December, January, February........ yeah still winter! But how does it affect our hair and skin, and Can we avoid what does happen? Well you'll just have to read on to find out.

Now many of us think too much moisture can be a bad thing but honestly, in winter there's good and not so good types of moisture. What were hitting on today the moisture to hydrate and nourish leaving us feeling, well smooth, soft, healthy and glowy. 

During the winter we like to be all cosy and warm but at what cost? You got it lack of moisture, the lack of moisture in the air and natural hair and skin moisture levels are driven away by heat from radiators, air conditioning and many other heated appliances. Enviromental moisture from cold, dry winter air effects skin as mist, wind and rain brings humidity and in some instances brittleness which is caused by broken hydrogen bonds that have become malleable and formed untamed when dried.

Hair: To combat this at M-A Salons we highly recommend using hydrating shampoos or a highly concentrated repair/colour save shampoo (Tip: most professional product contain a leveled amount of moisture within these too) and swapping your conditioner for a mask to use more frequently. If you have coarse or extremely long hair we would always recommend using a more impactful treatment on every cleanse to help nourish with more effect. However to stop moisture overload listen to your stylists advice and tackle 2 areas of concern such as colour & hydration for brunettes and redheads, or repairation & hydration for blondes and finer hair types. 

Want to lock in that style, help against brittleness and keep smoother shinier hair? We would also recommend you use a styling or prep product which is recommended for your hair type and/or needs by your stylist.

 Did you know? The average skin/makeup routine contains around 12 products, yet for hair styling the average is just 3.

One thing we get asked frequently is, how long would this product last? And the answer honestly is, the same as a non professional product. Yes they are more concentrated, yes they do make the internal and external structure of your hair smoother, nourished and stronger but depending how the products are used depends on the longevity. 

Skin: Dry skin occurs when the skin can't retain its moisture so by using moisturisers we creat a great source of hydration. Massaging into the skin you push the product into your demis and create a barrier for natural moisture so it is obtained. Skin moisturizers, which rehydrate the top layer of skin cells and seal in the moisture, are the first step, these contain three main types of ingredients. Humectants, which help attract moisture. Silicones and mineral oils help to seal moisture within skin whilst emollients help smooth skin by filling in the spaces between cracks and gaps. (Tip: Using a humidifier in the winter should be sufficient to replenish the top layer of the skin and if used with essential oils can be great for the mind and soul too.)

What are the best products to use? We recommend using a skin ratio set by your therapist, but setting that aside a great household item to help moisturise is petroleum jelly, although it's greasy we would recommend applying a small layer and applying it to all areas of dry or patchy skin gently pressing Into the areas and repeat twice daily or as when required.