Weather and Hair
You may have noticed that the health of your hair changes as the seasons change. This change in your hair can be attributed to the amount of moisture in the air, temperature, sun exposure, and elements (wind/snow) just to name a few things.
Knowing how to care for your hair in the different seasons can make the world of difference in maintaining healthy strands all year long.
Recommendations below are for those who live in climates that have the “traditional” four seasons.
Winter
Winter can seem to drag on. Days are dark. Less sunlight. Cold. More rain, wind, and even snow.
When caring for your hair in the winter, focus should be on protecting your strands from dryness. Would use thicker butters or creams, such as shea butter or almond butter to seal in moisture. Deep conditioner will be your best friend. You will want to use more protective styles to retain moisture. You will want to keep your ends tucked away as much as possible to keep them from breaking and snagging on sweaters/scarves/coats. Limit heat use as much as possible. Consider long term protective styles such as box braids and crochet styles.
Spring
Spring is a happy time. Nature starts to come alive, but with that comes more rain. Temperatures are rising. Days are not as dark.
In the spring, you may notice that your strands feel less dry especially if you use conditioners with humectants, such as honey, which can absorb moisture from the environment. It may be difficult to wear straight hair styles during this time of year because of the moisture. Your hair will likely revert quickly from straight to curly/kinky. Continue to wear protective styles through the spring, but can start to experiment with shorter duration protective styles.
Summer
Summer = fun! Days are bright. Lots of sunshine. Hot days.
This would be the time to experiment with loose styles if interested. Consider using leave-in-conditioners that have UV protection. This will help to keep the sun from frying your strands. Think of it as sunscreen for your hair. Summer can be a great time to try a lot of styles. Be brave and get out of your comfort zone.
Fall
Fall rings in the cooler months. Temperature is dropping. Days are getting darker. Leaves are changing.
If you are someone that wears straight heat styles, this time of year may be ideal. The weather tends to be dry and not too hot or cold so your hair should not be exposed to extremes in temperature during the fall. Some call this the silk press season. I would recommend not using too much heat though, so as to keep from getting heat damage. Protective styles will never let you down.