Kathmandu is one of those places that gets as cold as the Arctic, but oddly enough, it does not snow. So people are going to give you the eye when they see the snow storm on your shoulders. And when they slowly move their eye upwards, they will be greeted by peaks of folded skin on that thing you call your lips. Not a very pretty sight. And not very healthy as well. In addition to being an offensive sight, you won’t be able to enjoy anything that’s warm or mildly spicy.

Winter is a tough time for it is mostly dry. And dryness and skin is a combo that’s not a Happy Meal. The cold rips away the moisture away and your lips are the most prone to this. Your scalp is the unnoticed victim, and when you finally do, it’s a bit too late. So it’s a good idea to start as soon as possible.

HAIRY BUSINESS

SKIP THE HOT SHOWER

Hot showers are a blessing during the cold days. Sadly, they’re not very good for the skin. Hot water tends to rip away the essential oils away from the skin, and that’s bad for the whole body. If you have the will for it, go with cold water, if you can’t, warm will do.

THE SHAMPOO TOO

The go-to showering method for men is to squirt on some shampoo and use the lather on the hair, and smother it across the body. If you do this and tag team it with hot water, your skin will look like that of a lizard’s, full with grey and wrinkled skin. It’s best to use shampoo every two days. Also, if you can muster up the manliness, get your shampoo from the women’s section because men’s shampoo tends to be concentrated and strong, not that great for this season.

GET THE PACKAGE

Most people don’t even use conditioners. Conditions, as the name suggests, condition your hair to feel soft and smooth. It does this by replacing the nutrients and oils your hair and scalp lost due to shampoo. So it’s a good idea to get a complimenting tube of conditioner when you get your shampoo.

STICKY SITUATIONS

Hair products like wax and gels are awesome to fetch you some bonus style points for your hair; however the issue with them is that they tend to block the pores. As the chill hits the hair, wax and gel solidify much quicker and form a layer through which your scalp can’t breathe, and breathing is something the scalp needs to do. Put your product use to a minimum.

OIL IT UP

We’re not in school anymore so we’d hate to walk out of the house with a thick layer of oil in our hair. But it does need some oil. So the trick is to massage it in well at night and go to bed. Give your hair a quick rinse in the morning and your set for the day.

LIPS

EXFOLIATING

Guess what? Your lips are covered with skin too. Skin is a separate living and breathing entity in itself so it is crucial to exfoliate it. The dry skin needs to be get rid of so that the new and soft skin surfaces; and soft skin equals soft lips. To do this, dip your tooth brush into some warm water and gently scrub your lips. Do this every two days and you should be golden.

SCRUBS

Taking it a bit further, you can make a scrub at home for your lips. Take a tea spoon of sugar and muddle it with another tea spoon of water. Scrub gently on your lips and wipe it away after letting it sit for a couple of minutes. What this will do is restore the moisture and nutrients your lips have lost to the cold. This will put life back into your kissers.

CHAPSTICK FOR CHAPS

For an everyday chap, it’s next to impossible to prevent chapping; that why they invented the chapstick. Every time your lips go dry, apply it. Put it in your day carry or you pocket. You don’t need to apply a thick coat, nor need to invest in a fancy one. Even the classic Vaseline’s petroleum jelly will do.

Words: Nirveek PPJ Shah