What Italian Women Do Differently to Keep Their Hair Fresh Under a Hat — 5 Habits Worth Borrowing

Fall and winter are hard on hair. A hat flattens it, static lifts it, and by afternoon it’s doing something you didn’t plan. Italian women seem to have worked out a way around all of it, and none of it needs a salon. These 5 Italian hair care habits are a gentle place to start: simple, inexpensive, and easy to try at home before the winter hats come out for good.

I first learned that Italian women have a special way of caring for their hair from a friend who moved to Ravenna 5 years ago. As you’d expect, her mother-in-law taught her all the self-care tricks.
So my friend comes back from Italy and announces that her husband’s mom has taught her a unique way to wash her hair. We decided to try it on me. So she’s rinsing out the shampoo, then suddenly goes quiet and says, “Kate, please don’t be mad. We can fix this.”
I look in the mirror, and my roots are purple! It turned out my friend had accidentally grabbed my purple shampoo for brassiness. And according to the Italian method, you’re supposed to leave the product on your hair for a little while.
No, everything really did turn out fine, and most importantly, the method works — just like Italian women’s other beauty tricks.

Invisible

1. Apply shampoo to 5 key points on your head.

Remember this simple routine: forehead along the hairline — crown — right side of the head — left side of the head — back of the head. That’s right, there’s no need to pour shampoo into your palm and try to lather up all your hair at once.

It’s simple: wet your hair, apply shampoo directly to these areas, and only then begin distributing it evenly across your entire scalp. There’s no need to apply shampoo separately to the lengths of your hair — it will naturally spread through your strands. Massage your scalp thoroughly with your fingertips to cleanse your roots and scalp.

Most Italian women do this twice: the secret is to use less shampoo the second time. But if your scalp is especially dry, one round is enough. And take your time — let the shampoo sit on your head briefly, then rinse it out thoroughly.

Invisible

2. Buy a diffuser.

Italian women are very gentle when drying their hair, and many of them use a diffuser. The nice thing is that you don’t have to buy a new hair dryer for this — universal attachments are now available, which is very convenient. By the way, this hair-drying method works not only for wavy hair, but also for straight hair.

I’ll say right away that, at first, I was personally disappointed with the diffuser. As it turned out, you simply need to use it correctly.

Invisible

Drying your hair properly takes some effort, but it’s worthwhile.

Invisible

After washing, gently blot your hair with a towel to remove excess water. Be sure to use a heat protectant, and styling products are optional. It’s important to choose the right blow-dryer setting — the air should not be hot, but the airflow should be strong. Choose a low or medium setting.

When it comes to wavy hair, dry it section by section: first, dry the ends slightly, then gently bring the diffuser up to the roots. Don’t let your hair dry completely — leave it a little damp. This will help prevent dryness and preserve your styling.

Invisible

3. Try dry shampoo.

Yes, Italian tradition really does favor taking your time when washing your hair. However, stylish Italian women recommend doing it less often.

So how can you keep your hair looking fabulous? Dry shampoo is a great option — it absorbs scalp oil, refreshes your locks, and adds volume. It’s best to choose shampoos with plant extracts and oils. And don’t be afraid to try a new hairstyle, like a ponytail or a bun.

Invisible

4. Add olive oil to your skincare routine.

We’ve already heard plenty about the benefits of adding olive oil to our diet. Of course, most professional products contain a whole range of oils, but Italian women are convinced that this product can also help enhance their appearance.

During an at-home spa routine, you can apply a small amount of oil to the ends of your hair. As a result, your locks will look healthy, shiny, and well cared for.

Invisible

5. Buy a satin pillowcase.

If you don’t like satin bedding either, just like I do, think about how a pillowcase like this can help prevent your hair from splitting and getting frizzy. Yes, it’s not the most affordable tip, but getting just 2 pillowcases like this will make your hair stay fresh and shiny longer, and you’ll spend less time styling it.

Invisible

My little personal life hack: if you don’t want to buy pillowcases, you can get a special satin sleep cap. Honestly, it takes some time to get used to sleeping in one, but it really does help keep your hair fresh and healthy.

Invisible

Bonus from the author

As someone who wears a hat from around late August through early June and uses fairly budget-friendly hair products, I truly recommend trying at least a couple of these tips. With the Italian hair-washing method, I can easily go 3 days with clean hair — even without dry shampoo.

You can also add a drop of olive oil to a hair mask. It’s good for your hair, and you won’t need to spend an entire hour rinsing it out afterward.

Invisible

None of these habits needs a new routine or a big budget. Try one this week and see how your hair feels by the end of it. And if your family has a hair care tradition of its own, the comments are open.

Light05