The clocks are set back, and the temperatures have dropped, which can only mean one thing – winter is upon us. While your locks may be loving the lack of humidity, the cold air can leave your hair brittle and dry if not properly cared for. Whether you feel like you’ve tried every solution under the sun or you have never considered the thought of winter hair care before, these tips and tricks are for you! Discover the best ways to avoid some of the most common winter hair woes and keep your hair looking vibrant and strong all season long.

Deep Condition: Throughout the summer, your hair care routine was probably minimal. With winter around the corner, now is the time to load up on leave-in conditioners and essential oils for your hair. The cold, dry weather during the winter months can cause major damage to your hair, especially if you use hot styling tools regularly. To prevent issues these tools cause, like breakage, properly coat your hair with a leave-in oil to ensure it stays healthy and shiny.

Plan To Moisturize: If you have room in your budget, ask your local hairstylist for a professional deep-conditioning treatment during the winter months. This will help protect your hair from the cold and all of the styling tools you use on a daily basis. If you can’t afford monthly treatments, there are plenty of at-home remedies available at local drug stores. Anything is better than nothing! At the very least, keep up with trims to cut off split ends and use a hydrating conditioning cream daily to help your hair retain moisture.

Use Anti-Frizz Products: You may think that with the cooler weather, frizz will become a problem of the past. Unfortunately, winter and frizzy hair go hand-in-hand. Luckily there are plenty of anti-frizz products out there for you to choose from, including styling gels, serums, and freezing mists that will keep your hair frizz-free throughout the winter.

Avoid Over-washing: Washing your hair every day and then applying a lot of heat does more harm than good – you’ll end up stripping all the natural oils and drying it out. Instead, wash your hair every other day and try to avoid using water that’s super hot, as it can cause breakage. As an added bonus, “dirty” hair holds a style better! Stock up on dry shampoo and shave some time off of your morning routine by washing your hair on an abbreviated schedule.

Blow Dry Less: No one wants to step outside in freezing temperatures with wet hair! For one, you’re more likely to contract a cold. Plus, having icicles form on your scalp is no fun, either. Blow drying your hair becomes something of a necessity during the winter, but instead of blasting your locks with high heat, use your hair dryer on the medium or low setting. It may take longer to blow everything dry, but you’ll cause less damage. To help streamline the process, pat your hair dry when you exit the shower to get out the excess water, then use an ionic hair dryer, which dries your hair more quickly.

Say goodbye to frizzy, staticky hat hair and hello to gorgeous, styled locks with these helpful tips!

This article brought to you by the beauty experts at Mon Cheri Bridals, a designer wedding dress retailer.