Winter Haircare Trends: Greet the Season with Richer Colors and Longer Locks

November 2024

Winter is the perfect season to refresh your look with richer, moodier shades, smart protective styles, and longer locks. Cold weather can leave your hair dry, brittle, and full of static, but with the right routine, your hair can stay healthy, hydrated, and happy all winter long.

Feeling the Chill? Warm Up Your Color

As the temperature cools, our color palettes warm up! Winter is the time to embrace deeper tones like dark chocolate, espresso brown, and velvety burgundy. These shades complement your cozier, moodier winter wardrobe and add richness to your overall look. Darker hues bring warmth and depth, pairing beautifully with the soft, pale light of the season. Plus, these tones give the illusion of fuller, thicker hair adding volume and dimension.

Throw Some Shade

Consult your stylist to choose a shade that complements your skin tone. People with cool undertones might lean towards dark browns with ashy, cooler tints, while warmer undertones suit shades like mahogany or deep auburn. Techniques like balayage or lowlights can create a smooth transition from summer’s lighter shades, adding depth to your look without a harsh contrast.

Pro tip: Opt for shades that are two to three levels darker than your summer color for a natural-looking transformation.

Lock in Luster

Darker shades can lose their vibrancy quickly due to the drying effects of winter air, indoor heating, and hot showers. To prevent color fade, use shampoos and conditioners designed for color-treated hair. Glossing treatments can help maintain shine and keep your color fresh and fabulous.

Pro tip: Opt for a color-protecting spray to shield your hair from daily exposure to heat and environmental stressors.

Want to Try a Longer Look? Grow for It

Winter is the ideal time to grow out your hair. There’s less exposure to damaging sun, chlorine, and saltwater, which are common culprits in summer hair breakage. Even with winter’s wear and tear, fewer warm weather environmental stressors can allow hair to grow healthier.

Nourish to Flourish

When it comes to growing lusciously long hair, what you eat plays a big role. A well-balanced diet rich in nutrient-dense foods like leafy greens, nuts, and fish can help support your hair's natural growth cycle. Incorporating foods with healthy fats, such as avocados and salmon, adds essential nourishment that keeps hair strong and resilient. In addition to eating right, it’s important to use hair care products designed to support growth.

Pro tip: Look for leave-in treatments or hair masks that provide deep hydration and strengthen hair over time.

Get Styles for Miles

Growing your hair out doesn’t mean sacrificing style. During the in-between phases, try out fun hairstyles like loose waves or sleek ponytails. Protective styles like buns or braids are especially important in winter, as they support your strands in the face of harsh elements.

Pro tip: Regular trims every 6-8 weeks prevent split ends from traveling up the hair shaft, keeping your hair healthy as it grows.

Thinking About a New Winter Do? Cut to it!

This winter, chic and manageable cuts like bobs and lobs (long bobs) are still stealing the spotlight. These versatile styles let you go sleek and straight one day, then voluminous with loose curls the next. Want a fun update? Try curtain bangs. This soft, face-framing fringe is making a major comeback and works like magic with both short and long hair.

Get in Touch with Texture

Natural texture is having a major moment with wavy, curly, and coily hair being embraced like never before. To keep those curls defined and hydrated, load up on moisture-rich goodies like curl creams and nourishing oils that fight the frost.

Pro tip: Apply your curl cream while your hair is still damp, then seal in the moisture with a lightweight oil for extra bounce and shine.

Go Sleek and Chic

Sleek, polished hairstyles lend subtle sophistication to the season. From flawless flat-ironed looks to glossy blowouts, these chic styles create edgy contrast to winter’s cozy layers. To lock in the look, use silky serums and heat protectants—your secret weapons for sealing in shine and smoothing static.

Pro tip: Apply a light layer of shine spray post-styling to tame fussy flyaways.

Haircare Help for Winter’s Woes

Protect and Perfect

Cold air and wind can zap moisture from your hair causing brittle breakage. Wearing hats or scarves lined with silk or satin can prevent frizz-causing friction. Stash essentials in your bag for quick touch-ups before any seasonal events.

Say Bye to Dry

Hot water may feel great in the winter, but it can strip your hair of its natural oils, leaving it vulnerable. Instead, try rinsing with lukewarm water to maintain moisture. It’s a simple switch that can make a big difference in keeping your hair soft and supple.

Refresh Your Routine

Winter calls for a shift to more nourishing, moisture-boosting products. Opt for sulfate-free shampoos to preserve your hair's natural oils, and try spacing out your washes to avoid drying out your scalp. On non-wash days, apply dry shampoo to keep your hair looking fresh.

With a few seasonal tweaks, your hair can thrive all winter long. Whether you’re adding color, trying new looks, or upping the moisture, these adjustments will keep your style hot, no matter how cold it gets.