Sunblock for Hair
I will be outside in the sun a lot this spring and summer. Is there something like sun block for hair? I want to avoid that the sunshine causes damage.
A: Actually, there are a number of companies that make products for the hair that contain UV filters and are designed to help protect hair from the effects of sun exposure. Options range from protective leave-in sprays and lightweight oils to deep-conditioning hair masks.
• UVA rays target the pigments inside your hair, causing both natural and colored hair to bleach, fade, or turn brassy.
• UVB rays break down keratin, which is the primary protein that makes up your hair. This protein loss strips away vital moisture, leaving your strands feeling dry, brittle, and prone to breaking. UVB rays also contribute to surface color fading.
Sunscreen or UV protection is especially beneficial for those who have colored, bleached, permed, or otherwise chemically treated hair. These chemical treatments weaken the hair’s outer layer, leaving it far more vulnerable to damage, which prolonged sun exposure only worsens. Extended sun exposure can result in fading and shifts in color. This is not something you want when you've spent a nice sum of money to have your hair professionally colored!
Remember that the SPF (Sun Protection Factor) listed on some of these products does not mean that you can safely stay in the sun for that number of minutes. SPF is a standardized measure of protection against sunburn on skin, and it does not translate directly into a specific length of protection for skin or hair strands. In laboratory conditions, SPF 15 means it takes roughly 15 times as much UVB exposure to cause sunburn on sunblock-protected skin compared with unprotected skin. However, protection is usually lower in real life.
And wet hair is even more susceptible to sun damage. If you're swimming in a pool or the ocean, chlorine and salt water strip away the hair's natural protective lipid barrier. This allows UV rays to penetrate even faster. Rinsing your hair with clean, fresh water both before and after swimming helps to slow down this process.
Hair products formulated with UV filters may provide some additional protection, but one of the simplest and most reliable ways to protect your hair when you will be outside for a long time is to cover it with a wide-brimmed hat or with a scarf. For extra protection, you can combine a hat with a UV-protective leave-in product.
©Hairfinder.com
See also:
Hair and sun exposure
Sunshine and your hair
Why does the sun lighten our hair, but darken our skin?