Harmattan is upon us and with it all the abundant problems for our skin and hair. I decided to travel back to my home town and the harmattan here is in full swing. Dry skin, lips,hair breakage, and even extremely dry nostrils are common atm.
But not to worry. Following these tips will make you stay on top
of your game :-) .
SKIN
Dry achy skin can be so unattractive, so the
importance of moisture cannot be over-
emphasized. Even oily skin requires moisturizer.
Remove dirt and makeup with a mild cleanser,
stay away from harsh astringents that strip the
skin of much needed moisture.
Nourish your skin with post shower with rich but
light body butter, cocoa butter or Shea butter,
baby oil gel and tissue oil and even local
Coconut oil are also ideal for dry weather. These
will not leave a greasy feel.
Scrub your body with mild soap this season, a
body scrub promotes good circulation and clear
skin tone.
And of course, drinking a lot of water will flush
the body of toxins and keep skin bright and
beautiful.
Shaving with cold water is also advisable during
hot weather it minimizes the chance of cuts and
wounds, apply a little lotion to your skin before
shaving foam. A brand new razor gives better
glide over skin and is less likely to require much
pressure that can result in nicks and cuts.
Aftershave dat contains alcohol further dry out
the skin. Mild lotion like aloe vera gel or baby
oil or coconut oil will do the magic
HAIR
A healthy head of hair can suffer during
harmattan. Plaiting is hair saver for women. If
possible make your hair chemical free this season.
Adding extentions will extend the life span of the
hairstyle and serve as extra protection. Moisture
is also needed for air during Harmattan. Natural kinks,Braids,weaves,
and dreadlocks need moisture. This can be done by spritzing hair with water to where the length of your hair ends. Apply a light coat
of hair serum or oil sheen for extra gloss and sealing but
steer clear of heavy pomades. They only attract
all that harmattan dust. A regular condition mask
is recommended for men and women as hair risk
breakage when d weather is dry!
DOs and DONTs
Do always remember to moisturize the often-
neglected skin between fingers and toes. Keep a jar
or bottle of hand cream or petroleum jelly within
close reach at all times.
Don't lick your lips during harmattan no matter
how tempting! Instead use a lip balm to prevent
cracking and bleeding.
Breathe through your nose. Breathing through
your mouth will cause moisture from your lips to
evaporate.
Remember the back of your ears, moisturize it
to prevent cracking and bleeding.
Clothes
With the harmattan season comes a lot of cold. So when dressing up, you might want to wear clothes that are fashionable but also provide protection. For the ladies you might want to go with this season by wearing maxi full length skirts and also pants (trousers) ofcourse. This would prove to be handy when you forget your moisturizers and no one has to see the dryness of your skin ;-)
For the guys well, y'all don't really have much problems. You just do your thing and ensure you moisturize regularly.
Added info by Yetunde Akinde.
