The recent weather has undoubtedly wreaked havoc – schools closed, chaos on the roads and temperatures dropping to a record low.

But it’s not all gloom and doom with some intensive treatments and quality products you can still be a snow honey without having to hibernate!

Here's the problem...

The most common weather-related effects on the hair during winter obviously come from the cold and specifically from the constant changes from cold to warm environments.

Cold, dry air can cause the cuticle layer of the hair to lift, and going indoors slowly sucks the moisture out of the hair, leaving it dry and frizzy – imagine a whole day of blow-drying with no product on your hair!

The most common weather-related effects on the hair during winter obviously come from the cold and specifically from the constant changes from cold to warm environments. Cold, dry air can cause the cuticle layer of the hair to lift, and going indoors slowly sucks the moisture out of the hair, leaving it dry and frizzy – imagine a whole day of blow-drying with no product on your hair!

It's not quite as dramatic as the damage would be from that, but it does give you an idea of what indoor heating can do to your hair. The good news is that you can take both protective and replenishing steps with regular use of a good shampoo and a thick, rich, moisturizing conditioner to help attract and hold moisture in the hair.

Winter Wonders

Kerastase Nutritive Masquintense is an intensive conditioning treatment for dry hair; it gives your hair maximum nourishment from root to tip leaving it replenished with softness and shine. Apply just a small amount after shampooing and leave on for a minimum of five minutes, longer if you want to.

I often apply it, wrap my hair in a warm towel and then curl up on the sofa with a nice hot chocolate and a magazine before rinsing it out. It’s a great product and was voted ‘In Style’ magazine’s best beauty buy of 2009.

If your hair is very fine, thin, and flyaway, use a regular conditioner every time you wash your hair. I would recommend Kerastase Volumactive shampoo and the conditioner. These products protect hair, strengthen the internal structure of the hair and add volume and vitality.

Wind Swept?

Wind can also be hair-raising in more ways than one! Exposure to strong persistent winds can create tangles and snags. The wind buffets the hairs against one another which rough the cuticle layer causing the hairs to catch on one another.

In addition, hair that is repeatedly buffeted in strong or gusting winds can develop split ends. Regular trims are obviously a necessity; a good leave in spray will help too.

Tigi’s Rockaholic Born to Rock leave in spray will detangle and defrizz your hair. To apply, just spray into towel-dried hair and comb through and as well as detangling and defrizzing it will add shine and softness to your hair and make it easier to manage – oh and it smells great!

Try New Products

A simple switch in styling products can help. As I’ve said in previous columns there are streams of new products constantly flooding the market.

Styling creams are becoming more and more popular. One of the reasons for this is that they can add moisture to the hair, make it more pliable, and give it better elasticity so it's less likely to break - all extremely important in winter weather.

I would recommend Tigi Bed Head After Party Smoothing Cream which smoothes the hair without weighing it down and enhances shine, giving hair a nice glossy look - and as with a lot of Tigi products this one smells great too!