Last Updated on December 2, 2022 by Verna Meachum
The weather is finally starting to warm up and that means one thing: spring is here! This season is a time for renewal and new beginnings, and this is also the time of year when many people like to switch up their hair care regimen.
Get ready for spring haircare! In this blog post, we will discuss how to take care of your hair as and how to switch up your hair care routine.
If you have curly hair, it’s important to adjust your routine as the weather changes and prepare your locks for the warmer months ahead.
The beauty and joy of nature are enhanced in the spring, when all living things are fresh and new.
Spring is perhaps the most popular season since it brings us pleasant changes all throughout our environment.
The temperature starts to rise and along with it, flowers, plants, and trees start to bloom and develop new leaves and flowers.
And, it’s my birthday month so that makes spring even more special.
As we all know, with spring comes warmer weather and the perfect opportunity to ditch heavy winter products that can weigh your hair down.
Instead, spring is the time to focus on lightening and brightening your hair care routine. Let’s take inspiration from the season and give our hair a fresh start too!
Changes in Weather: From Winter to Spring
In the spring, the weather changes considerably as the cold winter season comes to an end. The days are beginning to warm up.
As a result, people tend to spend more time outside appreciating the beauty of spring. The sunlight has different UV rays in spring than it does in winter. The sun is not as harsh, but the UV rays are still present.
You may not have given it much thought, but the change in weather can actually have a big impact on your hair.
For example, in spring, the humidity in the air begins to increase. If you live in an area with high humidity, you know that this can wreak havoc on your hair.
The increased moisture in the air can cause your hair to frizz and become unmanageable. If you have curly hair, you know that springtime is not the time to skimp on your hair care routine!
Do we need to change our hair care routine as a result of this weather’s transformation? Is it time for a fresh customized hair care regimen?
The answer is, YES.
What Spring Does To Your Hair
The weather has a huge impact on our hair fibers. The changes in temperature, humidity, and exposure to solar radiation alter the physical and chemical properties of hair.
In spring, the temperature rises, and the snow begins to melt. There are higher levels of water molecules present in the air as a result of an increase in temperature and humidity.
Humidity is measured by the amount of water vapor in the air. The higher the water levels in the air, the higher the humidity.
We can expect a gradual increase in humidity with more sunshine and as the temperature warms.
Hair fibers are made up of keratin protein that can absorb water molecules from the air and this absorption may cause swelling, leading to an increase in its diameter.
As a result, spring weather at higher humidity conditions can cause our hair to appear frizzy, puffy, and hair becomes difficult to manage.
But don’t worry, there are ways to combat this! We’ll talk more about that later.
So, during the spring season, frizz is the most persistent issue, and consumers are compelled to address it.
Sunshine and Outdoor Activities
The arrival of spring also brings modifications to our daily routine. Outside, the day is lovely; individuals are inclined to engage in more outdoor activities. This exposes your hair to solar radiation.
UV radiation from solar light is detrimental to skin and hair proteins. These radiations induce the formation of high-energy and highly reactive oxygen species inside the hair structure.
Among these species, hydroxyl radical is the main one responsible for hair damage.
As a result, more outdoor activities lead to greater photo damage, resulting in frizzy, fragile hair with split ends.
Thus, springtime is the perfect opportunity to focus on ensuring our hair is well-protected during day hours, when we are more likely to be exposed to the sun’s harmful rays.
But how can we take care of our hair during spring?
Update Your Hair Care Regimen For Spring
So, it is clear that spring weather conditions are different and winter is over. As a result, we must adapt and adjust our hair care regimens as necessary.
There are a few things you can do to change up your hair care routine for spring.
- First, focus on using products that will help protect your hair from the sun’s harmful rays.
- Second, use lighter products that will not weigh your hair down.
- Third, focus on hydration and moisture.
- Fourth, use products that will help control frizz.
The Best Hair Care Products to Use in the Spring For Every Hair Type
The flowers are blooming, the birds are singing, and everyone is just a little bit happier. Even your hair seems to perk up after a long winter of being cooped up under hats and scarves.
But just because your hair is ready for spring doesn’t mean you can neglect your hair care routine.
In fact, you may need to switch up your products to account for the warmer weather and higher humidity levels.
Here are some of the best hair care products to use in the spring for every hair type:
Wavy, Curly, Coily Hair
If you have textured curly hair, you know that spring can be a bit of a mixed blessing.
On one hand, the extra moisture in the air can help to tame frizz and add definition to your curls. On the other hand, the humidity can also lead to puffiness and sculpted styles that fall flat.
For cleansing your curls, go for a shampoo that is sulfate-free to avoid stripping away natural oils. Follow up with a conditioner that will hydrate and detangle your hair.
To keep your curls looking their best this spring, reach for a lightweight curl cream or gel.
Look for products that contain natural ingredients like aloe vera or proteins, which can help to hydrate and protect your hair.
To help control frizz, reach for products containing emollients like shea butter and natural oils. These ingredients will help to shield hair from the spring humidity.
For a more in-depth guide to curly hair types and product suggestions, check out this post.
Dry, coarse hair
If you have dry, coarse hair, there are a few products that can help you achieve spring-time perfection.
First, try a leave-in conditioner. This will help to hydrate your hair and protect it from the sun and pollution.
Dry hair needs moisture and one of the best ways to get it is by using a deep conditioner.
Deep conditioners penetrate the hair shaft to deliver much-needed hydration. A deep conditioner restores hair’s natural appearance, aligns the cuticles, makes it smooth, soft, and imparts shine.
Changing weather conditions, especially humidity, may cause frizz and induce a static charge on the hair fibers.
