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Davines model with platinum blonde hair in a french bob haircut

Curly Hair Care in Winter

Updated on November 17, 2025 | 3 min read

Jaclyn LaBadia, Davines Writer

Winter can be harsh on your curly hair. The moisture-zapping conditions of the season leave your curls dehydrated, frizzy and flat, But with some winter modifications, a strict curly hair care routine will keep your curls happy and healthy in the cold. From protecting against the elements, to adding moisture and what not to do, we’re telling you how to care for your curly hair in winter.

Key Takeaways

How to Care for Curly Hair in the Winter

Curly hair needs extra moisture to prevent dryness and breakage
Tailor winter care routines to your curl type.
Daily, weekly, and monthly care keeps curls healthy and defined.
Winter-friendly hairstyles reduce damage and maintain shape.
Davines LOVE/ Curl Shampoo, Conditioner, and treatments optimize hydration and curl health.

Curly Hair Needs Special Care

If you've got curly hair, you already know that caring for your curls is a full-time job. And once winter comes, you’re working overtime. The effects of winter aren’t great for hair in general, but they’re extra stressful on curly hair. Because of its structure, curly hair is more prone to losing moisture than other hair types, and this is exacerbated in the colder months.

Cold, dry air and indoor heat, combined with the static and friction from hats and scarves, leaves your curls frizzy, dehydrated and broken by the end of the season. And it's even harsher on your curls if they’ve been colour-treated, stripping them further of vibrancy and shine, leaving them dull and lifeless. The best curly hair care routine is one that prioritizes moisture- especially in the winter. So when the temperature drops, it’s important to make some changes to your hair care routine, just like with your skin care

woman with dark, curly hair using Davines LOVE curl primer

Curly Hair Textures

The key to winter-proofing your curls is understanding your curl type. This is crucial for finding the right haircare products as well as knowing what methods of maintenance work for you. So your curl type is the foundation of your curly hair winter routine.

Curl types fall into a system of types 2 to 4 with sub-categories of A to C. Type 2 refers to wavy hair, type 3 to curly and type 4 refers to coily hair. The A, B, and C, refer to the diameter of the wave, curl, or coil- A is loose, B is medium, and C is tight. The tighter the curl, the more moisture it needs, especially during the colder months. Customize your curly hair care in winter by decoding your curls. Start with freshly washed, air-dried curls and look closely at the shape. S-shaped waves are considered type 2; well-defined corkscrew or spiral curls are considered type 3; and very tight, small coils are type 4. If you’re still not sure, this will help you determine your curl type.

Curly Hair Care Routine for Winter

The curlier the hair, the harder time it has holding on to moisture. So the more you need to prioritize it in your winter hair care routine. The harsh seasonal effects don;t just make your curls unmanageable, they’re actually damaging. Cold, dry air lifts cuticles, resulting in major moisture loss and a dry scalp and brittle curls, prone to splitting and snapping. In addition, things like high winds and friction from winter gear like hats and scarves causes your curls to tangle, snag and break. So switching up your hair care routine seasonally is a must to mitigate damage. These daily, weekly, and monthly care tips will keep your curls healthy this winter.

Daily Curl Care Routine

Start by skipping daily shampoo to avoid stripping your hair’s much-needed natural oils. Instead, co-wash with conditioner. Rinse your hair with cool water and detangle your curls gently with a wide-toothed comb or your fingers, working up from the ends to prevent breakage. Apply a curl-defining product to damp hair, then use a microfiber towel to squeeze any excess water or product out of your curls. Avoid touching your hair after this to maintain your curl pattern. And finally, sleep on a satin pillowcase or wear a silk bonnet to reduce friction and breakage while you sleep.

Weekly Curl Care Routine

Deep condition weekly, starting at the scalp. Massage a lightweight oil into your scalp and roots to promote circulation and deeply moisturize. Wash it out with a sulfate-free, moisturizing shampoo designed for curly hair. Shampoo your scalp, avoiding the lengths of your hair and follow with a hair mask. Apply it evenly from roots to ends, leaving it on for the recommended time, before rinsing with cool water and styling accordingly.

Monthly Curl Care Routine

A monthly protein treatment will keep your curls strong, but no more than that, as too much protein can make your hair brittle. In addition to strengthening with protein, a monthly hot hair oil treatment gives your curly hair a nourishing boost for winter. Use a clarifying shampoo to remove buildup and trim your hair regularly to remove split ends and maintain curl shape.

Curly Hair Winter Styles

The best curly hair styles for winter prioritize protecting the integrity of your curls, while minimizing frizz and damage. These curly hair winter styles will keep your curls looking hot all season long.

