As an experienced hairstylist, I always express these 3 words when consulting with my guests who have hair concerns with dryness:
- Prevent
- Replenish
- Protect
Putting ‘PRP’ into action:
1. Avoid hot water.
First off, I know this is a hard ask- nothing beats a hot shower to warm you up after enduring the cold! The reason why we want to avoid this is because the hot water can strip the hair of it’s natural oils, leading to frizzy, dull hair. Porosity/ color retention issues can also arise due to the heat allowing the cuticle to open. 
If you want to continue taking your hot showers, try turning down the temp when it comes time to washing your hair. An additional tip for adding even more shine/ luster back into your hair is rinsing with a cold shot of water for a minimum of 20 seconds. This will help completely close the cuticle, & lock in the moisturizing benefits from your conditioner.
2. Supplement.
Fact: you are what you eat. Generally, a well-balanced diet with variety will bring you all of the essential nutrients your hair needs to be healthy & strong.
Here’s a basic check-list of vitamins/ minerals that you hair needs for optimal health:
- Water. Every strand of hair is actually made of about 25% water… nonetheless, adequate water intake is essential for healthy hair. Not only does it help your scalp stay hydrated, but it can even accelerate hair growth by preventing dryness.
- Dark leafy greens, or other foods rich in Vitamins A & C. Both vitamins will help encourage the scalp to produce more natural sebum (oil) to condition your hair.
- Biotin. There are many foods that naturally contain biotin; such as eggs, mushrooms, & oats. Biotin supplements are available If you aren’t getting enough in your regular diet! Always consult with your physician & be aware of potential side effects of taking any vitamins/ minerals by pill, powder, or liquid form.
- Collagen. Fish, chicken, egg whites, & citrus fruits are all great sources- or you could also take this in supplement form. I recently discovered Pure Canadian Marine Collagen by Landish about two months ago, & it truly is the BEST! It’s the only collagen I’ve tried that doesn’t smell/ taste fishy!
3. Proper shampoo habits.
I CANNOT stress this one enough… stretch the amount of time between shampoos! This might feel hard at first, especially if your scalp has been used to over-producing sebum due to over-washing. Unknowingly, you might have created an artificial shampoo cycle. Depending on the texture of your hair, time of the year, your age, & other factors will also play a part in your optimum hair wash cycle.
Using a dry shampoo to stretch the amount of time between shampoos! This is a great product to use as a tool to help skip a day or two between washing! Not only does stretching the time between washes save you time in the morning, it also helps prevent your color from fading. Living Proof’s PHD Dry Shampoo is hands-down my favorite. 
For the days in which there is no amount of dry shampoo to revive your style, try wearing it up. Personally, my hair usually goes up after day 3! Follow @myzenchies & @samanthahairstylist on IG for the latest inspo for simple, chic styles you can easily replicate at home.
My current “can’t live without” scrunchies/ clips are:
4. Hydrate your hair.
Fact. Your hair will lose moisture in the cold weather. So here’s a thought… why not put moisture back in?
Hydrating/ moisturizing products work by utilizing humectants that attract water molecules & promote moisture retention.
Check out Living Proof’s Restore Shampoo & Conditioner for a reparative duo that will help transform your hair from the inside out! One of my go-to leave-in treatments to use post shower is Olaplex No. 6.
Consult with your stylist for further recommendations, & make sure to read product reviews before purchase!
5. Weekly hair masque.
This may sound like a given, but it’s something a lot of us overlook. Hair masques/ deep conditioners are designed to penetrate deep into your hair shaft & condition from the inside out. It’s something you should do year-round, but it’s even more important in the winter!
I personally love Olaplex’s latest, No. 8! Make sure to leave it in your hair for a minimum of 10 minutes. If your wanting an easy way to tie back your hair while the treatment works it’s magic, check out our spa-esque Luxe Dry Zenchies. 
6. Cut back on heat styling.
Always use a heat protectant before using any hot tool, & limit heat styling whenever possible. Whether this means skipping styling on the weekend, or tying your hair up in a top-knot instead; every little bit will add up! Our hair is already battling the cold temps, & is naturally more vulnerable for damage.
I hope these tips help prepare you for your BEST hair this winter! Leave a comment below, or send an email our way for any further questions.
PS- If you’re local to Winnipeg, both Living Proof, & Olaplex products can be found at Bob and Page.
With love,
Samantha Thom