Thus, a deep conditioning treatment (at least once a week) will keep your hair conditioned and ready to face any adverse changes in weather.
For spring hair care, the ingredient list for hair conditioners is critical to combatting frizz.
A typical conditioner for spring should have a moderate moisturizing potential made up of a blend of humectant, emollient, and hair softeners.
For extra dry hair, you may want to try a hot oil treatment. They help to add shine, moisture, and softness to the hair.
With these products in your arsenal, you’ll be ready to take on spring weather – no matter what it throws at you!
If you need a good conditioner for dry hair, read this – The Best Conditioner For Dry Hair: Top 10 Picks
Fine, oily hair
If you have fine, oily hair, you might be wondering what products will work best for you.
First of all, you’ll want to focus on gentle, clarifying, sulfate-free shampoos that won’t strip your hair of its natural oils.
Clarifying shampoos will help to remove build-up from your hair without making it feel dry or damaged.
Sweating is more apparent at higher temperatures especially when you’re outside during the day. Excess sweating also causes deposits of minerals and other lipid molecules on the scalp surface and hair shaft.
As a result, we’ll need a good cleansing shampoo.
You may also want to experiment with a dry shampoo to help absorb excess oil and give your hair some extra volume.
When it comes to styling, try using a lightweight mousse or gel to add definition and hold without weighing down your strands.
Color-treated hair
If you have color-treated hair, you know that it requires a bit of extra TLC.
The good news is that spring is the perfect time to give your strands a much-needed nourishing treatment.
Look for products that contain natural oils and botanical extracts to help hydrate and protect your hair from environmental damage.
You should also use a color-safe shampoo and conditioner to help preserve your hair color. Avoid harsh sulfates, which can strip away color.
And finally, don’t forget to protect your hair from UV damage with a leave-in conditioner.
Frizzy hair
The use of a leave-in conditioner is essential to fight against frizz during the spring. Leave-in treatments are especially important for individuals that spend a lot of time outdoors.
The ideal leave-in conditioner is one with a high concentration of conditioning ingredients that can be easily applied to wet or dry hair (a spray leave-in conditioner).
Exposure to variations in humidity alters the surface properties of hair. This has a huge impact on curls, styling, appearance, and overall care.
The formulation should comprise natural emollients, oils, and butter. Oils having unsaturated fatty acid provide superior coating, ease of application, and a non-greasy texture.
The following oils perform better against frizz;
- sunflower oil
- cottonseed oil
- canola oil
- olive oil
- jojoba oil
- meadowfoam seed
However, the leave in conditioner and oils should be applied carefully. For frizzy curly hair, “Less is always more”. The fewer applications we use, the better.
The key is to apply in steps- by taking a small quantity of your product and applying it to your hair in sections, to ensure the product is evenly applied to each strand of hair.
With these spring hair care tips, you’ll be able to keep your hair looking healthy and gorgeous all season long!
6 More Spring Hair Care Tips
✓ Use a conditioner that contains sunscreen.
✓ Wear a hat or scarf when you know you’ll be outside for a prolonged period of time.
✓ Avoid using hot tools as much as possible. Let your hair air dry whenever you can.
✓ Try not to use harsh chemicals on your hair. If you can, go for more natural options.
✓ Eat healthy and drink plenty of water. This will help your hair from the inside out.
✓ Don’t forget to get regular trims. This will help get rid of any dead ends and split ends.
Hair Care Ingredients To Look For in Products
Humectants – avoid glycerin (if at all possible) and look for natural water-binding molecules (as mentioned above), e.g. lactic acid, proteins, PCAs, and betaine
Emollients – look for natural emollients; oils and butter. They offer multifunctional benefits and are better options for frizz and conditioning.
Proteins and amino acids are bio-molecules known for their benefits to hair fibers. They restore hair’s mechanical strength and align the cuticles making hair smooth. They bind water molecules and can deliver “Just the right amount” of water to hair proteins. We also recommended to use a protein treatment (once in a while) to maintain healthy hair.
Silicones – are excellent sealants, however, they can also block the penetration of other active ingredients. Let’s stick with natural emollients because of their natural sustainable availability.
Glycerin – Under spring conditions, glycerine should be avoided. Glycerine, being highly hygroscopic, may cause stickiness.
Instead of glycerine, a range of new water-binding humectants are available today.
Among them are;
- betaine
- pyrrolidone carboxylate (PCA)
- lactic acid and its salts
- aloe vera juice
- amino acids are preferred due to their multifunctional benefits.
Final Words
Springtime is a lovely time for most of us, and we may join the celebration by carefully maintaining our hair care regimen.
Winter is over and the temperature is increasing, the humidity level is different and these weather conditions are going to impact hair manageability.
To make it easier for our day-to-day life, we need to customize our hair care regimen.
A careful selection of products is a MUST for this spring for naturally curly hair.
The above tips will give you an excellent head start in spring hair care.
But the most crucial advice is to listen to your hair and follow its lead; let your hair be your guide! Your hair knows best! After all, it’s been with you since day one.
Pamper your locks a little extra this spring and let us know how it goes in the comment section below. We’d love to hear from you!
Happy spring hair care!
Further Reading
1. Marsh, J. M.; Gray, J.; Tosti, A., Healthy Hair. Springer International Publishing: 2015.
2. Zviak, C., The Science of Hair Care. Taylor & Francis: 2005.
3. Corporation, A. P., Hair Care: From Physiology to Formulation. Allured Publishing Corporation: 2008
Recommended Reading
- A Complete Care Guide for Low Porosity Hair
- The Best Hair Sprays For Curly Hair That Keeps It All In Place
- How to Make Your Hair Curlier: The Best Tips and Tricks
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