The holiday season is a time of joy and celebration, but it can also bring a fair share of stress. From holiday shopping to family gatherings, the hustle and bustle takes a toll on our skin and hair. Read on to discover how holiday stress can manifest in our appearance and our advice on how to keep your skin and hair looking their best!
How Holiday Stress Affects Your Hair
Stress can cause:
- Hair loss. Elevated stress levels can cause telogen effluvium, a condition where your hair follicles enter a resting phase and fall out more than usual.
- An oily or dry scalp. Stress triggers the release of hormones like cortisol, which can affect the oil production in your scalp. An oily scalp can lead to product buildup, making your hair look dull and lifeless, while a dry scalp can cause brittle strands that are more prone to breakage.
- Hair damage. During stressful times, it’s common to overlook the importance of protecting your hair from heat styling. However, without a heat protectant, your hot tools can damage your hair cuticles, causing split ends and frizzy, thinning hair.
How To Keep Your Hair Healthy During The Holidays
Add a mask to your hair care routine. Treat your hair weekly with an at-home mask to help restore its moisture, balance your scalp and incorporate a bit of self-care into your busy holiday season. Our stylists recommend:
- The Let It Go Circle: This mask’s soft lavender scent will soothe your mind as it smooths, hydrates and rebalances your hair and scalp.
- Oi Hair Butter: Deeply nourish and moisturize your hair with this 10-minute mask. After showering, your hair will be soft and frizz-free.
- Love Curl Mask: Because wavy, curly, and coily hair is more porous than straight hair, these textures tend to be drier and prone to split ends. This mask hydrates your hair for soft, bouncy, frizz-free curls throughout your holiday season.
Relieve stress while balancing your scalp in our salon. Indulge yourself with our new Mint Condition Detox Treatment. Your refreshing treatment begins with a relaxing scalp massage using a purifying cleanser that removes impurities and excess oils, leaving your hair and scalp minty fresh. Your stylist will then use a specialized shampoo and conditioner, along with a blend of elixirs tailored to your hair’s needs, whether it’s smoothing or volumizing. To promote healthy hair growth, a thickening tonic and serum will be applied, ensuring your locks look their best. Finally, your stylist will blow dry and style your hair, so you can embrace the merri-mint of the season with gorgeous healthy hair.
Treat your hair gently. Protect your hair from the harsh cold weather of the holidays by wearing a hat. Also, give your hair a break from your hot tools by opting for heatless styles for your holiday gatherings. Kitsch’s Satin Heatless Curling Set or Velcro Volumizing Roller Clips give voluminous curls without a blow dryer or curling iron.
Davines’ Melu Hair Shield and OI All In One Milk are two heat protectant options to keep your hair healthy, smooth, and free from frizz and split ends for gorgeous hairstyles this holiday season.
However, if you can’t go without your hot tools, reduce the risk of split ends and frizzy hair with a heat protectant. Our stylists recommend Davines’ various heat protectants:
- Melu Hair Shield: This lightweight spray protects your hair against your hot tools’ heat while hydrating your strands without any sticky residue.
- Oi All in One Milk: This leave-in conditioning spray controls frizz, hydrates, detangles and protects your hair against your hot tools’ heat up to 446°F for a shiny, smooth style.
- Heart of Glass Sheer Glaze: This glaze protects your hair against heat damage and UV rays while giving your hair the strength and elasticity it needs for a long-lasting blowout.
How Holiday Stress Affects Your Skin
Stress can cause:
- Hormonal changes. Just as stress releases cortisol and impacts oil production on your scalp, it can similarly affect your skin. Increased oil production in your skin can lead to acne breakouts, even for those with dry-to-combination skin.
- Dehydration. Stress can lead to neglecting your hydration needs, like drinking enough water and using hydrating products. As a result, dehydrated skin can become dry, flaky and more prone to irritation.
- Skin irritation. Stress can exacerbate conditions like eczema and psoriasis, causing flare-ups.
- A dull complexion. Stress can lead to poor sleep, which can leave your skin looking tired and dull. Lack of sleep can also hinder your skin’s natural repair processes, like skin cell turnover and collagen production.
How To Keep Your Skin Healthy During The Holidays
Stay hydrated. It may sound simple, but keeping your skin healthy can really start with drinking plenty of water throughout the day. Pair doing so with using hydrating products like serums and moisturizers to keep your skin looking its best. Our estheticians Lori and Morgan recommended Comfort Zone’s Hydramemory line for all-day-long lasting hydration:
- Hydramemory Depuff Eye Cream: Not only does this eye cream hydrate, brighten and smooth, but it also improves the look of dark circles, eye bags and fine dehydration lines for a refreshed, well-rested look.
- Hydramemory Water Source Serum: This lightweight serum gives hydration and glow to even the dullest, dehydrated skin. Your skin will feel oh-so-smooth and plump underneath your holiday makeup looks.
- Hydramemory Rich Sorbet Cream: Dry, tight skin will meet its match with this moisturizer. It gives your skin an instant hydration boost for an immediately softer, smoother, more radiant complexion.
Establish a skin care routine. A consistent skin care routine that includes cleansing, toning and moisturizing will help keep your skin balanced this holiday season. Taking a few minutes for yourself each day for skin care can also bring those much-needed moments of peace and self-care amidst all the holiday hustle.
If you’re unsure of where to start with a skin care routine, our esthetician Morgan recommends this simple 6-step regimen to give your skin the TLC it needs during the dry, cold fall and winter months.
Our esthetician Morgan applies FarmHouse Fresh’s Sundae Best Chocolate Softening Mask during our daily operations manager Mallorie’s Chocolate Transformation Facial.
Relieve stress at our spa. As you’re giving to others this season, remember it’s okay to treat yourself too. Soothe your stressed skin and busy mind with our new specialty Chocolate Transformation Facial. You’ll indulge in an hour-long mint-chocolate delight that cleanses, exfoliates, and pampers your skin with FarmHouse Fresh products, featuring its decadent Sundae Best Chocolate Softening Mask. Enjoy a soothing scalp and shoulder massage, age-defying serums, and a three-step lip treatment that’ll leave your skin glowing and your mind perfectly recharged for the season.
Ready to enjoy the holiday season with radiant skin and healthy hair? Book your rejuvenating appointments with our caring stylists and estheticians here to help combat stress and maintain your shine and glow during the festive season!
Nicole Thomas is the marketing manager for Tyler Mason Salon & Spa. She is also a passionate writer and digital marketer for several Indiana-based publications. When she isn’t at TM, she loves cozying up with a book and cup of coffee or crocheting a new cardigan for her wardrobe.