A steaming cup of coffee, munching nuts, sitting in front of fireplace and watching your favourite show while snuggled in a blanket is a typical way to enjoy. At the same time winter has a downside — dryness in the air that leaves the skin and hair dehydrated; the hair often become dry, porous and weak. Beautiful, strong and shiny hair is an asset and is an important part of a woman’s personality and beauty. That’s why hair demands proper care to keep it clean, shiny and healthy. Most of the time hair problems are caused by our negligence; so proper care according to the weather could do away with wether-triggered issues.

There’s no need to wash your hair daily in winter as there is less sweating in the hair. Use a mild shampoo specifically formulated for winter care and always use lukewarm water since hot water is harmful for hair, drying it even more. Conditioning is a must in winter as it provides nutrients and smoothens the cuticle. Make a perfect conditioner at home by combining one tablespoon honey, one egg yolk, half tablespoon almond oil and half tablespoon yogurt. Apply this paste on hair for 20 minutes and then rinse off with normal water. This is the best conditioner for recovering lost moisture and lustre in hair.

Warm oil massage is a vital part of hair care regimen in winter. Dry and cold winds make the scalp itchy, while hair becomes brittle and breaks easily. Massage your scalp on a regular basis with warm olive oil or coconut oil. Massage in a circular motion, cover your head with a warm damp towel and leave for half an hour. The steam allows oil penetration in the hair shaft, resulting in softer, more manageable hair. Repeat twice a week.

Dry weather not only affects your skin but your hair too; hair care in winter is as important as skin care

A regular trim is a great idea to keep hair in good health while cutting off the dry split ends once a month will take care of frizzy and flyaway tresses.

Make it a habit to using moisturising hair mask once a week. Blend together one banana, one-fourth cup milk or yoghurt and three tablespoons almond oil. Apply the paste on hair and leave it for 15 minutes, then shampoo. This mask will give your hair a gorgeous look.

Dandruff is a big problem in winter days, for which home remedies are best. To treat dandruff, take five tablespoons of aloe vera gel and apply on hair scalp. Wash after half hour using a mild shampoo. Repeat once a week until dandruff totally disappears.

As hair gets frizzy on cold days, avoid using heat on hair; if necessary make sure to protect hair with heat protecting serum, gel or spray.

Eating habits also matter if you want strong and shiny locks. Hair is made of protein, so a rich protein diet is what you need. Focus on food rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin C, iron and Omega 3. Eat oranges, papaya, strawberries, apples, bananas, cheese, milk, egg, fish, chicken, dry nuts, spinach and other green leafy vegetables, which are all good for hair.

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, December 20th, 2015