Combating Winter: Preventing the Winter Hair Freeze with Nicholas Penna, Jr.

Today's tips for your hair come from Nicholas Penna, Jr., from Salon Capri in Newton and Dedham, MA.

1. Get Rich Quick. No, not your wallet—your shampoo. Pick up a moisture rich shampoo and conditioner for the winter months, preferably one with vitamins and oils. Nick suggests L’Oreal Professionnel’s Serie Expert Liss Ultime shampoo and conditioner. “It’s good to change up the product you use every few months so your hair doesn’t build up immunity to the ingredients,” Nick points out.

2. Be Exotic. “One of the hottest new trends is incorporating Argan oil into your beauty routine,” reports Nick. Argan oil contains fatty acids, Vitamin E and antioxidants that restore your hair’s natural luster without a greasy shine. Nick recommends using the oil like a serum. “Use about a dime sized amount and comb it evenly through damp hair,” says Nick. Or, look for a conditioning treatment that contains Argan oil like Shu Uemura’s Silk Bloom Restorative Treatment.

3. DIY. If you want a more wallet friendly way to add some essential nutrients to your ‘do, try adding a nickel sized amount of honey or olive oil to your daily conditioner. Nick’s tips to creating your own spa night at home are to soak a hand towel in hot water and let it steam with you in the shower. Massage your strands with the conditioning olive oil treatment and let it rest. Wring out the hot towel and wrap it tightly around your head and relax for 30 minutes. Invite some friends over and you’ve got yourself a spa night!

4. Go All the Way. While blow drying and using hot tools definitely dries up your hair, it is somewhat unavoidable during the cold months. “If you’re going to blow dry, always use a thermal spray or serum that will protect your hair,” urges Nick. Try L’Oreal Professionnel Serie Expert Absolut Repair Cellular Thermo Spray. Moreover, Nick insists you go big or go home when blow drying. “Blow drying your hair half way will only create frizz and damage. If you spend the extra 5 minutes using a round brush to blow your hair out to a smooth finish, it makes all the difference,” he says.

5. Avoid the Freeze. “Never go outside with wet hair,” says Penna. Wet hair and even damp hair can easily freeze once temperatures drop into the 30s, and frozen strands mean split ends. “If you have to run outside, be sure to work a quick squeeze of serum in your hair before tucking your hair beneath a hood or hat.” Don’t be discouraged by hat hair—the serum will keep your hair smooth and moisturized, so you won’t have to worry about frizz or flatness.

6. Nourish from the Inside Out. Be sure to indulge in the season’s offerings—proteins, fruits and vegetables are full of vitamins and essential oils that help keep your hair healthy from the inside out. “Believe it or not, eating balanced foods will improve your hair’s natural shine, bounce and body! Many of winter’s seasonal goods, like dark leafy vegetables, beans and carrots provide the exact nutrients to promote shiny, silky hair.”

Nicholas Penna, Jr., is the Owner and Lead Stylist of SalonCapri in Newton and Dedham, MA. Nick has received international recognition with awards from Vidal Sassoon (for “Excellence in New Design.”) and the Guillaume Award in Berlin, Germany. Nick is routinely called on her expert hair tips and tricks and his advice has been featured in countless beauty magazines. He regularly styles hair for photo shoots and high-profile events such as New York City Fashion Week.

SalonCapri to be one of only 12 salons in the country to house the L’Oreal Professionnel Haircolor Center on premise. SalonCapri is also one of three L’Oreal expert teaching centers in the country, along with Fred Segal Beauty in Santa Monica, CA and L’Oreal’s own headquarters in New York’s SoHo neighborhood.

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