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Winterize
Your Hair
By Wilma Ann Anderson
If you're in a part of the country where there's a cold
front, the word "winterize" is top of mind. Car
tune-ups, window and door insulations, furnace testing are
all on the to-do list. But don't forget your body and hair!
Skin and hair
tend to be dryer in the winter so that means more moisture
is in order. Here are a few beauty tips to keep you out
of brittle bear status:
Start
from the inside. A balanced diet filled with lots
of water and fresh food is essential to keeping your body
hydrated. Use the Food
Pyramid as a guide.
Wash.
It is a myth that healthy hair grows from a dirty scalp.
Whether you are wearing braids, a natural, or relaxed hair,
washing your hair at least once every two weeks is important
to creating a healthy growth environment. Avoid shampoos
and styling products that contains alcohol or are extremely
alkaline.
Dry.
Allow your hair to air dry if possible. Less heat styling
preserves the natural oils your scalp produces. Consider
deep conditioning your hair once or twice a month to put
back oils that are stripped by winter weather.
Massage.
Carefully and sparingly apply nourishing hair oil (check
out motowngirl.com
for a few excellent homemade mixtures!) to your scalp once
a week and then massage that day and throughout the week.
Use the tips of your fingers to massage your scalp and make
this part of your beauty regimen; it stimulate the hair
follicles.
Brush.
A thorough brushing of your hair while it is dry (not wet),
to properly distribute oils, is essential. Brush slowy and
gently with a fluid motion to avoid damaging ends and to
keep your hair free from unwanted particles.
Get
a hattitude. Cold and dry climates can rob your
hair of moisture and oils. Wear a satin-lined cap if you
can. Stylish ones can be hard to find so I recommend wearing
a satin scarf or bonnet right under your hat. Also wear
a sating bonnet during sleep.
Style
wisely. Look for products avoid alcohol and that
use:
- Jojoba Oil--an
oil that can easily penetrate the scalp and hair
- Mango butter--is
an emollient derived from the fruit seed of the mango
tree. It seals in moisture, protects and softens
- Panthenol--gets
in side the hair shaft to keep the cuticle moisturized
- Shea butter--a
fat obtained from the fruit of the Karite tree
- Water--water
is the ultimate moisturizer, but since we can walk around
with wet heads, be sure to get water back into hair via
a regular spritzing
Wilma Ann Anderson is the Editor-in-Chief and Co-founder
of Mahogany Baby. She's also an accomplished singer, and
works as a model and film executive. This mother of four
has freelanced for ESSENCE and Working Mother magazines,
enjoys crafting, and is based in New Jersey.
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