Winter in Zürich: Barber Routine for Hair, Beard & Scalp

Winter in Zürich: Barber-Built Routine for Hair, Beard & Scalp

The Zürich winter looks great on postcards. On your hair and beard? Not always.

Cold, dry air outside, radiators on full blast inside, beanies on and off all day, that mix is rough on your hair, beard and scalp. We see it every year in the chair: static, frizz, itch, flakes and styles that simply stop behaving.

So we built a simple winter routine you can actually follow. No 15 step ritual, just a few smart habits plus the right products.

What winter really does to your hair & skin

A quick reality check before we fix it:

• Dry air steals moisture

  Low humidity + heating = your hair and skin lose water faster than in summer. Result: rough ends, brittle beard, tight scalp.

• Hot showers strip natural oils

  Long, very hot showers feel amazing in January, but they remove the oils that keep your hair and beard comfortable.

• Hats add friction

  Wool beanies and caps rub the cuticle (outer layer of the hair), which makes styles look dull and creates static.

The good news: you don’t need a completely new lifestyle. A few changes to your routine are usually enough.

Your 10-minute winter routine (built for Zürich life)

Think of this as your “ZVV timetable” for grooming – simple and reliable.

In the shower

1. Drop the water temperature a notch

   Warm, not scorching hot. Your scalp and beard will stay calmer and less red.

2. Wash less, but better

   • Hair: 2–3× per week with a gentle, hydrating shampoo (we stock several Redken Brews options that work well for this).

   • Beard: use a dedicated beard wash or a mild shampoo a few times per week, not every day.

3. Condition on autopilot

   Always follow with conditioner on hair and beard length, even short hair. It takes 60 seconds and does more for frizz than any styling trick.

If you train in the gym daily and feel you must “wash” after every workout, alternate: one day shampoo + conditioner, next day just a water rinse + conditioner.

After the shower: hair & scalp

1. Towel, don’t attack

   Pat or squeeze your hair with the towel instead of rubbing. Wet hair is weaker; aggressive drying = more breakage and frizz.

2. Apply product on damp hair

   Most modern pomades, creams and clays are water-based. They spread and hold better when your hair is about 70–80% dry.

3. Choose winter-friendly styling

   • If your hair is fine or thinning: use a light, matte product and avoid overloading the roots.

   • If your hair is thick, wavy or curly: switch to a cream or soft pomade to calm frizz and add weight where you need it.

4. Don’t forget the scalp

   If your scalp feels tight or itchy:

   • Massage a few drops of scalp tonic or light oil into the skin, not just the hair.

   • Take 60 seconds to really work your fingertips along the hairline and crown, that also boosts blood flow.

Beard & skin: anti-itch game plan

Zürich winter + beard = itch and “beardruff” for a lot of guys. Here’s the minimal fix:

1. Oil every day, balm when needed

   • After showering, gently towel dry your beard.

   • Apply a few drops of beard oil into the skin under the hair first, then through the length.

   • For medium to long beards, finish with a small amount of balm to seal in moisture and keep the shape.

2. Brush, don’t scratch

   Use a good boar-bristle brush to:

   • distribute oils,

   • exfoliate the skin lightly,

   • train your beard to sit the way you like.

3. Trim the edges regularly

   Dry, split ends make a winter beard look tired fast. A quick shape-up every 2–3 weeks keeps your lines sharp and gets rid of weakened hair.

4. Match your product to your beard length

   • Short beard / heavy stubble: lighter oils, less balm.

   • Long beard: richer oil + balm combo, brushed in thoroughly.

Small winter tweaks that make a big difference

1. Pick the right hat

We’re not here to tell you not to wear a beanie in January.

But:

• Avoid very rough wool directly on your hairline if you struggle with frizz or breakage.

• Rotate between two hats, so one can fully dry instead of staying slightly damp all week.

• Take your hat off as soon as you get inside and let your hair “breathe” for a minute before reshaping it.

If your style fully collapses under a hat, ask us for a shorter, more structured winter cut that pops back into place with a comb and a touch of product.

2. Adjust your cut – slightly

You don’t have to give up your fade to survive winter. But tiny adjustments help:

• Skin fade to low fade

  Leaving 0.5–1mm instead of going to the skin keeps the scalp less exposed and usually looks fresher for longer in dry air.

• Sharper outline, softer texture

  • Clean edges around neck and ears for structure.

  • More texture on top so your hair doesn’t separate into “stringy” sections when it’s dry.

• Beard and hair as one look

  In winter, a strong beard with a very thin hairstyle (or vice versa) can look unbalanced. We’ll help you find a length that connects both.

When DIY isn’t enough: signs you should book a chair

There’s a point where more oil or more product won’t fix it, that’s where we come in.

Book a visit if you notice:

• Your scalp is flaky even when you use a gentle shampoo.

• Your hair feels rough even immediately after conditioner.

• Your beard is itchy all day, not just right after washing.

• Your style only looks good for a few minutes, then collapses.

In the chair we can:

• switch your product lineup for winter (without you buying random things that don’t suit your hair),

• clean up split ends and re-balance your cut,

• calm irritated skin with proper hot towel prep and aftercare,

• map out a realistic schedule for cuts and beard trims.

A simple winter booking plan

You don’t need to live in our barbershop to stay sharp.

Use this as a starting point and adjust after we’ve seen your hair and growth rate:

• Short classic cuts / fades:

  Every 4–5 weeks.

• Longer styles (medium length):

  Haircut every 6–8 weeks, plus a quick neck and contour clean up in between if needed.

• Beard trims:

  Every 2–3 weeks, especially if you have a strong growth pattern or wear a defined shape.

If you’re not sure where you fall, ask your barber during your next visit, we’ll give you a personalized schedule that fits your work calendar, not just ours.

Quick FAQs from the chair

See us in Enge (and soon Europaallee)

If you want to winter proof your look properly, bring your current routine (or just your questions) to the chair.

We’ll:

• check your hair, beard and scalp in good light,

• suggest small tweaks to your cut so it behaves better under hats and in dry air,

• set you up with a simple, realistic routine – not a 20-step plan you’ll drop by February.

Book your next visit at The Good Barbers - Enge now, and from January you’ll also find us in Europaallee with the same team mindset and premium brands you already know.