Is hair spa good in winter season?

Hair‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ spa works wonders for hair in the cold season as it imparts necessary hydration to dry strands, pacifies a flaky scalp, and shields hair from the scorching cold of the outside or the dry heated air in the room. If accomplished regularly, it becomes a great tool in the fight against hair breakage, frizz, and lack of shine making the hair appear smoother and healthier throughout the cold months. 

Why winter dries your hair?

The winter season is a tough time for hair as the air is not only cold but also dry during this period of the year and when a person uses a heater the moisture in hair and scalp is sucked out even more leading to the development of hair problems such as roughness, static, and itching. Also, a lack of humidity causes the cuticle to lift that results in frizz, hair gets tangled more easily and breakage of hair becomes more inevitable. 

Due to these problems salons have come up with special or “winter” hair spa treatments that focus on providing the hair with the moisture it needs as well as comforting the scalp. Such treatments help one feel as if he/she has pressed the reset button by alleviating the hair irritation that has been a cause of the hair being dull and lifeless and at the same time making it softer and shinier again.

Benefits of hair spa in winter

A hair spa with a winter-comfort theme generally involves freeing the hair from any dirt or impurities with a mild shampoo, followed by a warm oil massage on the head and a deeply hydrating mask application, then finally the use of steam or warm towels to open the pores of the skin or cuticles of the hair shaft so that the product can penetrate the skin or hair shaft deeply. This process, apart from providing the length of the hair with the nutrients it needs, also brings the cuticle back to its normal state making the hair shiny and soft and also devoid of frizz and static. 

Besides that, a scalp massage using the hairs spa oil is a good exercise that brings more blood to the scalp thus making the hairs grow stronger. It also helps a person to be less stressed because it is a very relaxing and calming process and consequently, stress-related hair loss which can be quite high during the cold and stressful periods will be relieved. Most of the winter hair spa routines are not only a means to balance pH in the scalp but also to get rid of dandruff and other scalp conditions like itching. 

How often to do hair spa in winter?

As per the advice from specialists, a hair spa treatment should not be done more than once in every 3-4 weeks during the winter period in case of normal to mildly dry hair as it helps to keep the moisture content at a decent level and from which the occurrence of damage is prevented. If the hair is in a very dry condition, however, and has been colored or treated with chemicals, then every two weeks spa treatments would be the best way to maintain the hair's firmness, lessen the appearance of split ends, and make hair easy to handle. 

In the comfort of your home, you can prolong the period between each salon visit by using a shampoo that does not contain sulfate, a nourishing conditioner, and the weekly application of a hair mask or an oil massage for the hair. Besides that, wearing a scarf or cap during you go out and abstaining from the use of very hot water when washing will be a great help in getting the most out of winter hair spa treatments. 

Hair spa is, for the most part, very beneficial during the cold months of the year; however, those who have very oily scalps or suffer from scalp infections are advised to stay away from the use of heavy creams and better choose light, clarifying or head spa-like treatments. Too many rich masks or very frequent sessions can make your hair dull and cause buildup on your scalp, hence, it is important to adjust your routine according to your hair and scalp condition.

If you happen to have allergies or a sensitive scalp, it would be better to always request for a patch test and choose formulas that are made of gentler, skin-friendly ingredients. This way, hair spa can be maintained as an enjoyable and effective winter ritual that does not cause irritation or heaviness in the ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌scalp.