Don't brave the elements - beat them!

The winter season can cause stress on our tresses. If you have clients struggling with their hair at this time of year, then it may be due to the outside elements. When hibernation mode hits, self-care often goes out the window. Our default move is to shove a beanie hat on and grin and bear it.

But, even though the cold weather doesn’t inspire much get up and go, it doesn’t mean that your hair has to feel the brunt of it. Recommending a few extra steps in your client’s hair routine can help prepare for its resurrection as we approach spring. Not only will this give their hair a well needed lift, but it can also give you a better canvas for your styling work. Here are a few issues that might flag up and how to rectify them.

Dry hair doesn’t thrive very well in cold, harsh climates. Central heating isn’t any better. Fluctuating between two harsh temperatures can sap hair of natural moisture, making it dry and brittle. If clients come in saying that their hair feels ‘rough’ or ‘stiff’, a lack of moisture is usually the case.

Recommending rich, moisturising products can quench their hair’s thirst and can prevent further breakage. This can either be in the form of shampoos, conditioners, leave-in treatments and hair oils.

Scalp dryness can also be a problem in the winter due to the same temperature conditions. A lot of people are hesitant to apply conditioners too close to the scalp in order to combat greasy hair. However, their scalps may be in dire need of moisture, which can be the reason for itchiness and dandruff. Something you could recommend is a scalp exfoliation to get rid of the flaky build-up and then a shampoo to balance the scalp’s moisture levels.

As some breakage is unavoidable in the winter, encourage your clients to book regular appointments during winter to get rid of broken ends and prevent further damage. Clients who have their hair highlighted with bleach might be more prone to breakage, as bleach has a tendency dry hair out.

When hair feels unmanageable due to all these factors, it can be tempting to wash your hair more regularly to keep it feeling fresh. However, this is also a reason for dry hair, as natural oils aren’t being preserved. More washing also means more styling. The more heat that is applied, the more damage is being done. Heat protectors are useful products to have at your disposal to provide the utmost protection to your client’s hair.

There are also other environmental factors to consider that aren’t always easy to detect. If dryness isn’t a problem for your clients, then dullness might be. If hair is looking drab and lacklustre, then it could be because of environmental pollution. Not only can this make hair lose its shine and vibrancy, but it can also lead to scalp irritation, hair loss and thinning due to pollutants in the air. You can get rid of contaminant build-up by offering detoxing services and take-home products to keep hair looking healthy.

So, if your client arrives to their appointment feeling exasperated with their hair, try these troubleshooting tips to make sure they look and feel good all year round.