Most of you already know I’m pretty minimal when it comes to products. Less is more! Substance over style! Go easy! But I do believe that living where we do, in the frigid Midwest, the dry air, freezing temps, and wicked wind really take a toll.

We winterize our homes, our boats, our cabins, our cars, our wardrobe…why shouldn’t we do the same for our hair?

Throughout this post I’ll talk about a few of my favorite products, all from VERB, which we now sell at The Hair Tailor! I’m obsessed with Verb. IT’S THE BEST. And everything is only $18. So before you click away and think, “it’s just another product post,” know I have your best interest in mind– for your hair AND your wallet!

Read on to find out how I’ve switched up my winter routine without breaking the bank…or my back!

Switch up your shampoo game

To keep your hair feeling healthy (and not like literal hay,) you have to start with a good foundation. You’re already washing your hair with shampoo. You might as well make it worthwhile!

Switching to a hydrating shampoo for the winter months is CRUCIAL for keeping your hair from feeling parched. If you think hydrating shampoos are too heavy, you probably haven’t discovered VERB Ghost Shampoo. It’s ultra hydrating & completely weightless…that’s why it’s called Ghost! It’s invisible! I love it in my fine, wavy hair all year long, and it’s what I’ll be giving to clients at the first signs of dryness.

If you have a coarser, thicker texture and need an extra kick, I’d send you more towards VERB Hydrating Shampoo. It’s a little richer and creamier in consistency, and packs an extra punch for thirsty hair.

Slather your strands in conditioner

After washing, you HAVE TO condition. For long haired ladies especially, conditioner is one of the most important steps. Again, make sure you have a good hydrating formula to use. The companions to the shampoos I mentioned above are amazing.

I like to comb my conditioner all throughout my hair to make sure every hair is evenly coated, then I take a claw clip and pile it on top of my head. While my conditioner is soaking in, I’ll wash my face, or do a scrub, or clean my shower for 5 or 10 minutes.

Letting it soak is almost like turning your regular ol’ conditioner into a deep conditioning mask! The longer it sits, the more benefits! (omg I’m so good at rhyming)

Get an in salon conditioning treatment

If you feel like the at home masks aren’t doing the trick, your mid-winter appointment is a perfect time to try out an in salon treatment! I know I just told you to DIY it at home, but an in salon treatment is wayyyyy more concentrated and can last for up to 6 weeks! (Depending on how often you wash, of course.)

Load up on the leave-in treatment

Even though you’re now an in-shower hair-hydrating master, you still need some long-term protection from the elements while you wear your hair out and about. A leave-in conditioner is my most recommended product over all else. Over shampoo and conditioner and hairspray and the VERB texture spray I can’t get enough of. It’s just so important to protect your hair. My go-to is the VERB Ghost Prep that gives you heat protection up to 425 degrees, smooths, adds shine, and hydrates with moringo oil and pro-vitamin B5. This one does it all, folks. And you know in minimalist land, I’m all about it! 

Oil…EVERYWHERE

Some clients are afraid of hair oil, but I’m telling you right here and now: oil is the fastest absorbing, most hydrating product your hair can handle. If you’re afraid, either you used too much or you didn’t have the right oil for your hair type! My favorite hair oil is formulated with smaller molecules that are able to penetrate deeper into your hair, soak in faster & more efficiently, AND they give you long-term moisture with little-to-no visible trace. You might get a little scent and a little shine, but if you have bone-dry hair that needs immediate affection, VERB Ghost Oil is your new best friend. 

It’s crystal clear, so it won’t effect the color of your hair at all, and it has the lightest, most amazing grapefruit-y citrus scent. I love a single pump of this thru my ends after I’ve gone thru with my curling iron to add a moisture kick and smooth frizzies. For fine hair, use less (or read the next section), for thick hair, use more! Simple.

Dry shampoo? Dry condition.

Raise your hand if dry shampoo is your best friend? Same girl…same.

I’ve been on a kick lately where I’m trying to only wash my hair once a week. Yup. I know. I’m crazy.

So on days 3 and 6, I usually need to go pretty heavy on the dry shampoo, but my ends get pretty frazzled by then. I can tame them pretty easliy with a curling iron, but anytime I’m going to be re-curling my hair, I ALWAYS add VERB Ghost Dry Oil Spray.

This is exactly what it sounds like. It’s Ghost oil…in a can. It does all the same things that an oil would do, but it sprays out in an invisible mist that looks and feels like nothing.

It’s perfect for refreshing your style on dry shampoo days, adds extra heat protection, and gives your hair an extra boost of hydration without any weight or grease. YOUR HAIR WILL THANK YOU.

Never leave home without a hat

I know it seems silly to say, but a hat will not only keep your hair dry when its freezing rain outside, but it will also protect you a little bit from the wind. All my Minnesota girls know what I’m talkin’ about. You leave work, it’s 5pm on a Tuesday, pitch black, feels like it’s midnight, it’s 8 degrees, and the wind chill is -92.

When it’s wicked windy like that, your hair gets whipped around and snarled, dreaded, and damaged. When you go to brush out the knots, it looks like your hair just snowed on the bathroom floor.

Know the feeling? Wear a hat.

Humidify your home

The last, very annoying, but very important tidbit I have for you is to get a humidifier and USE IT. The lack of humidity is what drys out our skin and our hair, it makes our nails brittle, our eyes dry, and our noses bleed.

Adding moisture back into your home will make a huge difference not only with your hair, but with your health overall. Even though it’s the most annoying chore, it really does make a difference. Just do it!

If your dog gets to wear shoes outside in the winter time, you can take 30 seconds to put oil in your hair.

-me | a cat person