Pollution can cause more hair damage in winters compared to other months. So, you need to up your hair game and revise your hair care regime accordingly. Today, we’ll be sharing tips and detailed hair regime that will protect your hair from pollution this winter.
How Does Pollution Damage Hair In Winter?
Our hair are in a very fragile state in winters due to constant contact with chilly winds. The dryness is one of the major reasons your hair gets more damaged due to pollution in winter compared to other seasons.
- Pollutants like dirt, dust, smog contains chemicals that weaken your hair shafts and steal away whatever natural moisture they hold. This is one of the main reasons behind triggered hair loss, hair breakage and split-ends in winters.
- Pollutants also have a tendency to leave a layer of build-up on your scalp and fragile manes leading to dry scalp, itchy scalp, scalp irritation, dandruff, clogged pores, hair breakage, fading of your hair color and impacting your natural hair growth cycle.
- You can read more about impact of pollution on hair health in these scientific studies: Study conducted on August 2019 and another study conducted in April 2024 by Tara Samra, Rachel R Lin And Andrea D. Maderal.
How To Protect Your Hair From Pollution In Winters?
To prevent hair damage and protect your hair from pollution this winter, you need to change your hair care regime.
- Start by using a clarifying shampoo that will help remove product build-up from your scalp and hair shafts. Look for ingredients like vitamin C, vitamin E, green tea extracts, activated charcoal, bentonite clay, keratin, along with hydrating ingredients like argan oil, shea butter, hylaronic acid, or aloe vera as it would not not help with deep cleansing and removing pollutant’s build-up but would also keep your hair moisturized while doing its job.
- Don’t skip hair conditioners. Hair conditioners and leave-ins help to keep your hair hydrated for long which in turn protects your hair from being more susceptible to pollution and its harmful effects. Just make sure you opt for a conditioner that has nourishing ingredients like argan oil, shea butter, honey, aloe vera, hylaronic acid and it is free of silicones.
- Do hot oil treatment once a week. When you apply warm oil on your hair and scalp, follow up with couple minutes of scalp massage and little hair steaming before washing your hair won’t protect your hair from pollution in the long run.
- Opt for hydrating hair masks, protein treatments or hair spa once a month to improve your hair health.
- Go for more protective styles while stepping out and if possible cover your hair with scarf or hat to protect them.
- Keep your hair washing frequency to a minimum and wash your hair with room temperature water rather than hot water no matter how much you are tempted.
- Increase protein and biotin rich food in your diet like eggs, legumes, pulses, green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, flax seeds, fish and carrots as they will strengthen your hair from within.
These tips are easy to follow and will go a long way to protect your hair from pollution. Do share any tips you have that would help others.
