Frigid climates make hair dry, brittle, and dull, says Petersen. To restore natural luster, she likes deep conditioning with jojoba oil, argan oil, or coconut oil. Argan oil is a favorite of reader Amy, who says weekly treatments nourish her dry hair when temps drop and the heater kicks on.
Cold weather also invites fly-aways, so to prevent static, reader Althea keeps dryer sheets in her purse, and when she takes off her knit hats, she rubs one on her hair to calm it down.
Photo 8/9
Steady heat
"Constant exposure to the sun can cause hair to become dry and damaged," says Petersen. "And if you color your hair and are out in the sun often, it will also fade more quickly." Whether you have normal, oily, dry, curly, or straight hair, all hair needs protection in steady heat. And in the same way intense UV rays can affect melanin in skin, prolonged sun exposure can cause changes in the hair's melanin, too -- lightening hair or altering artificial color. When you're clocking hours under the sun, Petersen suggests covering your hair with a hat or spraying it with a hair sunscreen, and pulling it into a loose braid or bun for protection.
Photo 9/9
Coastal weather
Everyone loves beach hair, but Petersen says your wild waves will actually react differently, depending on which coast you're on. For instance, if you're in Miami, you'll deal with humidity, and if you're in Oregon, you'll contend with cold. Even so, a mix of wind and salt create universally coveted texture -- but can also make hair sticky and tangled. When reader Anna visits the temperate Maryland coast, she styles her hair in two braids -- and sleeps in them. "This keeps it under control at the beach," she says, "and the salty air, plus the braids, gives my hair a cool crimped look the next day." If you prefer a softer variation, try this with a leave-in conditioner. Our reader Alia, who lives near the beach in Los Angeles, uses a small amount of smoothing cream on the ends of her hair to keep it from getting frizzy as it air dries or blow dries.
Remember when clichés could actually forecast the weather: March went in like a lion and out like a lamb, after the rain came a rainbow, and April showers brought May flowers? Predictable seasons told us how nature would behave, and thus, when to change over our wardrobe, how to pack for a vacation, and how our hair would react from one day to the next. And while you may have needed a stylist's advice at the start of a season for this last point, you could then use her tips until the weather reliably transitioned again.
Cut to today's world, where blizzards co-opt Halloween and daffodils bloom in February. And as we're sure you've noticed, the same wacky temperature swings that change nature's course also freak out your hair and make it a real challenge to style.
"Certain conditions affect a natural protein called keratin that gives hair its strength and shine," says Luke O'Connor, a Suave Professionals stylist based in Beverly Hills, Calif. "For instance, when heat damages hair, the shaft's cuticle gets ruffled and/or broken; this makes hair dull and lifeless. It also causes moisture loss, which leads to frizz and a lack of shine and body. Humidity also brings out frizz and makes hair look flat."
So while we may have once suggested a few styling tricks or products to store in your cabinet this season, we now suggest that you study up on all of them, or at least return to this guide after reading your weather report each day. We've included tips from pros and TotalBeauty.com readers alike, so you'll never battle a bad hair day again -- no matter what it looks like outside.
