Winter Hair Care: Dry Hair? These Curl Habits Could Be Making It Worse

Part 4 of our 4 part winter series 

Some curl care mistakes are loud — like skipping conditioner altogether (nooo) or going at your dry knots with a fine-tooth comb. But others? They're sneakier. Quiet little habits you might not even realise are drying out your curls day by day — especially during winter.

Here’s how to spot the culprits and make a few easy swaps to keep your curls soft, shiny, and feeling hydrated through the chilly season.

Four of the biggest offenders that ruin your curls over winter- here's what you can do about them! 

The Over-washing Trap

Hot showers in winter? Yes, please. But too much hot water + frequent shampooing = major moisture loss. It can strip away your curls’ natural oils — leaving your scalp tight and your ends dry and brittle.

Try spacing out your wash days a little more — even just an extra day between washes can help. And when you do cleanse, make sure you’re reaching for a gentle, curl-friendly cleanser that won’t over-strip your strands. And always ALWAYS finish with a curl friendly conditioner to seal in hydration. 

Skipping Products? Think Again!

We get it. Some days you just want to wash, dry, and go. But skipping your basic products like a curl cream, leave-in or light hold gel is like leaving the house without moisturiser in winter — your curls will feel it.

Every so often we encourage a product free day, but not over winter. 

Even a lightweight leave-in or the remains of your conditioner (read more about how to do this here.) can make a huge difference. It adds a barrier between your hair and the dry air, helps lock in hydration, and keeps your curls looking juicy, not crunchy or frayed or wild with frizz.

Try smoothing a small amount of product through your hair after every wash — you can even reapply a tiny bit midweek to revive thirsty curls.

Indoor Heating = Moisture Thief

We love being toasty... but heaters (especially ones with evaporative settings) can seriously suck the moisture out of the air — and your hair. That’s why curls often feel extra dry and fluffy when you’re indoors all day.

To fight back?

1. Use curl friendly and lightweight products that are easy to refresh between wash days. 
2. Deep condition your hair regularly. Finding out how much your hair needs over winter is super important to the health of your hair. 
3. Let some air in! When you've got the heater cranking, it doesn't hurt to leave the window slightly ajar to let some moisture and fresh air in.
4. Finally, when you wash your hair try and leave your hair as wet as you can to style (we know- its cold and wet hair is .. ICKY! Thats where using a LOHY.'s cold shoulder guard comes in!) No one wants cold damp hair on their shoulders, but styling on wet hair really can make a huge difference to the amount of hydration your hair retains. 
5. Drink water- I know, I know, you hear it all the time, and its hard during winter, BUT hydrating from the inside out helps your whole body stay healthy. 

Protect From Frizz & Friction

Scarves, turtlenecks, coats with high collars — your wardrobe might be giving you major winter vibes, but it can also cause serious friction for your curls.

That constant rubbing leads to frizz, dryness, and even split ends. The fix? Tuck your curls up and out of the way with a claw clip, soft pineapple or a low bun. These days there are heaps of really cute styling options for up-do's. 

Bonus: Your style stays intact and you protect your ends from the winter wear-and-tear.

Stay cosy and hydrated this winter. Small daily habits — and a little LOHY. love — can protect your curls from sneaky moisture thieves and keep them soft, bouncy, and frizz-free, no matter how cold it gets.

Hydrated curls are happy curls. 

Love & Hydration xx