Caring for your hair and skin takes on added importance as freezing temperatures grip the nation. The cold snap can significantly affect both, prompting experts to offer valuable insights into maintaining health and vibrancy.
Hair
Tyler Moore, a seasoned stylist at Live True London, emphasizes the need for tailored hair care during winter. The combination of harsh winds, dry days, and central heating can lead to brittle hair and dry strands for all hair types.
Moore advises adjusting your hair-washing schedule, as excessive washing strips natural oils, increasing dryness and breakage. Using moisturizing shampoos and conditioners, along with incorporating leave-in conditioners, becomes crucial. For afro hair, a higher level of moisture, including nourishing ingredients like shea butter, is recommended to maintain health and defined curls.
Combatting the dry effects of central heating, Moore suggests investing in a humidifier to reintroduce moisture. Introducing a weekly hair mask, such as the FUL Intense Moisture Hair Mask, can nourish and hydrate, providing essential recovery from any heat damage.
Crucially, Moore highlights the importance of ensuring hair is thoroughly dry before facing the elements, advocating for the use of heat protectants and blow drying during cold snaps.
Skin
Colder weather poses unique challenges for the skin, leading to dryness, irritation, and dullness. Amanda Azzopardi, an aesthetic nurse and founder of Amanda Azzopardi Aesthetics, notes that exposed areas like hands and face are susceptible to chapping and cracking due to harsh elements.
The drop in temperature and humidity makes it challenging for the skin to retain moisture, resulting in itchy, dry skin, and cracked lips. For some, these conditions may trigger issues like xerosis or eczema, characterized by itchy, dry, or reddish patches.
Addressing different skin types, Moore advises individuals to intensify moisture for dry skin, use balanced, non-comedogenic moisturizers for oily skin, and adopt targeted skincare routines for combination skin.
Azzopardi recommends a holistic approach, emphasizing a well-rounded diet with essential nutrients, optimal hydration, and the use of nourishing moisturizers and shampoos to safeguard the skin’s protective barrier.
Kimberley Medd, clinic lead at Face the Future, underscores the importance of humectants and emollients in moisturizers. These ingredients, such as glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and propylene glycol, help absorb water and replace oils in the skin. Medd stresses the significance of checking product ingredients, advocating for SPF use even in cold weather to protect against UV rays and further fortify the skin’s barrier against the cold air.
