Autumn and winter in the UK always bring a special kind of damp chill—strong winds, dry air, and wildly fluctuating temperatures. During this season, the most troublesome part of my routine isn’t just my skin, but my hair. A perfectly styled curl can turn into a puffball within hours, bangs cling to the scalp, and frizz and static electricity run wild. I leave the house with an effortlessly styled long-wave look, only to come home looking like I’ve rolled through a hedge.

I used to break down every autumn and winter. If I wasn’t tying my hair into a ponytail, I’d just give up on styling altogether. But in the past few years, I’ve taken hair care and styling seriously. After trying out countless products and techniques, I’ve finally figured out a few practical and time-saving tricks. Now, whether it’s a windy day, a humid one, or just a dry indoor space blasted by heating, my hair no longer “goes on strike” every day.

I’ll share all my tried-and-true autumn and winter haircare techniques—from root-level care to styling tricks, from the right tools to the correct product order. Every step is practical, no frills. By the end, you too can achieve hair that stays full, smooth, and static-free all season long!

1. Why Your Hair Misbehaves in Autumn and Winter: The Real Reasons

Let’s start with why our hair becomes especially “rebellious” in autumn and winter. Here are the top reasons I’ve pinpointed—each one hit the nail on the head for me:

1. Dry air + static electricity
Hair loses moisture and becomes frizzy and floaty. To make matters worse, autumn/winter fabrics like wool and fleece generate more friction, which creates even more static. Cue: puffball hair.

2. Big temperature differences = weaker strands
Cold wind outdoors and indoor heating creates a constant hot-cold cycle that robs strands of moisture and oxygen. The result? Hair that’s brittle, breakable, and dull.

3. Hats + scarves flatten your style
While great for warmth, hats flatten your roots, and scarves add friction to your ends—two major contributors to ruined styles.

4. Less frequent washing, but sebum keeps coming
When it’s cold, many of us (my past self included) wash our hair less. But your scalp still produces oil like clockwork, leading to flat roots and greasy strands.

5. Wind blows fine hair straight onto your face
Especially for those with fine or thin hair, autumn wind turns every outing into a hair-in-face struggle. Makeup smudges, and your style collapses.

2. It All Starts With Washing: The Key to Non-Flat Hair

Don’t underestimate how much the way you wash your hair can impact its behavior. During colder months, washing smart solves half the problem.

1. Use moisturizing shampoos + conditioners
I go for formulas with hyaluronic acid, glycerin, or amino acids—they’re gentle and help reduce that post-wash tightness. Conditioner stays strictly on my ends to avoid weighing down my roots.

Product Recommendation:

  • L’Oréal Elvive Hydra Hyaluronic range: Hydrating without being heavy. I usually buy it from the Boots website, but it’s also available on Amazon.

2. Reduce washing frequency, but cleanse smart
I wash my hair every other day in autumn and winter. For extra-oily zones like bangs or the crown, I either rinse with water or use dry shampoo for a refresh.

3. Avoid very hot water
It may feel good, but hot water strips the protective barrier of your strands. I stick to warm water around 35–38°C, which cleans without causing frizz.

3. Blow Drying: The True Game-Changer for Volume or Flatness

A lot of people think air-drying is best, but in autumn and winter, how you blow-dry determines your hairstyle’s fate.

1. Use an anti-static dryer + nozzle attachment
After switching to an ionic dryer, I saw a big drop in frizz. I always attach a concentrator nozzle to direct the airflow and boost root lift.

Recommended brands: Dyson and Panasonic high-end models—pricey, but worth it. For tighter budgets, Amazon has plenty of solid options.

2. Blow roots upside-down, ends in flow direction
To lift roots, I bend forward and blow-dry upside down. For the ends, I dry them following their natural flow, which keeps them smooth.

3. Finish with cold air
This step is often skipped, but cold air is great for setting the shape and reducing static. I always end with 30 seconds of cool air to lock everything in and add shine.

4. Styling Tips: My Go-To Fixes for Rebellious Hair

Even with perfect washing and drying, styles can still collapse thanks to seasonal weather. These are my favorite emergency tricks:

1. Root volumizing sprays
A few spritzes on the roots followed by a gentle tousle with your fingers adds instant airiness. Ideal for rushed mornings when you don’t have time to wash.

Product Recommendation: Batiste’s Volumizing Dry Shampoo, available at Superdrug or Amazon.

2. Skip heavy styling products
We often reach for waxes or oils in cold weather, but too much grease = flat hair. I opt for lightweight mist sprays or misty-textured hair oils that moisturize without adding weight.

3. Hats + spray: The power duo
Before putting on a hat, I spray my crown with a root lift spray. When I take the hat off, I fluff the roots with my fingers—no flatness. On bad hair days, I’ll use a hair clip at the roots to create a “lift” under the hat and remove it right before leaving.

4. Bangs gone flat? Night styling + morning touch-up
At night, I use a round brush + hairdryer to blow a curve into my bangs, sealing with cool air. If they’re misshaped in the morning, a flat iron or round brush fix takes two minutes.

5. Bonus Haircare Tips: Inner Nourishment Matters Too

External care is important, but I’ve also started paying attention to internal hair repair. These tips may not work overnight, but they truly transformed my hair quality over time:

1. Eat more foods rich in vitamin B and protein
Eggs, nuts, and legumes help boost hair growth and reduce breakage.

2. Supplement with collagen and biotin
I regularly take biotin gummies or capsules to support hair health. You can find them easily at Holland & Barrett or Amazon.

3. Avoid frequent dyeing and perming
Hair is already fragile in colder seasons, and harsh treatments only worsen the problem. I limit coloring to once every six months and use clips or hairbands to switch up styles instead.

A Good Hair Day = A Better Autumn Mood

In the past, I’d always get frustrated during the colder months. I’d have my makeup perfectly done, only for my hair to ruin the whole look with flatness and frizz. But now, following these steps, my hair can withstand wind, dryness, and hats—and still look fresh, bouncy, and styled.

Hair is like the background music of the season—it sets the tone. When it’s well-managed, the whole vibe of your look feels elevated and polished. Try out some of these tips for yourself, and maybe this autumn, your hair will finally start behaving too.