Rapunzel, Tie Back Your Hair During Allergy Season

October 31, 2018

Laura P.

Mother Nature casts an evil spell on millions of people with seasonal allergies every year. With a wave of her wand, she sends dry, feather-light pollen from grasses and weeds floating through the air – and into your hair. Unless you act, that can lead to allergy attacks when you least expect them.

Hair Moves for a Fairy Tale Allergy Season

Here’s how to manage your hair during allergy season:

1. Wash It. Shower and shampoo after being outdoors. The natural oils that keep your locks shiny also build up on your hair to attract and trap pollen, dust, and allergens. Avoid using hair sprays, gels, mousse, or any hair products designed for hold because they attract and hold onto pollen, too. The same goes for dry shampoos.


2. Rinse It. If daily washing makes your hair dry, skip the shampoo and just rinse hair thoroughly. Follow with a leave-in conditioner to close up the hair shaft and make it difficult for pollen to hang on.


3. Time It. Wash hair before bed time to avoid transferring pollen to your pillow case. If you’re having a sneezy day, opt for gentle baby shampoos over scented formulas that can exacerbate nasal symptoms.


4. Shake It. Your hair, that is. If you can’t shampoo, flip your head upside down and shake it out thoroughly to dislodge pollen. Wash your face and hands afterward.


5. Cover It. A tiara won’t cut it. Instead, wear a knit beanie, baseball cap, or scarf outdoors to keep allergens from collecting in your hair.


6. Tie It. If you have long hair, fasten it in a ponytail, braid, or bun before you go outside to limit the surface area exposed to pollen. If you’ve already let your tresses flow outside, tie them back, pin bangs up, or wear a headband indoors to keep pollen-dusted wisps away from your eyes and nose.



7. Wipe It. Drag baby wipes or a damp cloth across your locks to remove surface allergens whenever you don’t have time to shower. Try microfiber cloths, which hold onto tiny particles like pollen and release them when washed with soap and hot water.


8. Protect It. Never re-wear shirts or hats you’ve worn outdoors during allergy season. They’ll transfer yesterday’s pollen to today’s clean hair on contact. And don’t forget your pets. They collect plenty of pollen on their fur, especially on legs and paws. Wipe them down or give them a quick bath before cuddling.

Banish Pollen From Your Hair

Allergy season can be tough on princesses and princes alike. Eyes water and itch, sinuses ache and swell, noses run and sneeze and sneeze and sneeze. Instead of locking yourself away in a tower until winter, take precautions with your hair to help break Mother Nature’s spell and live happily ever after.

For a more blissful allergy season, try the WATERPIK HairWand Spa System; it's patented PowerComb spray penetrates down to the root, to help wash away pollen and allergens.