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How To Look After Afro Hair In The Winter

How To Look After Afro Hair In The Winter
Emily Cotton
Writer and expert2 years ago
View Emily Cotton's profile
The warm weather is a long way off and, with the cold weather likely to be around for a while, your hair deserves some extra TLC.And, if you've got afro hair, it'll require more care, because it is weaker than Caucasian hair. This makes it more prone to damage, especially when the weather outside is less than ideal. To assist you in caring for your curls, we have compiled a list of our favourite products and tips that will make your hair feel and look healthy even in arctic temperatures.
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1. Keep Your Curls Hydrated

Hydration is the key to luscious, healthy curls.  The L'Anza Keratin Healing Oil Silken Shampoo effectively cleanses your hair of excess oil and impurities while also increasing moisture and strength. It also protects the colour of your hair, increases volume, and replenishes keratin protein. It contains a one-of-a-kind blend of four restorative botanical oils that will intensely moisturise and nourish your hair. You'll have soft, silky curls as a result.

The Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Shampoo is superb for hair that has been weakened or damaged by colour, chemical processing, or heat styling, all of which our hair type is prone to. The shampoo cleanses and revitalises your hair, leaving it soft, manageable, and strong. It contains argan oil, keratin, and fatty acids to help repair broken strands.

2. Don’t Forget Deep Conditioning

Afro hair needs a lot of hydration and benefits from natural oils like olive or coconut, as opposed to caucasian hair, which can be weighed down by such ingredients. To give your hair some extra love, deep condition at least once a week to bring it back to life.

My favourite deep conditioning mask is the Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Treatment Masque. It's deeply nourishing, made from natural and ethically sourced ingredients, and encourages healthy hair growth. Another fantastic afro hair ingredient is shea butter, which conditions the hair and scalp. It is ideal for colour-treated, chemically-processed, or heat-styled hair because it contains keratin, which restores strength and fights breakage while improving elasticity. It contains no sulphates, parabens, phthalates, paraffin, mineral oil, or synthetic colours, and it has not been tested on animals!

You really should try the Bouclème Intensive Moisture Treatmentif you haven't already too! It contains a variety of nourishing ingredients that will restore moisture to your hair, including marula oil for protection, marufa butter to prevent breakage, camellia oil to reduce tangling, prickly pear seed oil to provide vitamins, sea buckthorn oil to promote growth, and wheat bran to condition your hair. The mask defines your curls while also improving their overall health, leaving you with manageable and restored curls.

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3. LOC Moisture In

Nope, that's not a typo... One of the best ways to keep your hair hydrated is to use the LOC or LCO methods. Because the curl pattern makes it more difficult for sebum from the scalp to travel down each strand of your hair, afro and curly hair are more prone to dryness. Breakage is caused by dryness, which also prevents length retention. That's why I keep banging on the importance of hydrating your hair!The most effective way to combat dryness and maximise hydration is to layer products. The letters L, O, and C stand for liquid, oil, and cream, respectively. The order of the letters indicates the order in which the products should be applied to the hair, so if you use the LOC method, you apply the liquid first, then the oil, and finally the cream.The liquid should be a water-based moisturising product in the form of a spray (the best). You don't have to spend money; instead, combine water and essential oils in a spray bottle to make your own hydrating spray!

Because water evaporates quickly from afro hair, the liquid must be sealed in with an oil. The best oils are olive oil, coconut oil, castor oil, and jojoba oil. The Ordinary 100% Cold Pressed Virgin Marula Oil is also fantastic for your hair, leaving it soft and replenished.

Finally, a moisturising cream or leave-in conditioner, such as the Pantene Gold Series Hydrating Butter Crème Leave-in Hair Conditioner, will seal all the goodness and moisture in your hair. This method also keeps your hair moist for at least three days, so you only need to repeat it as needed.

4. Invest In A Satin Pillowcase And A Microfibre Towel

If you have afro or curly hair, a satin pillowcase and a microfibre towel are a must. 

A satin pillowcase protects your hair and, unlike a regular cotton pillowcase, does not strip moisture from your hair. It also helps to prevent breakage and frizz. You can treat yourself to the Holistic Silk Rejuvenating Anti-Ageing Silk Pillow Case which not only keeps your hair from breaking, but also prevents facial creasing, fine lines, and skin cell damage. Win-win if you ask me!

A microfibre towel is another must-have for your hair care routine, regardless of hair type, but especially if it's afro or curly. It reduces frizz, prevents breakage, absorbs water without leaving your hair excessively dry, and is gentler on your hair.  Try the DevaCurl DevaTowel - Anti-Frizz Microfibre Towel, you’ll never go back.

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Emily Cotton
Writer and expert
View Emily Cotton's profile
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