If you’ve ever wondered why your hair feels dry, brittle or hard to manage in winter, you’re not alone. Seasonal changes can affect everyone’s hair.
Cold air outside, indoor heating and switching between the two can create the perfect storm for dryness, breakage and a flaky scalp. Switching to a different winter shampoo and conditioner is one of the easiest and most effective ways to restore balance to dry hair and scalp.
At a glance:
- Cold weather, hot showers, the products you use and heat styling can all contribute to dry hair in winter
- Using a naturally hydrating shampoo and conditioner can help to care for a dry scalp and boost shine
- Best shampoo for winter dry scalp: Itch Away Shampoo
- Best shampoo for winter dry hair: Protein-Boost Shampoo & Shower Wash
- Best intensive hair mask for winter: Protein-Boost Conditioner
Read on to find out more about why hair and scalp may feel drier in winter and how you can add hydration back into your hair with the right routine.
Why is my hair so dry in winter?
Our hair and scalp needs moisture, and in the colder months this can be in shorter supply. Despite the fact that the weather feels damp and rainy, the amount of water vapour in the air can actually be lower in the colder months. This means less natural moisture for your skin and hair.
You might find in winter you take hotter showers and baths too. The steamy water can open the hair cuticle, allowing your natural oils and moisture to escape more easily.
These factors might make you use heat styling more often to take control of your hair, but this can also dry out your hair. This can lead to hair that’s full, fragile and prone to split ends or damage.
If you’re also using hair products that contain drying ingredients like sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) or ethanol alcohol, this can dry out your hair and scalp. While that’s not winter-specific, it can cause issues with your hair in addition to the weather, hot showers and styling.
A winter hair care routine is key. By switching to the best shampoo for cold weather and building the right routine, you give your hair and scalp targeted support to stay hydrated.
The best shampoo for winter dry scalp
One of the most common winter hair concerns is a dry, itchy scalpv. You might be worried that it’s dandruff, but your scalp could actually be flaky, irritated and dry from dehydration and a lack of moisture.
Our organic Itch Away Shampoo and Irritated Scalp Conditioner are the perfect combo for a dry, irritated scalp in winter.
Powered by flake-fighting Pineapple Enzymes and an Aloe Vera core to calm as you cleanse, Itch Away Shampoo also contains anti-inflammatory Rosemary and Tea Tree to gently calm and clean your scalp.
Green People for Men - No. 10 Itch Away Shampoo 150ml
A soothing natural shampoo for men with a dry, itchy or flaky scalp
£18.00
Complete your winter scalp hair care routine with the perfect partner to your Itch Away Shampoo.
Made with Pineapple Extract to remove flakes, and Lavender and Rosemary Oil to calm inflammation, this natural and organic conditioner is a dry scalp essential for winter.
Irritated Scalp Conditioner 200ml
Calm an itchy scalp and balance oily hair with this organic conditioner
£18.00
Prefer to use a solid shampoo? Say hello to our Eucalyptus & Mint Shampoo Bar. Made with Celery Extract, clinically proven to soothe scalps and reduce dandruff, it is the perfect shampoo bar for winter.
Its naturally conditioning formula, from Macadamia and Avocado, naturally calms frizz and adds shine.
Eucalyptus & Mint Shampoo Bar 50g
Calm your itchy scalp with our zero-waste natural shampoo bar
£16.50
The best shampoo for dry winter hair
It might be that your ends feel dry and brittle or tangle easily in winter. These can be tell-tale signs of dehydrated hair and protein loss - both of which can be made worse in winter.
That’s where our Protein-Boost Shampoo & Shower Wash and Protein-Boost Conditioner come in. Formulated with strengthening plant-based Quinoa protein, they work from within the hair shaft to rebuild structure, while smoothing for softness and shine.
Give your hair and skin a natural protein boost with this shampoo for dry, damaged or fine hair. Artichoke Extract, Chamomile Oil and Quinoa combine to leave hair and skin shiny and protected.
Protein-Boost Shampoo & Shower Wash 200ml
Wash, soothe and strengthen with our 2-in-1 protein boost shampoo and shower wash
£19.50
Complete your winter hair care routine with a conditioner to add strength and moisture back into your hair. Protein-Boost Conditioner is made with hydrating Aloe Vera and Avocado Oil, coupled with antioxidant-rich Artichoke and shine-enhancing, volumising Quinoa.
Protein-Boost Conditioner 200ml
Give your hair a protein boost with this natural conditioner
£19.50
The best winter curly hair products
Curly hair is naturally drier than straight hair,as it’s harder for natural oils to travel down the hair shaft. This can mean hydration doesn’t airways reach the ends of the hair, leading to dryness and tangles.
In winter, curls need extra moisture and definition to combat frizz and dryness. That’s where adding some extra hydration into your winter hair routine makes sense.
Meet our Moisturising Shampoo and Moisturising Conditioner. A hydrating duo made to keep curls and waves moisturised, bouncy, soft and defined.
Our favourite winter shampoo for curly hair, Moisturising Shampoo provides intense natural hydration and protection for curls and waves from Aloe Vera, Chamomile, Neroli and Orange oils. Made without SLS or build-up-inducing silicones, this organic shampoo leaves hair fresh and bouncy.
Moisturising Shampoo 200ml
Fight frizz naturally with this organic shampoo for curly/wavy hair
£18.50
Add protein and moisture back into your hair with this deeply hydrating conditioner. It is made with hydrating Aloe Vera and Avocado Oil, coupled with antioxidant-rich Artichoke and shine-enhancing Quinoa.
Moisturising Conditioner 200ml
Our best natural conditioner for curls and waves and coils
£18.50
The best hair mask in winter
As well as using a good winter shampoo and conditioner, you can boost your hair’s defences during cold winter weather by giving it extra nourishment. Enter our Protein-Boost Conditioner which doubles as a rich, restorative hair mask.
Apply it once every week or two as part of your winter hair routine, leaving it on for 10-15 minutes with your hair wrapped in a hot towel. This will allow the hydrating Aloe Vera, reparative Quinoa Protein and smoothing Artichoke to penetrate your hair. It hydrates, smooths and helps repair visible damage.
Intensive Repair Conditioner 200ml
Boost your hair’s shine with a natural reparative conditioner
£20.00
Find your perfect winter hair routine
Finding the best winter shampoo and conditioner for you can be a really personal process. Whether your main concern is scalp irritation, dry hair or frizz, the right products can transform your hair.
Not sure where to start? Take our quick hair care routine finder quiz to discover the best hair products for winter that work for your hair and scalp.
Would you like help choosing the best shampoo and conditioner for dry hair this winter? Our friendly UK customer care team is happy to help with any questions about ingredients and can be contacted on 01403 740350
If you wish to republish this content, please credit Green People as the original creator with a link to 'Winter hair care: the best shampoos and conditioners for dry hair and scalp.' Please do not use an affiliate link.
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REVIEWED BY CHARLOTTE, FOUNDER OF GREEN PEOPLE
This blog post has been reviewed by Charlotte Vøhtz, founder of Green People, who has 25+ years of experience in the natural and organic beauty industry.
A recognised leader in the field of organic beauty, Charlotte helped inform the UK's first organic beauty standards and was voted the People’s Choice in the 2023 list of Who’s Who in Natural Beauty.
A published author, she wrote the organic beauty bible ‘Naturally Gorgeous’. Previously, she qualified as a nurse and spent over 10 years working in pharmaceuticals.
