It is a well-known fact that the sun is dangerous to skin, especially light-toned skin types, but the damaging UV rays that cause sunburn and can trigger melanomas are also damaging to your hair. Many people use UV blocking skin lotions but leave their hair unprotected. Sun damage to hair can cause color fading, dry and brittle hair shafts and split ends.
The main object to protect hair from intense sunlight is to reduce exposure, especially from the midday sun that arrives at high angles to the horizon. The simplest way to reduce exposure is to wear a hat that has a wide brim.
However, wearing a hat is not compatible with most outdoor recreational activities. In that case, a sun block is recommended. These are sold with differing amounts of protection, using a measurement in SPF units. SPF means Sun Protection Factor, and indicates the length of time that you can stay in the sun unprotected multiplied by the SPF. The length of time you can stay in the sun unprotected before getting a sunburn depends on the sun angle, which itself depends on time of day and your latitude. If you would expect to get a sunburn after 15 minutes and the SPF is 10 then this would provide 15 x 10 or 150 minutes of protection.
Two types of sun blocking products are available, ones that absorb the damaging UV rays and others that reflect the UV rays. In the first category are chemical filters that absorb the rays and prevent them from reaching the hair shaft. These are often combined with gels, creams and lotions including waterproof base gels and so are quite cosmetically agreeable. On the other hand, other chemicals rely on reflection of the harmful UV rays. Typically, zinc oxide or titanium oxide repel radiation at all damaging wavelengths, and so are very effective as sun blocks.
Even though these sun blocks for hair are very effective, after a full day of sun exposure you can benefit from the use of special after-sun shampoos and conditioners, which help replace lost moisture and natural oils. Split ends can be temporarily repaired with hair spray. However, if you have had excessive exposure to sun and water, such as after a day on the beach, it is recommended to cut off about 3/8 to ½ inch (1 cm) of your hair to stop further split end damage.
Awareness of the ways to protect your hair will help keep it looking great and reduce the damaging effects of the summer sun.
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