Harmattan season is upon us! It is my favorite season of the year. Many people love harmattan because it falls into the Christmas season and during breaks from work and school. Despite this seeming love we have for harmattan it usually comes with its wave of problems.
The main feature of harmattan is a drop in humidity levels, meaning that the weather is drier than usual. One important thing to do this season is to keep your body hydrated. Your body losses water faster because of the dry weather so, you must thrive to stay hydrated. Drink lots of water. Eat fruits heavy with water content like cucumbers, watermelons, and pineapples.
As women, we enjoy long hot showers but harmattan is not the season for that. Your skin is already struggling to stay hydrated so, don’t make it drier with hot water. Take warm baths and save the hot baths for the rainy season.
In addition to warm baths, moisturize your skin and hair frequently. Harmattan is not the season for those light creams we use during the year. This time you want something heavy in oils like shea butter or cocoa butter. You can mix oils inside your body creams. That will protect your skin from the harsh weather. For hair, it’s better to put it in protective styling so that it doesn’t stiffen and breaks. Don’t forget your lips and nostrils! Sometimes, if the weather is too dry it can cause nosebleed.
As you are moisturizing your skin and drinking water, wear appropriate clothing. I know that harmattan can be tricky; one minute you are hot and the next you are cold. Still, try to wear clothes that cover much of your skin.
Finally, exercise! One thing that happens during harmattan is that because we are all home resting from school and work, we often forget to exercise. Don’t stay in bed all day hiding under a blanket. Take a walk, or run, stretch out your muscles, or else you will enter the new year with cranky bones.