For many of us, the colder months of the year might mean extra frizz, flat tresses, and an overall dull look for our hair.
With that said, we reached out to a professional hairstylist to learn more about what might be causing your locks to look lifeless this winter — regardless of your hair type and texture — and how to easily fix this when you head to the salon.
Read on for tips, suggestions and insight from Gina Rivera, celebrity hairstylist, expert and founder of Phenix Salon Suites and Ghanima Abdullah, hair expert and cosmetologist at The Right Hairstyles.
3 Causes Of Dull-Looking Hair In Winter (And Solutions!)
1. Your Haircut Doesn't Have Enough (Or Any) Layers
For fellow fine-haired ladies and anyone who might face a thinner, flatter or straighter texture, Rivera says that layers can work wonders when it comes to volume.
"Long layers are essential for creating movement, dimension, and a more voluminous look," she notes, especially if you haven't gotten a haircut in a while.
Solution: Try Long, Face-Framing Layers
"This is especially important if the hair is thin," she continues. "Long layers tend to remove a bit of the weight from the hair, making it lighter and ultimately, creating the illusion of being fuller."
In the winter, your hair might be weighed down by environmental causes, and one way to combat this is by adding some long, face-framing layers like Jennifer Aniston did here, Rivera advises.
2. You Have a Center Part & Blunt Cut
Abdullah agrees, and adds that wearing a middle part with already-thin hair can make hair loss even more apparent as many of us find that thinning tresses are inevitable near the crown area.
"As thinning hair progresses, it can take a toll on the crown area in women," she notes. She says that because hair loss in women tends to "start with a widening of the part, it's best to stop parting your hair in the middle." Instead, she recommends parting your tresses into a "deep side part" for instant volume.
Solution: Try an Asymmetrical, Side-Parted Lob
Rather than a middle-parted, blunt cut, Rivera recommends opting for an asymmetrical 'do, and a lob if you're used to having longer, flatter hair. "The lob, also recognized as a longer version of the classic bob, is such a popular look right now," Rivera says. One of the main reasons for that is "the fact that you don’t have to commit to shorter hair and it’s versatile," she adds, also noting that a lob like Gal Gadot's above is "terrific for creating a youthful look."
This "allows for a lot of movement and it can be worn fuller than a sleek lob which results in softening the features." Rivera and Abdullah also recommend trying layers. "The fact that there are changing lengths in the hair makes it a very trendy and current style," Rivera notes, deeming it a great cut for ladies of any age as it "contributes to an up-to-date and young look."
Abdullah recommends another trick that you can use in 2024— asking your stylist to cut short layers into your hair. "These are cut on a slight angle and are meant to help create volume," she notes.
3. You're Not Getting Enough Trims
Whether you have straight hair or curly locks, it's vital to visit the salon every so often to trim off split ends and flatter your face shape, Rivera says. By doing this, you promote healthy hair growth and instant volume. "Layering allows for the removal of damaged ends and also creates a lot of opportunities for styling," she notes.
Rivera also shares that "removing a bit of length from your hair" always "adds to movement and creates a youthful appeal." In addition, texturing your hair with a new haircut "creates an opportunity to remove some of the damaged ends and weight which bring more life to the hair as well."
Solution: Hit the Salon Every 4-6 Weeks For a Trim or New Cut
To maintain healthy, vibrant and shiny curly or wavy hair (like Zendaya above) or straight strands this winter, Rivera says that "it’s best to always consult with your stylist on a maintenance schedule."
For those trying to "regain hair health" she recommends "making sure to trim every 4-6 weeks." It’s also "super important to use a great wet line" packed with biotin, collage, and B Vitamins, Rivera concludes.
Good to know!
