How to Deep Condition Hair to Recover Dry, Lifeless Winter Hair

During the colder months, we all enjoy a hot cup of coffee while layered up in woolens and hats, seated in front of a heater to keep us warm. However, artificial indoor heating combined with heat styling, haircare products with chemicals and the dryness of the cool winter air outside tends to take away the natural oils from the scalp and hair, to leave them dehydrated and rough. While we indulge ourselves in an array of nourishing skincare essentials for the face, we end up neglecting the attention our hair needs. Let’s take a dive into a few winter hair care essentials to combat dryness.

How to keep hair healthy in winter?

Due to the lack of moisture in the winter, the scalp can become flaky with dry hair strands and in turn lead to excessive hair loss. It is therefore essential to ensure you incorporate natural hair care products in your regimen, which are specifically free from sulphates (SLS/SLES) and other harsh chemicals. Why is Sulphate bad for hair? The answer lies simply in the fact that they strip your scalp and hair of its natural oils and therefore lead to a sensitive scalp as well as dry and brittle hair, already heightened concerns in the winter.

How can you maintain soft and healthy hair while avoiding Sulphates?

Step 1 – A Scalp Massage with an Ayurvedic Head Massage Oil

Indulge yourself in a relaxing scalp massage with a nourishing hair oil ,rich in nutritive properties and potent herbs that easily absorb into the skin and keep the scalp toned. If you’re wondering which oil is the best for hair in winter, it is suggested to use a natural, Ayurvedic hair oil. The Forest Essentials Head Massage Oils are rich with the finest quality herbs to arrest hair loss, promote healthy hair growth and strengthen the lengths. Both of these hair oils have at their base the cold-pressed oils of Coconut and Sesame, each of which find mention in the ancient Vedas for their miraculously nourishing and strengthening qualities when applied to the hair.

The Bhringraj and Japapatti Head Massage Oils are some of Forest Essentials’ bestselling hair oils, with a key ingredient the herb Bhringraj, known in Ayurveda as the “King of Hair”. What sets this oil apart from the ordinary also is that it contains pure Goat’s Milk, rich in fatty acids and proteins that will help stimulate growth and prevent hair loss during the winter.

The Japapatti Head Massage Oil has Japapatti its key ingredient, beneficial for thickening and smoothening dry, lacklustre hair. This oil has a unique infusion of herbs in Coconut Milk – which will deeply condition the hair follicles, and add a voluminous bounce and lustre to the hair strands, thereby improving the overall texture.

Alternatively, to combat excessive dryness, one can opt for the age-old Indian household favorite Ayurvedic hair growth oil – the Coconut Oil, for a gentle head massage. Unlike the ordinary, Forest Essentials’ cold pressed Virgin Coconut oil is extracted from the grated white flesh of milky, high quality Coconuts that deeply seeps into the hair follicles thereby stimulating hair growth. It acts as a protective layer when applied from the roots to the ends of the hair and deeply conditions dry hair with shine.

Essential Tip: Warm these oils using the double boiling method and massage into the scalp. Their deeply penetrative qualities will ensure the roots of your hair get intense nourishment and effective results.

Step 2 – Massage your hair with the Jappapati Hair Masque

While oiling is beneficial in providing proper nutrition to a dry scalp and to target the roots of your hair directly where it matters most, it is equally important to treat the lengths of your hair. Apply the Forest Essentials Japapatti Hair Masque generously across the strands of your tresses. A rich creamy pre -shampoo masque, this is prepared with intensive repair and natural agents including Banana pulp and fresh herb infusions of Methi, Brahmi and Nagarmotha. Each of these ingredients are enriched with potassium, natural oils and vitamins that are essential to repair and hydrate hair and leave it lush and lustrous. Note: you may also apply this Hair Masque in place of your Hair Conditioner, after cleansing with a SLS free Shampoo.

Step 3 – A Hot Towel Treatment Steam

Next, keep the hair wrapped in a hot, damp towel for 15-20 mins before washing the hair. The steam from the towel will help accelerate the absorption of all that natural product you have applied in the steps prior.

Step 4 – Cleanse & Condition Hair

Ensure you cleanse and condition your hair after 30-40 minutes – as keeping the oil and the masque for long can actually attract dust and dirt. Additionally, note if you want to skip step 2 of applying the Hair Masque and simply want to oil the lengths of your hair, you can apply the Masque at this stage as a Hair Conditioner after your Sulphate (SLS/SLES) free Hair Cleanser.

However, during winter you should wash your hair only twice a week to avoid ripping off any natural oil content from the already dry hair.