Why Your Child's Hair Changes in Winter (And What to Do About It)
If you've noticed your little one's hair looking a bit drier, frizzier, or knottier than usual lately, the change in season is likely the culprit.
As temperatures drop and heaters switch on, the air loses moisture, and your child's hair and scalp feel it pretty quickly.
The good news? A few simple tweaks to your routine can make a big difference.
Here's what's happening and how to handle it.
Why does hair change in cooler weather?
Hair is porous, which means it constantly absorbs and releases moisture from the air around it. In warmer, more humid months there's plenty of moisture in the air to keep strands hydrated.
In winter, that humidity drops, the air indoors gets even drier thanks to heating, and hair starts losing moisture faster than it can hold onto it.
The result is dryness, frizz, a drier scalp, and more tangles, especially for kids who are in and out of hats and scarves all day.
Scalp dryness
The scalp is skin, and just like the skin on our hands and face, it needs a little extra care in winter.
A dry scalp can become flaky, itchy, and uncomfortable for little ones.
A few things that help: massaging shampoo in gently at wash time to stimulate circulation, avoiding over-washing which strips the scalp's natural oils, and sticking to a gentle formula that cleanses without being harsh.
Our Kids Shampoo and Curly Shampoo are both formulated to be gentle enough for regular use without over-stripping, which makes them a solid choice through the cooler months.
Dryness and lack of moisture
This is the big one in winter.
Cold air simply can't hold as much moisture as warm air, so hair dries out faster and can become brittle and dull.
The best thing you can do is treat the hair to a deeper hit of moisture regularly.
Once a week or fortnight, swap the conditioner for our Nourish Mask after shampooing. Leave it on for a few minutes before rinsing and you'll notice a real difference in softness and manageability, especially for kids with thicker, curlier, or more textured hair.
For the nights when time is tight, our 2-in-1 keeps things simple without skipping hydration altogether.
Frizz
Frizz is essentially hair searching for moisture in the air around it. When hair is well hydrated it lies flatter and smoother, when it's dry it reaches outward trying to absorb whatever it can find.
The fix is hydration first, but a good detangling spray on damp hair also helps smooth the cuticle before it dries.
Our Detangling Spray works really well here, applied to damp hair after washing to help lock in moisture and calm frizz before it starts.
Tangles and knots
Winter is peak tangle season.
Hats, scarves, jumpers, and car seats all create friction on the hair throughout the day, and by bath time you're dealing with the aftermath.
The trick is to never tackle knots on completely dry hair, always work from the ends upward rather than dragging from the root, and use a spray to soften knots before brushing.
Spritz our Detangling Spray through the hair first, then work through with the Detangling Brush section by section from the ends up. It's genuinely one of those combinations that makes brush time so much less of a battle.
A few extra winter hair tips
- Pat hair dry rather than rubbing to reduce friction and frizz
- Loose braids under hats protect the hair and cut down on hat hair
- Avoid putting hair up while it's still damp, especially in the cold
- A silk or satin pillowcase helps reduce overnight dryness and breakage
Winter hair doesn't have to be a struggle. With the right products and a slightly adjusted routine, your little one's hair can stay soft, manageable, and healthy all the way through to spring.
Have questions about your child's specific hair type? We'd love to help. Send us a message anytime.
