The Winter Wash Day Reset

There's something about wash day in winter that just feels harder. The cold bathroom floor, the last thing you want is to wet your hair. But your wash day routine still matters.

Winter wash day is not the same as summer wash day, and treating it that way is where a lot of people go wrong. In this article, we show you how to adjust.

In winter, washing too frequently strips the natural oils your scalp relies on to stay moisturised. You don't have the same sweat and product build-up as summer, so you probably don't need to wash as often. Once a week is fine for most hair types. Once every ten days works too. Listen to your scalp; if it's itchy or flaking, it's time. If it's not, don't fix what isn't broken.

This isn’t something you would do in summer, but in winter, it’s quite the hack. Apply a hair oil to your strands and ends before you step into the shower. This is called pre-pooing, and it's especially valuable in winter because it creates a barrier that stops the shampoo from stripping everything out. A few drops of MPL Olive Hair Oil through the mid-lengths and ends, left on for 20–30 minutes, will make a noticeable difference to how your hair feels after washing.

If this isn’t already obvious, you need to deep condition every single wash day. This is non-negotiable in winter. After shampooing with a moisturising shampoo, follow up with a moisturising conditioner and let it sit for 15 minutes minimum. Your hair needs that intensive moisture hit to compensate for what the cold is stripping away all week.

While your hair is still slightly damp, that's your window. Apply your leave-in, then seal with MPL Hair Treatment 5 Oils or MPL Coconut Hair Oil while the hair shaft is still open and can absorb. Once it dries completely, you've missed your best moisturising gap.

And last but not least, never and we mean never go to sleep with wet hair in winter. Damp hair is fragile hair, and tossing and turning on a pillowcase puts serious stress on it. Air dry as much as possible before bed, and if you're protective styling while damp, make sure the style has enough airflow to dry properly.

Your winter wash day doesn't need to be complicated, but it needs to be intentional and well suited for the weather. Adjust what isn't working, and your hair will tell you when you've got it right.

Love MPL,

Your Hair Doctor