It is October, the heat is kicking on indoors, and the air outside is getting that crisp edge. Your coils feel it first. These hacks, most of them straight from dermatologist guidance, keep natural hair moisturized, strong and low-drama all the way to spring, and most of them are things Grandma already knew.

Natural hair care hacks for cold, dry air

1. Layer your moisture, then seal it

Dermatologists at the American Academy of Dermatology suggest following your wash and conditioner with an oil or leave-in conditioner, and looking for ingredients like argan oil, glycerin or fatty alcohols. The LOC (liquid, oil, cream) and LCO (liquid, cream, oil) methods are the community’s way of stacking those layers. Try both for two weeks each and let your hair vote.

2. Refresh between wash days

The British Association of Dermatologists says to moisturize between wash days with your choice of lotions, creams or oils. Midweek, mist dry ends with water or a leave-in, then seal with a little oil or cream. Focus on the ends, since the AAD calls them the oldest, most fragile part of your hair.

3. Wrap it up at night

Before bed, put your hair in a loose pineapple or a loose braid, then cover it with a satin or silk bonnet or sleep on a satin or silk pillowcase to reduce friction, per the same AAD curly hair tips. The bonnet is not just a vibe. It is maintenance. Keep a backup in your bag for travel and overnight stays.

4. Protective styles, zero tension

The AAD’s rule for braids, cornrows and weaves is short: pain equals damage. Its tips on hairstyles that pull say to choose thicker, looser braids, keep them shorter since long hair is heavier, and wear braids no longer than 6 to 8 weeks. If an install brings pain, stinging, crusts or tenting on your scalp, the AAD says change the style.

5. Check your edges once a month

Early warning signs of traction alopecia include broken hairs around the forehead, a receding hairline, and patches where hair is pulled tightly. The AAD warns it can become permanent the longer it goes untreated, while the Skin of Color Society notes it starts out temporary but may become permanent if styling habits do not change. Snap a hairline photo on the first of each month and compare.

6. Build a smarter wash day

The AAD’s guide to Black hair care suggests washing once a week or every other week, using conditioner every time, and a hot oil treatment twice a month. Its healthy hair tips say to put shampoo on your scalp, not the whole length, and to detangle wet hair with a wide-tooth comb. Working in sections with conditioner in can make detangling a lot less of a fight.

7. Trim what snags

Ragged, knotted ends catch on scarves, coat collars and each other, which means more tugging on wash day. A light trim before winter gives you a clean start, and your detangling sessions will thank you.

8. Turn the heat down

For silk press season, the same AAD guide to Black hair care says to use a heat protectant first, and if you press, use a ceramic comb or iron only once a week, on the lowest temperature setting that gets the style. When you can, let hair air dry or stretch it with braid outs, twist outs or banding instead.

9. Plug in a humidifier

Indoor heat dries out the air. The AAD recommends a humidifier to boost humidity at home for dry skin, and your scalp and strands live in that same air. Run one in the bedroom while you sleep and clean it the way the manufacturer says.

10. Treat flakes like a scalp issue, not a hair issue

Flakes are not always just dryness. The AAD notes that on darker skin tones, seborrheic dermatitis often looks pink, slightly purple or lighter than the surrounding skin and can leave dark spots. If flakes, itching or redness hang around, that calls for a diagnosis, not another product.

If you notice breakage that will not quit, itching, tenderness, bumps or thinning, see a board-certified dermatologist. The Skin of Color Society’s Find a Doctor directory lets you search for hair loss specialists near you.

Heading somewhere warm (or colder) this season? Pack the bonnet and check our Black travel destinations for fall and winter.

What is your go-to winter hair hack? Put it in the comments so the whole group chat can try it.