The best products for the weather

Heat, cold, humidity and other weather and climate factors have an effect on your hair and skin. Many people concentrate on finding products to solve their beauty issues, whereas it could be a simple matter of understanding how environmental conditions affect you.

Once you have an idea of how these factors affect your skin and hair, you are well placed to choose the correct products for that particular weather.

HOT WEATHER:

Excessive exposure to the sun has the same effect as blow-drying and heat styling too much. The hair becomes brittle, dry, and damaged. Relaxed hair tends to change colour, making it look parched and thirsty.

Ultraviolet rays are the most damaging for all hair types. If you are exposed to the sun frequently, select hair products with sunscreen for daily use. Use rich treatments every week and apply hair moisturiser often. Protect your hair with a hat or headgear if possible.

COLD, WINDY WEATHER:

Cold air causes the blood circulation to slow down due to constriction of the tiny blood vessels on the scalp. This slows down hair growth. Wind has a drying effect

The increased rate of moisture evaporation causes brittleness, making hair break easily. Frequent head massage increases circulation. Hot oil treatments make the hair shaft less brittle. Daily moisturising with cream based products is helpful.

HUMIDITY:

Hair attracts and absorbs water vapour. Fine hair is often weighed down, becoming too heavy. This causes the strands to fall off. Thick, coarse hair becomes extremely frizzy and difficult to style upon absorbing moisture.

The ideal styles for humid weather are blowouts and perms. Hair should be coated with light oil to ‘waterproof’ it. Silicone-based hair polishers are useful for controlling frizziness.

ASK IRENE:

I plan to travel to the coast this Easter. Is it advisable to braid my natural hair?

It is all right to braid your hair for the holiday. Ensure you rinse it well after swimming to remove the chlorine. Use light oil on your scalp for protection from humidity.

QUICK FIXES:

Hard water problem:

Hard water often spells disaster for hair. It leaves deposits which combine with hair products to make the hair fall out. This leaves many ladies baffled as they try to figure out the cause of hair loss.

If you are in an area with hard water, strive to keep it away from your hair. Use mineral water to wash it. A drop of vinegar added to your weekly shampoo helps to remove the residue from your hair.