Good Hair in Bad Weather

With wicked weather at hand, it'll take more than a chair and a whip to tame that mane. When a do becomes a don't, a few new products and a lot of TLC are the remedy.

While that mini break at the slopes may expose your ends to too much sun, it's the constant whir of central heating that really parches. And though you don't want to camp in a cold-water flat, you can control extra heat exposure by limiting minutes under the dryer. Towel-blot most of the moisture from your head first and stop the blow dryer the instant hair is dry to retain a little curl karma.

Now, conservative styling doesn't excuse leaving the house wit ha wet head. Add cold to the damp and you're destined for broken ends and snarls. Plus, it's so not classy. To fight the meanest of the season's coif culprits, try these easy tips:

Mane Attraction

If static has your strands standing up, get grounded with a natural bristle brush. Also try "cocktailing" thickening foam with a couple drops of shine serum and smoothing it through damp hair prior to drying. The product mix gives you more shaping control. A texturizing product (like a grown-up glue stick) can paste dry flyaways back into place.

Bittersweet Beret

It's tempting to go incognito on a bad hair day. The hat head that results, however, is often worse. To help locks rebound, keep things easy. Spray hair lightly with an Evian-type water atomizer. Smooth short hair back and put long hair in a high pony before choosing a chapeau.

Dis-Tressed

Feeling dry and frizzy? Take a few days off from washing your hair. Use a dry shampoo or refreshing mist if you need a little pick-me-up. When you do shampoo, invest in a quality humectant conditioner to hold in moisture and prevent fizzing. For very fine hair, try a light leave-in conditioning spray to keep locks from going limp.

For most tress stress, a quick trim is a must. Otherwise, go with low-key styling. Trade alcohol-based gels and sprays for flex-forgiving creams. Give highlights a rest until the sun shines again. For a simple home spa experience, comb in some warm olive oil and curl up with a crossword and cocoa while your do gets renewed.