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Even for those of us who really love winter – the festivities and cosy interiors, big coats and scarves, and fireside chats and hot chocolates – there are still some downsides to the season. One considerable one, for many, is the sheer havoc that it wreaks with our hair.
While this is true for all ages, it can become more relevant with age, as our hair changes texture, often becoming thinner and drier. The harsh bite of winter air, the drying effect of central heating and open fires, and even the friction damage caused by wool scarves and big collars can all be problematic.
Why does winter damage our hair?
It’s something of a double whammy, environmentally. First of all, cold winter air tends to be drying and harsh on our hair. According to hair and colour expert Dr Joe Concotta, PhD, this lack of humidity is a huge driver of hair damage in the winter months, as moisture is drawn from our hair shaft: “When your hair is exposed to the low humidity levels, water molecules inside the hair will migrate out of the hair shaft, leaving the hair feeling and looking dry.”
Cold winter air acts as a sponge for moisture, absorbing it from wherever it can, even our hair. And as if the cold air itself wasn’t already working against us, the issue is actually compounded when we move inside. During winter, stoves and central heating keep things toasty but also dry out the air – and our hair.
To top it all off, big woolly collars and coats, thick scarves and hats, and any other cosy accoutrements used on our heads and around our necks can create constant friction. The result? Fraying, split ends, frizz, and flat, lifeless hair.
Although this is frustrating, it’s not all doom and gloom, as there are things you can do to protect your hair and minimise damage.
Fighting the frizz – 7 protective hair styles for winter
Protection and prevention are the trick to getting your hair through winter. And, of course, there are a million and one winter hair solutions for sale, each promising to save your hair from the ravages of the season. From £100 silk sleeping bonnets and satin pillowcases to high-end serums, it can easily get expensive trying to keep your hair shiny and healthy in winter.
But the truth is that the most effective line of defence against winter damage is the age-old one that doesn’t cost a penny: tuck your ends away. Protective styles have been used by women all over the world for millennia to keep their hair healthy and safe from the elements, and it’s well worth learning a few dos to help you get through the winter.
Below, we’ve pulled together seven pretty and practical protective styles that work beautifully on mature hair, whether yours is poker-straight and silver, tightly coiled 4C, or anything in between.
1. French twist
Best for: Medium to long straight and wavy hair
For a protective style that’s as quick as it is classy, the French twist is simple, sophisticated, and sure to keep your ends and lengths well protected on cold winter days. In fact, it’s a lot quicker to style than it looks, and won’t ask too much of your shoulders and arms.
Simply gather your hair at the nape of your neck, twist it upward toward your crown, and tuck the ends into the twist you’ve created against your head. Secure everything well with pins, and maybe a spritz of hairspray.
Adding a satin or velvet scrunchie to the ponytail before you twist so that it sits at the base of the twist can prevent stray hairs, which can get caught in zips, coat buttons, and handbag straps, and rub against scarves.
2. Flat-twist crown
Best for: Longer black hair from 4A to 4C
This protective hairstyle is elegant and pretty, and although it can take a little time and effort to do, it can be left in for 1-2 weeks with the right products and sleep protection.
Sections of hair are flat-twisted into chunky corn rows of sorts, all along the perimeter of the head, to form a thick crown-like shape. It’s a versatile and elegant updo that can be worn on natural hair or transitioning hair.
Before you start, detangle and moisturise your hair well with a good product designed for your hair type. Ensure you sleep in a bonnet to keep the style in place and touch up as necessary.
3. Low twisted chignon
Best for: Medium to long straight or wavy hair
This is a classic, sometimes called a “granny bun”, but the truth is it’s very chic! The twist itself will smooth and compact the hair shaft and prevent it from rubbing against your coat collar, and your hidden ends will stay safely tucked away and protected from dry air and harsh winter winds.
Grey and white hair looks particularly elegant in a low twisted chignon, and it’s a style that can be dressed up or down. If your hair is very fine or thinning at the front, or you just like the look, you might like to leave out a couple of soft face-framing strands.
4. Covered up
Best for: all hair types, short hair in particular.
There’s a huge amount to be said for a carefully chosen silk scarf, especially if you have short hair that needs protection but isn’t so easy to get into a style.
The best part about this option is that you can choose some really beautiful statement scarves that become central to your whole look. From bright paisleys to animal prints and Versace-style patterns or bold colours, your headscarves can become a crowning expression of your style – so why not have some fun with them?
5. Milkmaid braids
Best for: medium-length straight or wavy hair
A whimsical, charming style, the crown or milkmaid braid is a great way to keep your hair up and out of the way, well protected from winter’s extremes. It’s got a kind of medieval Queen charm, and doesn’t take too long to style either.
Milkmaid braids are created by parting the hair down the middle, braiding each side (not too tightly – make the braids secure, but leave your strands room to breathe), and pinning them around your hairline to create a bit of a halo.
Before you start, you might want to add a little conditioning or smoothing product to help keep your hair in place and ensure your braids stay smooth.
6. Low space buns
Best for: Medium to long hair, all hair types
Super simple, casual and fun, space buns are a sweet style for your hair that will keep your ends under wraps and your lengths well protected too. They’re really easy to style, too, just part your hair down the middle, tie two bunches, and on the last loop, don’t pull the hair all the way through. Plait the remaining hair, tie it around the bun and tuck it in.
If you have 4A-4C, you might want to moisturise well with Jamaican castor oil or a suitable product, and then brush and gather each section of hair into a playful, messy bun at your nape, behind each ear.
7. Corn rows
Best for: Black hair from 4a to 4C, thick, coiled curly hair
Corn rows are a fantastic and long-lasting protective style that can last for up to 6-8 weeks, which could cover you for the coldest part of winter. And while they do take a lot longer to style than any of the other hairstyles on our list, you should – with proper care – get a lot longer out of them, too. A great investment to keep your natural hair healthy until spring.
These aren’t a DIY style, and if you don’t have a friend or family member who can do it for you, you’ll want to visit a specialist hairstylist to get yours. But you can have a lot of fun experimenting with different looks, from choosing thinner or thicker rows, adding extensions for length, and even experimenting with rows in different shapes and patterns on your head, from simplistic rows to more complex feed-in designs.
A skilled stylist will create a beautiful, long-lasting and wonderfully protective style for you. Make sure you wear a bonnet to bed, and touch up with product as required.
Final thoughts…
The temperatures are only just starting to drop, so if you’re a little new to some of these styles, don’t worry, you still have time to practice and perfect each one before the real winter temperatures set in. Before trying them, why not lay some good foundations with a good quality shampoo and conditioner, and a hair mask to really nourish and protect from root to ends?
When trying these styles, it’s also a good idea to avoid elastic hair types with metal joins, as these can snag and break the hair – look for softer nylon seamless hair ties, or even mini satin scrunchies, to put as little stress on your hair as possible.
Once you’ve found the style that you feel best wearing, it won’t take too many attempts before you’re able to do it perfectly within minutes, so you’ll not have to spend half your winter fretting and fussing over your hair.
The idea is to get out there and enjoy the season with a hairstyle that’s pretty, protective, and impervious to the strains placed on it by a UK winter.
Have we missed a hairstyle that you think should be on here, or do you have any advice for how to style and protect hair during winter? Please share your wisdom in the comments. We’re always happy to hear from you.
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