A great-looking hat is always a girl’s best friend when it comes to bad hair days, but when you’re potentially facing a season full of bad hair days, sometimes a hat just won’t cut it.

Every time the winter season rolls around, it’s almost like my hair goes into hibernation mode. It refuses to be voluminous, soft and silky. Instead, it gets static-y, dry and dull. It looks flat and is constantly tangled. How am I supposed to face holiday cocktails parties like that?

Over the years (and after several bad holiday pictures), I’ve picked up a few tricks to keep my hair looking glossy and fabulous underneath all the sparkly lights and decor of the holidays. As my gift to you this season, I’m going to share them!

Shampoo less frequently. A good shampoo will keep your hair looking clean and shiny, but between indoor heating and the outside chill, your hair will become dry … fast. Cut back to shampooing hair every other day instead of daily. Look for a shampoo that will provide volume and bounce. Steer clear of clarifying shampoos, which can strip your hair of the natural oils that can help protect your scalp and hair.

Condition more often. Conditioning your hair properly will give your hair the moisture it needs to fight off static and frizz. Invest in a deep-conditioning treatment or hair mask to replenish the hair’s moisture and leave it looking silky smooth and touchable. Once a week is more than enough to keep hair hydrated and healthy.

Blow-dry your hair. If you tend to be the girl with wash ’n’ go hair, now is not the time to celebrate that. As envious as any girl would be over someone who doesn’t need to style their hair every morning, the cold winter months can be harsh on wet hair. Stepping outside with wet hair and letting it freeze can cause breakage and other damage to your hair, leaving you with hair that needs serious repair by the time spring rolls around. Take the time to blow-dry or fully air-dry your hair each morning. Smooth on a gloss or finishing cream to style it in place and you’re good to go!