Welcome to December! The parties, gift exchanges, and cooking, has started! December is a busy month for me because our family comes into town and we hang out almost every single day together. We also start prepping for Christmas and New Years, and there are many small family reunions that lead up to that. December is the month when I do my make-up most often and it’s also when my hair goes into overtime getting curled, teased, straightened, blow-dried — to look fabulous at all those holiday gatherings. Protecting my hair from all this over activity means that I have to give it some tender loving care so it stays shiny, healthy, and strong. If you are busy during this season like me, you’ll need to give your locks the same extra love. These are some tips I follow that always keep my mane manageable and gorgeous during the season and year-long.

Use a Hair Mask in The Shower

I always a moisturizing cream mask in the shower for 5-10 minutes 2 times a week especially because I have color-treated hair. As an extra, put on your mask as soon as you get into the shower and put on a shower cap to reap all the benefits from the mask. Use a brush designed to brush wet hair, like the Wet Brush, to gently detangle your strands when you get out of the shower.

Use Low Heat on Your Hair Tools

This might seem as an obvious one but many of us just crank up the heat because we’re impatient and start styling our hair, and we don’t pay attention to the temperature. I always set my tools to medium heat to prevent breakage — and split ends! The result: healthier hair with less split ends.

Use Heat Protectant Spray Before Using Heat Tools

This has been life changing for my strands! Lightly spray your hair with your favorite heat protectant. I recommend the Living proof restore instant protection which is weightless and contains no oils or silicones, and was recommended by my hairstylist. This spray prevents any breakage caused by using extreme heat, and it makes your hair shiny and soft. A little goes a long way so don’t overspray.

Prolong Your Hairstyle with Satin

This trick to make my hairstyle last forever is one I recently learned. When I get my hair curled or styled during the holidays I want to make my style last more than one day. But how can we achieve that if we sleep on it at night? Get the most of your salon holiday hairstyle by using satin pillowcases which prevent your hair from frizzing up or sleep with a satin cap on. I got my satin cap at the local pharmacy.

Use Better Heat Tools

I’ve recently been using the ghd flat iron that makes my hair shiny and actively prevents breakage. If you like to use a flat iron regularly, I would recommend investing in a quality styling tool that will love your hair. This flat iron even intensifies my hair color and has no temperature knob, plus it heats up automatically to a safe-for-hair temperature.

I hope these tips are useful and easy for you to follow. If you’re consistent in the use of these products and quench your hair every week with an in-shower mask you should see less breakage and notice shinier strands. Beautiful hair is possible in the winter, especially with these extra hair tips.