Don't Go Outside with Wet Hair: Cold Weather Hair Tips

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Have you ever heard the phrase " Don't go outside with your hair wet, or you will get sick." Did you ever question if this was true or not, because I never did. I just chopped it up to my mom knew what she was talking about, but then my daughter asked me was there any truth to this statement. So, I had to do some research and while I found that this is considered a myth, it is also true. Let me explain.

I found that there is no scientific evidence that shows you can get sick from going outside with wet hair. However, an article I read on Businessinsider.com quoted Jason Collier a celebrity hairdresser saying, "Cold weather can exacerbate hair breakage in wet hair causing strands to snap off." Meaning that when your hair is wet and you then go outside, the water molecules in the hair expand which can cause the hair to break. So, unfortunately, I have no clue if you can get sick or not so just don't do it. If you have to go outside with wet hair just at least dry your roots before you do. 

Below are some tips to help with the damage that can happening during the cold winter months, but also how to prevent it from happening in the first place. 

Basic Steps to Follow

• DO NOT GO OUTSIDE WITH WET HIAR! - Going outside with wet hair can cause brakeage and more importantly your hair could freeze. The cold air can create dryness which leads to the brakeage of your hair and even lead to dry scalp. 
• Create a Routine - A routine causes little stress on your hair and it's a good way see how your hair is reacting to the products you are using. (We went into depth about creating a routine in our last blog post, go check it out! 

• Retain Moisture - This is important when you experience dry hair. Add water to your diet and if you are not a water lover try eating fruits and vegetables that are rich in water. (Ex: peaches, tomatoes, cucumbers, and strawberries to name a few.)  
• Layer your products: Use combinations like liquid-cream-oil (LCO), liquid-cream-butter (LCB), and even liquid-cream-grease (LCG).  Check out our hair oil it promotes hair growth and helps to alleviate dry, itchy scalp.  

How to Prevent the Damage

• Avoid Over Washing- Washing your hair to often can and will strip your natural oils. 
• Do Not Skip Conditioning Days- We want to retain as much moisture as possible, so do not miss any days!
• Wear Stain Hats- Hats with stain lining reduce friction and prevents static.
• Wake up earlier- Try waking up earlier if you wash your hair in the morning. That way you have that spare time to properly wash and dry your hair. If not, then I would suggest switching your routine to be incorporated into your nighttime routine.

In conclusion, my personal opinion is to not go outside with your hair wet during the wintertime. Not only because you can possibly get sick, and nobody wants to get sick, but because of the damage that can be caused.  Find a routine that works best for you and your schedule, at least we can try to prevent having to go out with wet hair.

References:

1.  www.blackdoctor.org: Three (3) Winter Tips 
2. www.buisnessinsider.com/reasons-for-not-going-outside-with-wet-hair-damage-winter-2018-11
3. Cury Chemistry (YouTube)- Tonya S. Lane

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