How to fix hard hair

Forget about my flaky skin—my biggest winter beauty gripe is how dry and brittle my hair gets. Like, seriously, the very second cold-weather season hits, my regular ol’ products decide they don’t work anymore and I have to change my entire routine. So after spending one too many seasons on the struggle bus, I’ve decided 2019 is the year I learn how to fix my dry hair for good. Ahead, I rounded up the very best tips, hacks, and product recs for getting shiny, soft-as-f*cking-silk hair through winter and beyond.

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The easiest way to get rid of dry, brittle ends? Get your hair trimmed every six to eight weeks. A quick snip will freshen up your layers, destroy your split ends, and most importantly, help your hair grow nice and strong. BTW: If hitting up the hair salon on the regular doesn’t agree with your budget (which, like, same), trimming your hair at home is also an option (so long as you invest in a decent pair of shears).

✨How to Fix Dry Hair Tip #2: Eat a healthy diet and try vitamins

If your hair feels chronically dry (see: no amount of deep conditioning can hydrate it), it’s not a bad idea to adjust your diet. Load up on omega-3s (salmon, nuts, and seeds) and antioxidants (berries, beans, and spinach), both of which are known for making hair super soft and shiny. And while hair-growth vitamins definitely aren’t a magical fix (a healthy body is already stocked with all the nutrients it needs to grow hair, like biotin, folic acid, and vitamins D, A, C, E), there’s really no harm in adding one to your routine—after, of course, chatting with your doctor. Yes, there really can be too much of a good thing.

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While we’re on the subject, the amount you shampoo is just as important as the formula itself. Excess shampooing will destroy your natural oils, so try to wash your hair three times a week at most (the less, the better here). Pro tip: Even if you aren't shampooing your hair, you can still rinse it—just make sure you run some conditioner through your ends so you don't risk any breakage (your hair is weakest when its wet).

✨How to Fix Dry Hair Tip #5: Cut down on heat styling

Repeat after me: Heat styling is harsh on even the healthiest of strands, which means it’s extra problematic for drier textures. If you can, try to limit your use of heat tools as much as possible. If blow-drying and flat ironing is a part of your everyday routine, though, you should at the very least be prepping your hair with a solid heat-protectant spray to prevent damage.

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If you’re coating your hair in hydrating products before you hit the hay, make sure your pillowcase isn’t then soaking up all that moisture. Unlike cotton fabrics—which can eat up your products and tangle your ends—silk pillowcases are way more gentle on your hair. As an added bonus, silk pillowcases are also great for your skin, since skincare products can get sucked up by cotton too.

✨How to Fix Dry Hair Tip #9: Use a gentle hair towel

Like, sure, that raggedy old towel is probably fine to dry off your body, but if you’re trying to fix dry or brittle hair, you definitely shouldn’t wrap it around your head. Instead, look for a soft, microfiber towel—not only will it be more gentle on your strands, but it’ll also dry your hair noticeably faster (no blow-dryer necessary).

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Just like you slather on SPF 30 every morning to protect your face from the sun, you should also be protecting your hair. Exposure to direct sunlight will only make your dry hair dryer, so throw on a hat and spritz your hair with an SPF-spiked product if you’re planning on spending the day outside (I’m personally a fan of Supergoop Poof 100% Mineral Part Powder SPF 45 and Coola Scalp & Hair Mist Organic Sunscreen SPF 30).

Got all that? Good. Now find yourself a good leave-in conditioner, below, and get your hair moisturized fast.

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