Five autumn-winter hair care solutions

As the chillier months approach, the memories of last winter’s bad hair days come rushing back.  As most of us know only too well, cool temperatures, blustery winds, indoor heating and woolly hats can leave locks looking dull, dry and distressed. Unfortunately, these weather-induced annoyances are inescapable, but with a little extra love and care, this year your autumn-winter hair could finally look hot.

Luckily, there are plenty of moisture-rich cosmetics and frizz-fighting formulas on the market that are specially designed to help you unleash your hair’s natural bounce and beauty on crisp autumn and icy winter days. Beauty experts like Direct Cosmetics offer a variety of protective and replenishing products to help you combat your hair care woes whatever the season.

To help you overcome the feeling of a perpetual ‘bad hair day’, here’s a few top tips:

A new burst of colour

During the colder seasons, hair starts to lose its natural lustre. Whether you’re a blonde, brunette or redhead, reviving your colour with a brighter shade will help to give your strands a new lease of life. To keep your tresses looking healthy and hydrated, use professional dye that infuses moisture as you colour. Giving yourself a makeover with a fresh new look is one of the best ways to stave-off the winter blues and can work wonders for lacklustre locks.

A quick pick-me-up

With a host of moisture-rich repair products available, there’s no excuse for a flat, limp-looking hairstyle. Renowned for its healing properties, macadamia oil is the ultimate elixir for dry, damaged tresses and can rescue even the most unruly winter mane. This ultra-absorbent formula adds moisture and shine, giving your hair a weightless bounce that is sure to turn heads. You can even carry this product in your handbag as an emergency restorative when your hair starts to lose its sheen.

Lock in moisture

A combination of cold, dry air and excessive exposure to indoor heating will quickly zap the natural moisture from your hair. To beat brittle, frizzy locks, switching to a rich, hydrating shampoo and conditioner is the perfect remedy. Look out for products that contain ingredients such as panthenol, shea butter, lanolin and silk proteins, as these properties will deeply nourish and seal in moisture for a long-lasting shine. To see optimum results, towel-dry your tresses to remove excess water, and if you need to use heat, don’t forget to add a spritz of revitalising heat-protection before blow-drying to prevent split-ends and breakages.

Add volume to limp locks

Does your hair seem to be putting up a fight when it comes to styling? With less humidity in the air, taming your mane during the colder months can prove to be a challenging task. Silicone- free styling gels and mousses and extra-gloss wax will help to put oomph back into tired-looking hair without weighing it down.These volume-boosting products will also add a layer of protection against harsh weather and act as a great weapon against those pesky fly-away ends that go hand-in-hand with heavy hoods, hats and scarves. However, be careful not to go overboard with your gels and creams or you might end up with a mop that looks saturated in products.

Replenish with a leave-in

If your bathroom shelf is brimming with moisture-rich hair products but you’re still battling with lifeless-looking locks, an intensive deep conditioning treatment is sure to do the trick. These leave-in serums work by regenerating damaged cuticles to resurrect the beautiful hair that you know and love. Once a week, treat yourself to a hot oil treatment or mask that contains jojoba butter, avocado oil or aloe, leaving it in overnight to allow for the conditioner to deeply penetrate the follicles. Whether you’ve got long, sexy tresses, a short, chic do or a stylish mid-length cut, with any luck, you’ll wake up in the morning with gorgeous silky-smooth hair.