We relish every moment of coziness this time of year brings, but hair woes like thinning and frizz can be unfortunate side effects of the change in seasons. Now that the temperatures have begun to drop, your hair and scalp may benefit from switching up your routine for the cooler months.
“Winter can be especially tough on hair: cold outdoor air and dry indoor heat can leave it feeling dry, brittle and more prone to breakage,” cautions Dr. Angela Lamb, board-certified dermatologist. To share her recommendations for keeping your mane healthy through the coldest months of the year, Lamb joined the 3rd Hour of TODAY with some top hair care picks.
Whether you’re on the hunt for an oil to solve dry, flaky scalps or a flyaway-taming serum, we’ve rounded up recommendations that keep the health of your hair at the forefront.
Winter hair health products seen on the 3rd Hour of TODAY
We often forget that, much like the skin on our face, our scalps could use a bit of extra moisture in winter, too.
“Cold weather and indoor heating can leave the scalp feeling dry, itchy and flaky,” Lamb tells us. “This pre-shampoo oil is designed to nourish the scalp and address dryness, itchiness and flaking while supporting healthier-looking hair. You apply it before shampooing, so it’s an easy treatment to add to your hair wash day.”
“This is a hair-repair system that combines a mask with a booster powder for a more intense treatment,” Lamb explains. “Designed with hydrolyzed keratin and amino acids, it goes beyond simple moisture to help strengthen and reinforce hair that’s been stressed by winter dryness, coloring or heat styling.”
To use, simply mix the products, apply after shampooing and rinse out after three to five minutes.
When you’re constantly going between cold weather and heated indoor spaces, static, flyaways and frizz add to the list of winter hair conundrums. Lamb says to think of this serum as the finishing step in your hair routine, helping smooth and control frizz while nourishing the follicle. For a sleeker, more polished finish in just seconds, concentrate it through the lengths and ends of your strands.
Snarly strands and never-ending knots can often prompt aggressive, painful brushing, but Lamb reminds us that it’s important to be especially gentle when dealing with hair that’s already drier and more fragile this time of year. Tangle Teezer’s Complete Carebrush, which the brand says took 5 years to perfect for all hair types, features a diagonal teeth pattern that helps gently work through tangles, without all that unnecessary tugging and pulling.
With this beanie, you don’t have to choose between sleek strands and keeping warm. The dreaded “hat hair” is no match for this satin-lined option, which eliminates the friction and breakage you can get from traditional beanies. It’s a savior on days when you’re hoping to maintain curls, a blowout or other styles underneath your hat.
This module is paid for by Luseta.
“This shampoo and conditioner duo from Luseta, one of our brand sponsors at our Stages events and a 2025 Shop TODAY Hair Award winner, is made with ingredients like fermented rice, which is rich in amino acids and proteins that can help support stronger, healthier-looking hair, all while adding moisture,” shares Lamb. “It’s a great way to build extra care right into your everyday wash routine during the colder months.”
More hair health products to shop
Dr. Marnie Nussbaum, a board-certified dermatologist, previously shared her product picks for better hair health on the 3rd Hour of TODAY, including this editor-favorite duo. Luseta’s Biotin & Collagen Strengthening Kit includes a shampoo and conditioner formulated with its namesake ingredients, plus argan oil to help hair appear stronger and fuller, according to the brand. We also spotted a steep discount on a set with the brand’s serum at TJ Maxx right now!
Suffering from thinning eyebrows? Nussbaum says with consistent use, this 2-in-1 peptide serum can help promote brow and lash growth. For best results, the brand recommends swiping this serum across your brows twice daily for more dense brows in as little as four weeks.
Experts we previously interviewed state that your scalp care routine should mimic your skin care routine. Nussbaum explains that the scalp can “gather dead skin, oils and sweat” that can clog the pores and prevent hair growth.
This scalp scrub promises to relieve itchy, oily and dry scalps with its foam formula, which works to remove oil and product buildup as well as flakes.
“It’s important to choose a shampoo and conditioner without sulfates and parabens,” says Nussbaum. “It is less harsh for your scalp and hair.” This affordable shampoo includes a trifecta of ingredients such as peptides, grapefruit extract and coconut oil to promote hair health, “eliminate” oil and add shine.
The dermatologist also suggests washing your hair two to three times a week, depending on your hair type and scalp oiliness, to prevent stripping your hair of natural oils.
For a deeper clean (and a satisfying scalp massage), consider adding this exfoliating brush to your arsenal. According to the brand, it has three-in-one capabilities, including detangling, exfoliating and removing dandruff buildup.
