The sun doesn’t only lift your spirits but also lowers blood pressure and reduces the risk of developing many diseases. Sadly, it also has negative impact on hair that fades, loses its shine and becomes brittle. How to take care of hair during the summer – daily and after returning from the beach? How to shield hair against the sun and salty water? Which hair sunscreen products are worth using?
What Effect Does Exposure to Sunlight Have on Hair?
Not only does the sunbathing but also mountaineering and swimming in the ocean result in hair damage. The sun unseals hair’s protective coat that is made of overlapping cuticles. Once risen, the cuticles expose hair cortex so it’s easy for UV rays to penetrate hair shaft and destroy proteins. Consequently, the irreversible damages are done and what is strictly connected with this – hair gets brittle.
After a few days spent being exposed to the sun, hair becomes lightened up. This natural balayage might seem to be really effective, yet it’s a sign of damage done to the hair. UV radiation oxidizes melanin that turns its colour from brown into beige. This adverse action of the sun is intensified by either salty or chlorinated water. Its particles focus ultraviolet radiation which is the reason why hair becomes rough, stiff and hard to detangle after taking a swim in the sea or pool. In order to neutralize the action of salt and chlorine, the hair must be rinsed with tap water after leaving the pool or sea.
How to Protect Hair Against the Sun?
On sunny days hair requires the same amount of protection and care as skin does. For that reason, it’s worth reaching for hair sunscreens containing moisturising, nourishing and regenerating substances such as ceramides, vitamins A, B, E, F and H, jojoba oil, sea collagen or macadamia oil. It’s also a good idea to carry a hair mist to use it a few times a day – it has to be applied regularly, either every few hours or after swimming. Actually a hair care product might be replaced with a protective body balm. Once applied to hair, you must put on a hat or a scarf because higher temperature that is generated under the headwear encourages better absorption of all the precious substances.
Hair dyeing increases its susceptibility to the sun. Therefore, neither dyeing nor bleaching hair right before the summer holiday excursion is considered as a good idea. Both procedures always leave hair dehydrated, and what is strictly connected with this – they lower hair resistance. Ladies, who still decide to treat their hair with a new colour before leaving for vacation, absolutely must apply hair sunscreens before exposing their strands to the sun. When it comes to washing, in this case a regular shampoo dedicated to colored hair might be used.
Additionally, hair shouldn’t be sun dried since this causes a lot of damage. Once hair is wet, it’s wiser to sit under an umbrella or in a shadow for a few dozen minutes. Moreover, squeezing hair so as to remove the excess of water isn’t advisable either because when strands are wet, their cuticles rise which encourages damage. When hair is finally dry, it’s better to tie it, especially if it’s long. To do it, you should go for hair bands or a plastic hair-slide. Such accessories serve hair definitely better than thin rubber bands.
How to Take Care of Hair After Leaving the Beach?
Hair and scalp must be thoroughly washed after returning home, best if you use a special shampoo that belong to summer line. Then, it’s worth applying a regenerating conditioner. For washing, it’s better to use warm water because it removes fat and cosmetic residues definitely better. For rinsing though, it’s better to use cool water since it helps close hair cuticles.
After a day spent at the beach, hair requires good and proper cleansing, therefore washing it twice is highly recommended. Furthermore, every 2-3 days hair should be treated with a special mask containing plenty of regenerating substances. Such hair masks should be used regularly, especially if hair is long since it’s more damage-prone.
Hair Sunscreen Products
In the summer, all windblown hair looks are desired, however, those who can’t do without hair styling products should reach for hair sunscreen products such as gels, sprays and mousses. This type of preparations facilitate hair styling, leave strands shiny and prevent colour fading.