Natural Curls

Wearing your hair natural is a way less-damaging way of styling your curls than straightening them with heat. Plus, curl-enhancing products are moisture-based, keeping your thirsty strands hydrated. To style your curls naturally, see our post on the LOC method.

French Braid

A French braid is an ultra- chic way to protect your curls from the cold. Section off a triangle of hair at the top of your head and divide it into three sections. Begin braiding your hair, adding small sections from each side of your head to the corresponding side sections with each pass, crossing over the middle. Braid to the end and secure with an elastic.

Loose Updo

Avoiding stress at the root is a must for your curls in the colder months, and a loose updo keeps your curls safe from the stressors of tighter style. Rake a curl cream through your strands, and let them air-dry about 25% before loosely grabbing them into place with a claw clip.

Slicked Back Pony

A slicked back pony instantly elevates your winter curls. Apply a smoothing product to your sides and brush your curly hair back into a low ponytail. Secure it with an elastic band and use a fine-tooth comb to smooth flyaways, before setting with a strong hairspray.

Braided Bun

Another one of our favourite curly styles for winter is a braided bun. Part your hair down the middle and create two braids on either side. Braid to the ends of your hair before securing each with an elastic and wrapping them into a low bun at the nape of your neck.

Curly Hair Care Mistakes to Avoid

Curly hair is delicate and the tighter the curl, the more fragile (and temperamental) it is. So curly hair care has a lot more rules than other hair types. And it's important to do right by your curls so they stay thriving. We asked our stylists for the curly hair care mistakes to avoid and this is their list.

Applying products in the wrong order
Not protecting your curls while you sleep
Wearing tight hairstyles for too long
Combing or brushing your hair while its dry
Detangling with the wrong tool and not with conditioner
Using silicones and sulfates
Skipping trims
Touching your curls often
Not protecting your curls from the sun
Over-cleansing

Blow-drying without a diffuser
Skipping conditioner
Using a terrycloth towel to dry
Over-doing it with heat and not using protection when you do
Over-treating with chemicals
Applying the wrong products
Using too little product
Using too much product
Applying products to dry hair

Recommended Products for Curly Hair Care

The best curly hair products help hydrate, define and protect your curl pattern, while reducing frizz and enhancing elasticity and bounce. Our curl-specific products are formulated to support the structure and health of your curly hair, minimizing shrinkage, reducing tangling, and improving the overall look and feel of your curls. From protecting against the elements to adding moisture, these are the Davines curly hair care must-haves to keep your curls defined, hydrated, and manageable through winter.

LOVE/ Curl Shampoo

Moisture is the foundation of your curly hair care routine and that starts with your shampoo. LOVE/ Curl Shampoo gently cleanses curls while priming them for styling by moisturizing and boosting elasticity for well defined, soft curls.

LOVE/ Curl Conditioner

Even more important than your curly shampoo this winter is your curl conditioner. LOVE/ Curl Conditioner is a powerful formula rich in panthenol for elasticity and volume. It nourishes and softens while enhancing curly hair.

This is a Curl Building Serum

Smoothing unruly curls is a non-negotiable for creating chic winter hairstyles and that’s where this curl building serum comes in. The light hold and workability of This is a Curl Building Serum, combined with its anti-frizz abilities, make it the best serum for styling curly hair.

This is a Curl Moisturizing Mousse

There’s no better winter styler for fine curls than a curl mousse for adding volume, definition and bounce, while helping curls hold in the cold longer. This is a Curl Moisturizing Mousse also helps to control frizz and smooth loose strands through the season.

Curly Hair Winter Routine with Davines

From lightweight curl creams that define and hydrate, to deep treatments that restore moisture and repair, Davines curly hair products hydrate, strengthen and define every texture and pattern to bring out the best in your curls. Whether you’re refreshing second-day curls or styling after a wash, Davines offers solutions for smooth, bouncy, healthy curls this winter.

FAQs

How do I care for my curly hair?

Care for your curly hair by prioritizing moisture, washing less often, using curl-specific formulas, styling and detangling gently and minimizing heat.

What is the best curly hair routine?

The best curly routine follows the LOC method- a technique for applying products to maximize moisture retention, starting with the lightest formula and layering to the heaviest, L-liquid, O-oil and C-cream.

What is the "pineapple" method for curls?

Pineappling is a method designed for drying naturally curly hair overnight, while keeping the integrity of your curls in place.

How do you hydrate curly hair?

Hydrate your curly hair by using sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners to cleanse and leave-in conditioners, hair masks and hair oils to deep condition.

woman getting Davines Naturaltech ENERGIZING treatment in a salon

The Care Your Curls Deserve

Visit your local Davines Salon to level up your winter hair.

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Curly Hair Care in Winter