formula smooths and softens the fibre — making it uniform, shiny, and stronger. Alternately, the Anti-Breakage Fortifying Treatment Ampoules can be used during peaks of hair fall. When used daily for about six weeks, the jelly-like formula re-anchors the hair follicle into the scalp and provides an optimal environment for future growth.

Protect your assets

If using a blow dryer or hot tools, then using Défense Thermique on damp hair is non-negotiable. The milky formula is enriched with edelweiss native cells and ginger root, which intensely hydrates while reinforcing and protecting the hair from heat up to 220 degrees Celcius. Yet another way to hold on to what you’ve got is with Anti-Breakage Fortifying Serum, a powerful elixir that improves hair resilience using a blend of caffeine and arginine. Simply apply it directly to the scalp when your hair is still damp.

Lower the temperature

Tempting though it may be, shampooing with water that’s too hot will only zap the moisture further from hair, making it more brittle and prone to breakage. Instead, opt for lukewarm water and rinse with cool H20 (yes, we know it’s winter, but just trust us).

Avoid going outside with wet hair

While excessive blow-drying and styling can definitely lead to breakage, you still shouldn't venture outdoors with soaking wet hair, which is far more vulnerable than dry strands are. What’s worse, your hair could freeze and break. So if you are going out with damp or wet hair, be sure to stick it under a hat or scarf for protection.

Source: *LOréal R&I Quantitative Study. 2016. 9 countries : US/FR/GER/ITA/BRAZ/RUS/ARA