Sulfate-, paraben- and silicone-free dry shampoos are the way to go, according to experts, who add that these ingredients can lead to further discomfort while using the product.
This version from Batiste has “sweat-embedded technology” within, which is perfect for giving hair a much-needed refresh after a workout.
Hair wash day just got even better: this hair mask aims to leave hair feeling even more nourished and softer than before, thanks to an engineered silk ingredient that’s composed of amino acids and proteins. The dermatologist says using this mask weekly can help repair hair over time.
A heat protectant should “always” be used before styling with hot tools, says Nussbaum. This multi-use option is crafted with beneficial ingredients like rice protein, fire tulip extract, marula oil and UV protectors, that work to lessen dryness often brought on by added heat.
Nussbaum recommends these oldie-but-goodie (no pun intended) hair accessories for tear-free updos. Reviewers agree, saying these “are perfect for anyone looking for durable, no-frills hair ties.”
Skip the in-shower treatment on busy days with this oil you can spritz on anytime, anywhere. Simply mist the argan oil-powered formula on from six inches away (avoiding the roots) to instantly boost shine and smooth frizz.
This towel earned the award for “best hair towel” during Shop TODAY’s 2025 Hair Awards, due to the way it gently dries hair without the usual tug of wrapping your hair in a towel.
This product “provides instant shine, frizz control, heat protection, damage repair and works for all hair textures and types,” says senior editor Julie Ricevuto.
It’s made with advanced ingredients including biomimetic peptides, Amazonian butters as well as more familiar ingredients like hyaluronic acid.
Dandruff can tend to crop up as the colder months creep in. We suggest adding this shampoo into your rotation to pamper your scalp while combatting flakes.
Preserve the life of your blowout by sleeping in this viral scrunchie, which one of our writers said extended the lifetime of her hairdo by up to seven days.
“Overall, I’m pretty happy with the way my hair held up,” she says. “The majority of my loose, beachy waves were still perfectly in place when I woke up the next morning.”
“It works as a waterless cleanser that removes oil & cleans like a real shampoo, leaving hair fresh & silky,” says Ricevuto of this dry shampoo. So, if you’re looking for a product that gets the job done (as in leaving you with clean-feeling and looking hair) with minimal effort, consider this your next go-to.
Give this mask 10 minutes, and it’ll deliver a balance of protein and moisture to help repair and strengthen dry, damaged hair. The brand says this impressive product has won over 15 awards!
Whether you’re treating day two hair or dry ends, this mist provides a bit of a refresh for struggling strands.
“It helps with shine, body, heat protection, moisture and the smell is the best, all without weighing it down,” raves one reviewer.
This cream has become my personal hair care hero as the temperatures have dropped this season. It’s super versatile, offering heat protection, a shine boost and detangling post-shower and pre-blowout, but it’s also perfect for touching up flyaways and taming frizz throughout the day. A little goes a long way, so I’m sure the five-ounce size will last well past the winter months.
No rinsing is needed after using this popular, highly concentrated hair mask. According to the brand, it works on a molecular level to actually reverse hair damage.
Achieve salon-like styles at home with this six-in-one tool that minimizes further damage to your hair. I was recently introduced to the brand, which pioneered the integration of red light and infrared therapy into hair tools, delivering healthier hair year-round. In my opinion, the appliance rivals popular, pricier air styling alternatives (at a fraction of competitors’ price tags!).
This tool won the title of best curling wand in Shop TODAY’s 2026 Hair Awards. It has been perfected to maintain consistent 365-degree temperatures across the full barrel length (that’s the ideal temperature for effective styling without compromising hair health, per the brand). Plus, just in time for the holidays, the brand has dropped its new cashmere collection, which upgrades its already stellar offerings with downright gorgeous packaging practically begging to be gifted this year.
Meet the experts
Our team features a range of qualified experts and contributors in our broadcast segments to reveal the latest in trends, remarkable sale events and all things shopping across a variety of categories. Products were independently chosen by members of the Shop TODAY team along with Dr. Angela Lamb and Dr. Marnie Nussbaum.
- Dr. Angela Lamb, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. She’s currently the Vice Chair of Clinical Operations at Mount Sinai Dermatology.
- Dr. Marnie Nussbaum MD, FAAD, is an award-winning board-certified dermatologist based in New York.
- Shop TODAY is a team of shopping editors and writers who spend hours every day finding the best new products, tried-and-true favorites and more finds available on Amazon that are worth shopping, according to our high standards.
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