As summer is well and truly over (if it ever really started in the UK), it’s time to review your hair and skin routines to ensure that they’ll last the long stretch of autumn/winter ahead.
Not everyone updates their routines as the seasons change, but colder temperatures, harsh winds and indoor heating usually result in drier skin and lifeless hair. Here’s a collection of our best tips and advice to keep your skin glowing and your hair shiny, whatever elements are thrown at you.
Best Tips for Keeping Your Hair in Good Condition Through Winter
Our hair is a fragile thing, and when we’ve just got to grips with how to manage and style it through summer, autumn arrives and our hair care routines are thrown into disarray again.
Kick Start Autumn/Winter with a Good Hair Cut
Autumn starts in September, and this is the month that a lot of us have new beginnings; it’s a new academic year, new habits are reformed after summer, and a lot of us start to wind down the social calendar as the nights draw in. So this is a good time for a haircut!
A post-summer haircut is one of the most important haircuts of the year. This is the one that will rejuvenate your locks after a season of sun and sea. Whether you’re changing your colour to a more subtle autumnal shade, or you’re having your frazzled ends trimmed, book in to see our specialist stylists who will bring your hair back to life post-summer.
Increase The Moisture
Most of us know it’s important to up the moisture of our hair in the hot summer months, but it’s also important to do this year-round, thanks to harsher weather, central heating and fireplaces contributing to frizzy, unruly hair.
Ensure your shampoos and conditioners are paraben-free, sulphate-free and highly-hydrating. Try weekly hair masks, leave-in conditioners and oil the ends of your hair to keep it shiny and healthy through winter.
A good pre-bed hair routine is vital too; read more about our haircare tips in our self-care blog.
Lower the Temperatures Inside
As the outdoor temperatures go down, indoor temperatures go up, and that not only means that we’re sitting next to a fireplace or with central heating blasting, but we also crank up the temperature of our shower and bath water.
Showers that are too hot can be damaging because they strip the hair, making it brittle. Overly hot showers can also open pores, which can make your hair weaker at the root, and a healthy scalp is pivotal to healthy hair.
How to Keep Your Skin Looking Good in Autumn/Winter
If you’ve spent the majority of lockdown learning about skin products from your favourite influencers, you’ve probably got a seven-step skincare routine on the go. And while this is great that you’re investing in the quality of your skin, it’s also time for a gear change in autumn/winter.
Plump Up the Moisture
Your skin will be crying out for more moisture when the weather changes. Plump out fine lines by using a hyaluronic acid serum and seal it in with a moisturiser over the top – it’s also vital that your hyaluronic acid is applied on damp skin.
Try overnight moisture masks too, and continue to intake at least 2L of water a day.
Keep Your Heating Low
Artificial heat can cause flyaways and split ends for your hair, but it can also lead to increased sensitivity in your skin, as well as dryness and cracking.
The contrast in the colder outside temperatures with the heat indoors can also cause blood vessels to dilate, making the appearance of redness, acne and rosacea much worse.
Specialist facials can help to combat these symptoms by keeping your skin looking and feeling its best; ask your facialist questions about your skin and what can help when you book in.
Continue to Wear SPF
It may not be sunny and warm, heck, it may not even be sunny, but it’s still so important to include an SPF in your daily skincare routine year-round to protect your skin and fight against signs of ageing.
Take Supplements
In the UK, it’s notorious that we do not get enough sunshine, and this can lead to deficiencies in key vitamins and minerals. Try taking vitamin D supplements throughout winter to help skin grow and repair. Biotin is also great for strong hair, skin and nails.
Throughout winter, a lot of us also take vitamin C supplements for increased immunity, but you can also add vitamin C to your skincare routine with a specific serum or moisturiser that will help to even out skin tone and help your skin to feel brighter and more radiant.
Move Your Body
Don’t forget to continue to move your body with regular exercise and mobility through autumn/winter. As the nights draw in and comfort food makes its way onto the menu, it’s so easy to feel lethargic and pass on exercise. But working out is great for keeping the blood moving and therefore nourishing skin cells. Not to mention that a poor diet can lead to the appearance of poor skin.
Treat Yourself to Treatments
Winter is hard enough without having special moments to look forward to, so why not book in for a beauty treatment or hair appointment at Charlie Milz Hair & Beauty Stowmarket? We can help you feel good from head to toe. Book an appointment today.
