The Ultimate Hair Guide for Autumn/Fall

Whenever we shift from one season to the next, our skin, scalp and hair are inevitably affected by temperature shifts, changes in activities or even simple things like wearing hats! In this article, we are going to focus on how seasonal changes can affect our hair (i.e., hair growth, hair texture and hair luster) and what we can do to address these changing needs.

Summer Hair Damage

We all know that as invigorating as the sun may make us feel, too much sun exposure can lead to long-lasting damage of our skin and hair. Excessive sun exposure can burn our hair, just as it does our skin, leaving it feeling dry, dull and brittle. Similarly, increased exposure to chlorine (at pools and water parks), sea salt in the ocean, or activities resulting in increased sweating can also further interrupt our hair’s natural rhythm leading to unwanted shift in the health of our hair. We call this, “the summer come-down.”

How to Care for Damaged Hair

1. Evaluate Your Hair Care Products

The Fall season is a great time to prep for the shifting needs of our hair, skin, body and more by analyzing the products we are using and appropriately shifting to those that will address our increased need for moisture and repairing nutrients that will revive our hair’s strength, moisture, shine and bounce. Now that the cooler temperatures are coming, and we’re recuperating and transitioning from “the Summer come-down,” seeking natural ingredients to nourish and hydrate our scalp and hair is of utmost importance, to prevent them from looking and feeling dry, brittle and dull.  At Kreyol Essence, we love creating products with natural ingredients because they infuse skin (yes, that includes your scalp) and hair with the nourishing vitamins and minerals they need to stay resilient and healthy.

Using a natural shampoo/conditioner combo like our Haitian Black Castor Oil: Scalp Care Shampoo and Conditioner, that is gentle enough to not strip the scalp and hair of their natural oils while still providing a thorough cleansing, moisturizing and nourishing result is a great first step.  Formulated with our wonder-cure hero-ingredient, our Haitian Black Castor Oil and a unique blend of all-natural proteins and essential oils including Ylang Ylang, Sweet Orange & Peppermint, they will stimulate and pamper the scalp for optimal hair retention, growth, and health!

2. Give Scalp and Hair that Extra TLC

Extreme shifts in temperature can also easily lead to a dry, flaky scalp (also known as dandruff). In order to prevent or treat dry/damaged scalp and hair, we recommend applying one of our­ Haitian Black Castor Oils, massaging it directly onto the scalp and throughout the hair as a hot oil treatment (applying heat for 15-30 minutes) or as a hair mask, without heat (anywhere from 30-60 minutes or overnight, washing it out afterwards). It is important to secure these efforts by following-up with other ultra-nourishing scalp and hair care products like those in our Scalp Care Collection to continue to soothe and nurture scalp, hair and skin post shower. Health-promoting ingredients like biotin, zinc, vitamin E AND C and A LOT of moisture and hydration will ensure your hair looks lustrous and soft all season long.

3. Reduce Hair’s Exposure to Heat

If there is a notable difference in the hair’s moisture level and texture and it seems more prone to breakage and frizz, always recommend reducing the amount of heat your hair is exposed to.  Some quick shifts can be made by lowering the heat on your hair tools, or taking a break from them, altogether, or even just lowering the water temperature when showering and washing your hair. Restricting these activities, will allow your hair to retain the moisture needed for it to remain flexible and grow healthy and strong.

4. Remove the Damage & Refresh

While there are many great natural ingredients that can help boost our hair back to life or minimize the appearance of seasonal or styling damage, a chop is a great way to refresh and halt the damage incurred. This is the quickest and easiest way to eliminate some of the damaging effects to your hair. Firstly, because our hair has the wonderful ability to re-grow stronger and healthier, but also because the damaged hair that is removed will no longer inhibit your new healthy hair growth goals. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, strands only grow approximately a half inch every month, so trimming between a quarter to half an inch off every 12 weeks, if growing it out, will suffice.

5. Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle Year-Round

Staying active and eating healthy are imperative steps to keeping your overall wellness fine-tuned. Exercise helps your body shed the toxins it absorbs from the environment and gets the blood flowing, which aids in delivering essential vitamins and minerals to all parts of the body. Likewise, our skin, hair, mood and mind also rely on the ingredients we put into our bodies to get us looking and feeling our best.

For a quick and easy way to elevate your nutrient intake is add one of our Biotin + Collagen infused powders (Haitian Moringa Vitamins & Supplements) to your smoothies, breakfast bowls or morning beverages for a caffeine-free energy boost that’s packed with a more than 92 vitamins and 46 antioxidants to get you glowing from the inside out!

Self-Care Moments You Deserve

Adjustments of any kind can be a real challenge for many of us but regardless of the season, now is always the right time for self-care moments with a little extra TLC. So, shift that mindset and welcome Autumn as a time to slow down and be more attentive to your needs; treat yourself with the love and respect you deserve by eating healthier (adding our Moringa vitamins & supplements to your food/drinks), revamping your beauty routine with clean ingredients, taking the time for relaxing baths (infused with our Haitian Black Castor Oils), practicing yoga/mediation, taking long walks or simply making the time to meet up with friends and family. However you prefer to welcome that change, in loving and caring for yourself, we are here to support you.