Harmattan and your HAIR

HARMATTAN tends to dry out hair much faster, thereby making it difficult to retain moisture and making the hair more brittle than normal. Whether you are on natural or relaxed hair, this is the season to take extra good care of your hair.

Here are some tips on how to take care of your hair during harmattan to avoid excess breakage:

Moisturise your hair with water-based cream or hair lotion. Find a product with water as the first ingredient with other natural ingredients like oils and creams that will keep the moisture locked in. Use this on a daily basis. This makes your hairstyle last longer.

Increase your water intake. Drinking plenty of water maintains healthy scalp and keeps hair roots healthy, supporting hair growth. A hydrated scalp reduces hair fall, resulting in full shiny looking hair.

Deep condition your hair regularly. This is basically applying a thicker conditioner in your hair for an amount of time to treat it and repair damaged hair. This allows your hair to retain moisture in the days after styling. It also leads to softer, more manageable hair, over time. Deep condition your hair at least once a week during the cooler months to combat dry hair. You can also do it at home, not only when you go into the salon.

Avoid dust as much as possible. Dust cannot be avoided totally, so when going out, make sure you wear a hat or a scarf.

Make protective hairstyles. These are styles that tuck the ends of your hair away from being exposed to damaging agents such as dust. This will enable your hair retain length, reduce split ends and knotting. It also allows for healthier and longer hair. Protective hairstyles include buns, sew-in weaves, wigs and braids.

Co-washing. This is washing the hair solely with conditioner. Many shampoo strip natural oils and moisture from the strands of hair, leaving them dry and more prone to breakage. By cutting down on the use of shampoo via a co-washing regime, your hair is able to maintain its natural moisture levels, so it can grow healthier and more resilient. Find the right conditioner and co-wash with warm water during this season.

Don’t dry your hair with the harmattan wind. The wind gets wet things dry in seconds, but it is a bad idea to dry your hair with it because it will make your hair dry and crispy, which can lead to hair breakage. Instead, wrap a microfiber towel around your hair to soak all the water and use the natural air indoors to dry your hair. Microfibre towels are generally thinner than cotton, but they soak up a surprising amount of liquid due to their finely woven construction.