Season Change: The Adjustments to Carry You Through the Cool
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As the cool settles in, our hair and skin begin to tell the story of the season. Heating, low humidity, icy winds and slower circulation all play their part, dehydrating the scalp, slowing nutrient delivery to the follicles and contributing to winter’s most familiar concerns: parched skin, increased shedding, dullness, flakiness, static, frizz and breakage.
1. Winter is when your scalp and hair need you most.
And nurturing them isn’t just another beauty ritual. It’s one of the most impactful steps you can take toward conscious, long-term self-care. Because while winter dryness and dandruff are common, the bigger picture is the one we often overlook: the ageing scalp.
2. Your Scalp Ages Much Faster Than Your Face
We often talk about ageing in the context of skin, fine lines, spots, loss of elasticity. But we forget that the scalp is skin too. In fact, it ages six times faster than the facial skin we so carefully protect. Some skin experts even claim that facial wrinkles can be influenced by an ageing scalp. As the scalp loses volume and elasticity, the downward pull may contribute to the shifts we see on the face.
For both men and women, scalp ageing can look like:
- thinning
- greying
- dryness
- weakened hair health
- slower growth
And winter accelerates every one of these concerns. This is why your winter routine shouldn’t end at your moisturiser or your hair mask — your scalp needs equal (if not greater) attention.
3. Winter Hair ≠ Hydrated Hair
Most people associate “hair hydration” with the strands themselves, serums, masks, conditioners. But the truth is: Hair hydration begins at the the scalp. Your scalp and hair rely on sebum, the body’s natural oil that moisturises, coats and protects. In winter, sebum levels drop. As we age, they decline even further. One study found a significant reduction in sebum secretion in women in their 40s compared to their 20s.
Supporting sebum balance and replenishing scalp nourishment becomes essential, especially during winter.
4. How to Care for Your Scalp + Hair During Winter
- Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate
- Indoor heating strips moisture. Cold air strips moisture. And in winter, our sense of thirst dulls, meaning we hydrate less without realising it. Warm tea, cold lemon water, sparkling water, broth — however you enjoy it, drink more than you think you need. Your skin, scalp, digestion, mood and hair will thank you.
- Massage for Circulation
- Circulation slows in winter, meaning fewer nutrients reach your follicles. A gentle daily scalp massage while shampooing, working, unwinding or even before bed helps to stimulate natural oil production, deliver nutrients to the follicle and support healthier hair growth. It’s grounding, comforting, and incredibly effective.
- The Secret to Winter Beauty?
- A nourished scalp. It’s your hair’s foundation, its protector, and the quiet hero behind shine, strength and growth. Care for your scalp through the cool, and your hair will carry that invincible summer, long after winter’s passed.