You’re likely aware that sun exposure can damage your skin and lead to concerns like dark spots and wrinkles. What you may not know is that ultraviolet (UV) rays can damage your hair, too. Knowing how to protect hair from sun damage is one of the easiest ways to prevent dry, damaged strands, faded hair color, frizz, and breakage in the long run. Luckily, protecting hair from the sun is pretty simple with the right habits and routine. Keep scrolling to learn how to protect your hair from the sun, plus discover some of our favorite products to incorporate into your healthy haircare routine.
Can the Sun Damage Your Hair?
Yes, sun exposure can damage your hair. According to the Cleveland Clinic, exposure to UV rays can damage the outer lipid layer on your hair strands that helps support smooth, shiny-looking hair. With repeated UV exposure, you may notice your hair becoming dry, frizzy, or brittle. You may notice more split ends, too.
Sun exposure can also wreak havoc on your hair color. UV light can act like bleach, so whether your hair is colored or natural, a long weekend spent in the sun may end up causing your hair color to lighten. If your hair is color-treated, sun exposure may make your hue take on a brassy tint or accelerate fading. Some research also suggests that excessive and repeated sun damage can cause your hair to gray faster than it otherwise might.
Why It’s Important To Protect Your Hair and Scalp From the Sun
Knowing that sunshine and UV rays can damage your hair and scalp is half the battle. Learning how to protect hair from sun damage is key to shiny, healthy-looking tresses year-round. After all, no one wants a sunburned scalp or locks that feel like they’re about to break off. Treating your hair and scalp before stepping out in the sunshine can help promote healthier-looking tresses and extend your hair color’s lifespan in a single swoop (or, should we say, spritz of sunscreen).
6 Ways To Protect Your Hair from the Sun
While dunking your head in a vat of sunscreen might theoretically shield your strands, there are better ways to protect your hair from the sun. Ahead, we’ve put together some advice, tips, and products to help your scalp and strands remain at the top of their game.
1. Use a protective shampoo and conditioner
Treating your strands starts with products that help protect against harmful UV rays. If you’re spending the day lounging on the beach or splashing around in a chlorinated pool, you’ll want to use a shampoo and conditioner designed to help protect hair from the sun. Lather up with the Pureology Hydrate Shampoo and Pureology Hydrate Conditioner, which are ultra-nourishing formulas that shield against damage, seal in vibrant color, and smooth even the thirstiest tresses from root to tip. The conditioner also has a UV filter that blocks 100% of the sun's rays.
2. Reach for a hair and scalp sunscreen
Besides knowing how to protect your hair from the sun, you should also take measures to protect your scalp from ultraviolet light. You can do this by shielding the skin along your part line, which is an area that receives direct exposure to sunlight. Instead of slathering on the same sunscreen you use on your face and body, though, reach for more specific scalp sunscreen or hair sunscreen, so you avoid clogging your scalp’s pores or hair follicles or weighing down your strands. Be sure to follow the FDA’s guidance on sun protection, too, which means you should reach for sunscreen for hair and scalp with an SPF of 15 or higher and reapply it at least every two hours for lasting protection.
3. Use a protective leave-in treatment
Those tresses aren’t going to protect themselves. Applying a targeted protective leave-in treatment before you spend time outdoors is key in protecting hair from the sun. The Shu Uemura Art of Hair Color Lustre Sealer Spray is among our favorites. It helps smooth hair, enhances hydration, locks in vibrancy and shine, and protects against UV-induced damage. Plus, it helps protect your color vibrancy for up to six weeks. Or you can try the Pureology Color Fanatic Multi-Tasking Leave-In Spray, which boasts a whopping 21 (!) essential benefits for color-treated hair, including detangling, moisturizing, repairing damage, smoothing, shielding against environmental stressors, and UV protection.
4. Consider wearing a hat or scarf
If you forgot to pack a hair or scalp sunscreen in your suitcase, we’ve got you covered (pun intended). Make a fashion statement while simultaneously protecting hair from the sun by accessorizing with an oversized beach hat or stylish scarf. Just keep in mind that not all hats are created equally—while straw hats are chic, the holes in their weave aren’t the best at blocking out the sun’s rays. Look for a lightweight hat with tight stitching (bonus points if it’s a UPF 30 fabric, which features built-in sun protection). A style with a wide brim can also protect the more delicate strands along your hairline. If hats aren’t really your thing, try a headscarf made of a breathable material like silk or satin.
5. Style strategically
Sometimes it just comes down to how you style your strands. Securing your hair into braids, a slicked-back bun, or with a claw clip can help reduce how much of your hair is actually exposed to direct sunlight. You can even take it one step further with a braided bun (talk about a style two-in-one). Try creating these styles without a part line to protect your scalp, too.
6. Mask weekly to replenish your strands
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Don’t let your tresses get super thirsty, which can lead to them looking dull and lifeless. Once a week, follow up your cleansing routine with a nourishing hair mask to help revitalize and replenish your mane. Try the Matrix Glow Mania Super Gloss Protecting Mask, which helps preserve color and shine for up to eight weeks. It’s formulated with glycolic acid to laminate hair fibers and provide better light reflection, while rosehip oil boosts vibrancy and gives strands a long-lasting glow.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Now that you’ve learned more about how to protect hair from sun and UV damage, here are a few more hot tips (pardon the pun).
How do I know if my hair is sun-damaged?
Protecting hair from the sun is important for many reasons. Hair that’s been damaged by the sun will be frizzy, brittle, and dry. You may notice a lot more split ends, too.
Can UV rays cause hair color to fade?
Exposure to UV radiation can cause both natural and dyed hair to fade. Because UV rays act similarly to bleach, frequent sun exposure can make your hair take on a lighter, brassier hue. You may also notice gray hairs coming in much sooner.
Should I cover my hair in the sun even with UV protectant products?
You can never be too careful when it comes to knowing how to protect your hair from the sun. Even if you’re using sunscreen protection for hair, it’s a good idea to cover your scalp and strands with a wide-brimmed hat if you plan on spending a lot of time outdoors. If you don’t have any hats on hand, try to stick to the shade during the midday hours to limit the amount of UV exposure your hair receives.
Next Up: Is Your Hair Damaged? Here’s How to Identify, Manage, and Prevent Damage
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Header image credit (left to right): @pureology, @matrix
