“Winter doesn’t ruin your curls. Your winter habits do.”

Ouch. But also… kind of a relief, right? Because if it’s your habits, you can change them. Cold wind, dry indoor heating, scarves that saw through your curl pattern… winter throws a lot at your hair. But with a few smart switches, your curls don’t have to go from big and bouncy to flat and frizzy the moment temperatures drop.

Why Winter Makes Your Curls Misbehave

When it’s cold, the air outside holds less moisture, while the heating inside sucks the last bit of hydration straight out of your strands. That combo leaves your curls drier, rougher, and more prone to frizz, because your cuticles are constantly expanding and contracting like a confused accordion.

On top of that, low humidity can make your hair lie flatter at the roots, while the lengths still puff up from friction and dryness. Hello flat-at-the-top, frizzy-at-the-bottom situation no one ordered.

Scarves, Beanies & The Flat Curl Epidemic

If you bike through the wind and rain with your scarf wrapped high and your beanie pulled low (hi, Dutch winter), your curls spend half the day steam-pressed against fabric. The result? Flat roots, dented curls and that “my hair looked better before I left the house” feeling.

Try this instead:

• Choose smoother fabrics where you can, or at least avoid super scratchy knits against your curls.
• Keep your scarf slightly lower so the bulk isn’t sitting right on your crown crushing your roots.
• Loosely shake out your roots with your fingers once you’re inside, no aggressive fluffing needed.

Hydration First: Your Curl Conditioner Is Non-Negotiable

If you treat your winter conditioner like a quick afterthought, your curls will treat you like one too. In winter, your hair needs more moisture to stay flexible, defined, and less “cloud of frizz”, more “halo of curls”.

Reach for a rich Curl Conditioner that’s designed to deeply hydrate without weighing your curls down. Focus on your mids and ends, and don’t be afraid to leave a tiny bit in instead of rinsing completely if your hair tolerates it. That extra slip can make all the difference between frizzing out and clumping up.

If your curls feel extra crispy after a week of cycling in wind and drizzle, add a weekly deep conditioning moment. Think of it as pressing reset on all the dryness winter throws at you.

“Volume Dies In Winter” No, It Doesn’t

Here’s the thing nobody tells you: if your curls are always flat in winter, it’s not just the weather, it’s your styling strategy. You can’t expect roots to stay lifted when they’re never actually given something to hold that lift.

A good Volume Spray at the roots can change the entire shape of your hair day, especially when cold, damp air and layers of clothes conspire to push everything down. Apply it to your roots on damp hair, then massage it in to encourage lift where you actually want it.

Personal hill-to-die-on: if you never flip your head upside down while working in your volume spray, you’re leaving so much potential volume on the floor. Flip, spray into the roots, massage, then let your curls fall back into place. Instant anti-gravity without stiffness.

Tiny Winter Tweaks That Make A Big Difference

You don’t need a 27-step routine to have good winter curls, but these small shifts add up fast.

• Be kind to your curls after biking in the rain. Don’t immediately rip off your scarf and start fluffing aggressively. Let your hair “arrive” first, then gently separate clumps with your fingers once it’s not soaking from the drizzle anymore. Rough handling on wet, cold hair is a shortcut to frizz.
• Swap harsh towels for something curl-friendly. Regular towels create friction, which your already dry winter curls really don’t need. A microfiber towel keeps the cuticle smoother, helps with definition, and cuts down drying time. Less time being cold, more time with cute curls.
• Don’t sleep on your pillowcase situation. Cotton pillowcases drink up the little moisture your curls still have, so you wake up drier and frizzier than you went to bed. A silk or satin pillowcase lets your curls glide instead of snag, which is especially helpful when winter air is already doing the most.