How to prevent hair breakage this winter

The winter months can be so harsh on our hair. Combating dead ends and static is a constant battle from as early as November to as late as March. So we asked one of our incredible hair instructors, Jessy, to weigh in on his top tips to treat our hair right this winter. Take a look at what he had to say!

The first thing you need to know about hair breakage, is that you may need to change your diet to incorporate more zinc, iron, and folic acid. These help strengthen the hair and keep it from being easily broken.
Hair that doesn’t have enough moisture is also very brittle and can break easily. Make sure to use gentle shampoos and conditioners when washing, and never skip the conditioner. Over washing is also a problem; if you have oily hair, you can wash daily, but not multiple times a day. On the other hand, if you have dry hair, you may only need to wash once a week. That being said, you also need to make sure that you are getting quality products, so picking up something off the shelf at the grocery store or the value place that we all shop at, is a no-no. Those products are not quality products. Some have a very high pH, and can leave your hair looking lackluster. Some guarantee shine, or strength, and they only coat your hair in a wax, causing further damage.
Towel drying the wrong way can also cause breakage when your hair is at its most vulnerable. Instead of rubbing your hair with a towel like a maniac, (we all do it, I am guilty of doing this too) blot the towel around your head, or leave a towel wrapped around your head to absorb excess moisture.
Heat damage can definitely cause breakage. I would recommend always using a heat protectant with your hot tools, but also, you should give your hair a break at least once a week; we all need a little down time, and your hair enjoys having some time off too.
Throwing your hair up is quick and easy, but those hair ties can damage your hair too, they pull on your scalp and cuticle, and get tangled in the hair, so consider wearing your hair down a little more often.
Consider the brush you are using – is it pulling a lot? I recommend a boar bristle brush; it gets the tangles out gently, and is less likely to cause breakage.
Coloring, perming, straightening, and lightening will all cause some damage to your hair, but overdoing it will cause over-processing, and then you will have all kinds of breakage.
And finally, the ONLY way to get rid of split ends is to get a haircut. That’s right, there is no miracle product that will put those split ends back together; it’s all about a nice little trim, and those split ends can split up the hair shaft, leading to breakage. Your stylist knows what they are talking about, so listen to them when they tell you that they don’t think you should do something or when they do think you should do something. They are looking out for the integrity of your hair, and they don’t want to send you out looking a mess. When they send you out the door, you are wearing their work. Their business is on your head. You are a billboard for their business, so please trust that they want the best for you both.