Should I Change My Spring Haircare Routine?
The blossom's out, the birds are tweeting, and we're even getting the odd semi-warm day here and there. Yep, spring is officially on us, and about time, too.
It's no secret that winter temperatures, icy cold winds and the occasional sleet storm don't make for the kindest hair experiences, and spring is all about re-nourishing your locks and getting things back to maximum health. With the spring sun comes additional hair protection, too, so don't be afraid of slightly switching up your hair care routine to cater for this.
If you want to know how you can bring your hair back to its pre-winter glory, whilst helping it to adjust to the new season, read on below for inspiration.
The Spring Trim
The cold winter temperatures can often cause a decrease of moisture, leaving your hair on the dry side. Without enough moisture, hair will struggle to retain its elasticity, and there's a good chance your ends will snap and break easily.
It usually only takes a post-winter trim to get your hair looking thick, neat and healthy once more. Ask your hairdresser to cut off the bottom two or three inches of your hair, which tend to suffer the most damage from dryness, and you'll be good to go again.
Brightening Things Up
If you live in the UK, your winters most likely consist of mainly clouds, and very little sun. Our hair needs sunlight to stay healthy and strong, and without it, colour can become dull.
If you're looking to boost your shine, spring time is the best occasion to liven up your colour with a dye job- a balayage is a great sunny shade that's ideal for the warmer season.
The Essential Hair Mask
After all that winter dryness, your hair is likely in high need of a decent moisturising hair mask. Hair masks are very effective in conditioning hair, giving it shine, and leaving it clean and strengthened.
There are plenty of high-quality hair masks available to buy from the popular drug stores, but it's easy to make your own, too. Common cupboard ingredients that make great hair masks are coconut oil, eggs, avocado, honey, bananas, and apple cider vinegar. While we feel a bit funny about rubbing egg yolks into our hair, the health benefits are aplenty.
Remember That Sun Protection
It might seem a bit dramatic to suggest protecting your hair from the spring sun's rays, but in the same way that even the smallest hit of UV rays can do damage to our skin, our hair can be affected, too.
Exposure to UVB radiation is actually responsible for multiple changes to the hair, including hair protein loss and colour changes. Similar to the drying effects of winter, prolongued time under the sun can lead to brittle strands, broken or split ends, and thinning and frizziness.
If you're outdoors for long periods of time, make sure you've got a hat or cap to put on. There are also plenty of hair products available that have been specifically designed for sun protection, such as sprays and oils, which you can use to keep your hair and scalp safe from the worst of the sun's rays.
Prepare For Spring Showers
Okay, nobody is really ever prepared for when April showers hit, but it's wise to keep a hair band in your bag for in case the occasion arises. It's easiest to scrunch your hair into a neat bun to prevent the inevitable flatness and tangles that results from a free-haired dash through a storm.
It's common for some hair types to frizz in the rain, and if you want to avoid this from happening, it's all about locking in hair's moisture in preparation. Again, applying a hair mask the night before your busy day outside will help nourish dry tresses and keep them frizz-free should the heavens open.