Hair isn’t exempt from the woes of winter. From dreaded hat head to stubborn frizz, we’re all too familiar with how this season takes a toll on our strands. Lucky for us, there are a few things we can do to prevent winter from giving us one long season of bad hair days. Here are six winter hair care tips that will save your locks.

1. Protect your hair from the elements (and your hat!)

The drying effects of winter don’t stop at your skin. The chilly weather and harsh winds are also hard on your locks. The best way to keep your hair looking healthy is to bundle up with a hat or a loosely wrapped scarf. You don’t have to sacrifice your style for hat head, either. Prevent static by smoothing a small amount of Peter Lamas Youth Revival Reparative Hair Oil through your strands, then wrapping them in a silk scarf. The lightweight oil will smooth and soften to eliminate frizz and the silk will help minimize the friction between your tresses and your hat.

2. Keep your locks hydrated

Deep conditioning your tresses is important no matter the season. Using a hair mask once a week will help repair dry, brittle locks while replenishing any lost moisture. After shampooing, simply squeeze out any excess water and smooth the mask evenly through your ends. One of our favorites is Rene Furterer ABSOLUE KERATINE Ultimate Renewal Mask because it works deep down to restructure and renew strands, leaving them softer, shinier and more manageable.

3. Fight frizz with humidity

Humidity is often the enemy when it comes to fighting frizz. But a lack of moisture in the air can also zap moisture from your strands, making frizz much worse. This is especially true during the winter when you crank up the indoor heating. Investing in a humidifier for your home will help prevent dry air from wreaking havoc on your hair.

4. Turn down the temp in the shower

It’s best to wash your tresses with lukewarm water instead of hot, especially in the middle of winter. Hot water strips hair of its natural oils, leaving strands more susceptible to things like dryness, breakage and frizz. When you lather up, make sure you’re also picking the right products. Frizz-fighting shampoos and conditioners are your best bet because they help smooth the cuticle for healthier locks. Alterna’s Bamboo Smooth line is one of our favorites for eliminating frizz.

5. Never leave home with wet hair

Make sure you never leave the house with wet locks. Not only could you catch a cold, you’re also making things harder on your tresses. When the moisture in your hair meets the cold air, it makes strands even more dry and brittle. Instead, grab a gentle dryer like CHI AIR STYLE SERIES Ceramic Hair Dryer. This 1500-watt dryer uses tourmaline ceramic elements to distribute heat evenly while Far Infrared heat repels humidity and prevents frizz and static.

6. Get regular trims

All of this hard work will be for nothing unless you take care of your split ends. Even the best masks and treatments can’t repair breakage. The only way to eliminate split ends is to trim off the damage. To keep your tresses looking healthy, schedule a trim with your stylist every six to eight weeks. Once your ends are nice and strong, keep them looking great with a hydrating leave-in treatment like Klorane Leave-In Cream with Desert Date.

We want to hear your winter hair care tips! Share with us in the comments below or on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using #LovelySkin!