It’s no secret that the sun’s powerful rays can harm your skin, but it’s a lesser-known truth that they can damage your hair, too. The sun emits ultraviolet (UV) rays that can absorb into your strands, shifting your hair color and adversely impacting the way your locks look and feel. Luckily, knowing how to protect hair from sun damage can help you maintain healthy-looking hair any time of year. Keep scrolling for our top tips and must-have products to incorporate into your haircare routine this summer and beyond.
1. Use Hair Products With UV Protection
“What can I put in my hair to protect it from the sun?” is a popular question among those looking for healthy-looking hair tips. And we have the answer: haircare products formulated with UV filters. Here are a few of our favorite picks from the L’Oréal portfolio of professional brands.
Pureology
All of Pureology’s products contain the brand’s patented AntiFade Complex® to protect color vibrancy and provide lasting color payoff. The exclusive blend, which contains sunflower seed, a UV filter, and vitamin E, helps fight color-depleting environmental effects while adding lasting shine.
If you’re unsure where to start, we recommend streamlining your styling routine with Pureology’s Color Fanatic Multi-Benefit Leave-In Treatment. The multi-tasking leave-in spray is suitable for all hair types and boasts 21 (!) nourishing benefits. These include shielding against environmental stressors, repairing damage, smoothing strands, and restoring moisture—to name just a few. Or, if you’re going for a tousled, beachy finish, add the texturizing Beach Waves Sugar Hair Spray to your lineup. The spritz helps create summer-inspired waves without actually exposing your hair to the sea or salty air. Just mist the formula onto damp or dry hair, and use your fingers to gently scrunch your hair upward.
Shu Uemura Art of Hair
Hair oiling is a haircare ritual that involves massaging natural oils onto your hair to help improve its look and feel. And, while many people reach for pure oils when oiling their hair, we advise going for a dedicated haircare oil that offers UV protection. This way, you can try the trend with less risk of scorching your hair if you decide to head outdoors. Plus, professional oils are generally easier to wash out of your mane than kitchen ones.
We’re partial to coating our locks with Shu Uemura Art of Hair’s Essence Absolue Nourishing Protective Hair Oil. The lightweight oil offers protection from UV-induced damage, tames frizz, and rehydrates hair so it’s left soft, smooth, and radiant. Head to our article, The Complete Guide To Hair Oiling, for an easy tutorial on the ancient practice.
In case you do go overboard when oiling (mistakes happen to the best of us), a clarifying shampoo can help remove weighty residue from your hair. Keep the brand’s Gentle Radiance Clarifying Shampoo on hand to deeply cleanse your hair and scalp from dirt, oil, and product buildup.
Kérastase
For a more complete suncare routine, scoop up the Sun Exposed Hair x Soleil line from Kérastase. The collection features a shampoo, hair mask, hair cream, and oil mist that work together to protect hair from dryness and fading due to summer aggressors (think sun, chlorine, and saltwater). They’re versatile, too; you can use them before or after going outside to help nourish and protect your hair.
Good hair day by @britney_twomey.
2. Cover Your Strands
If you forget to pack hair products with UV protection in your suitcase, don’t fret—we’ve got you covered (no pun intended). Donning a hat can help you look incredibly stylish on the beach while protecting your strands from the sun’s harmful rays. Just keep in mind that not all hats are created equal. Straw hats are often thought of as the quintessential beach hat, but the holes in their weave aren’t great at blocking out the sun’s rays.
Instead, opt for a lightweight hat with tight stitching (bonus points if it’s a UPF 30 fabric, which features built-in sun protection) to better prevent the sun’s rays from reaching your hair. We also suggest choosing a style with a wide brim to protect the more delicate strands around your hairline.
If hats aren’t really your style, try a headscarf made of a breathable material like silk or satin. Wearing a scarf is a chic solution for keeping your strands hidden from the sun—plus, there are dozens of ways to tie one. Find a style that works for you to keep your mane accessorized and protected all summer long.
3. Tend to Your Part Line
Besides knowing how to protect hair from sun damage, you should also take measures to protect your scalp from ultraviolet light. Namely, shielding the skin along your part line, an area that receives direct exposure to sunlight. Avoid slathering your usual face or body sunscreen onto your scalp, though—these formulas can be too heavy or pore-clogging. A better idea is to reach for a specialized scalp sunscreen, which typically comes in the form of a lightweight spray, powder, stick, or serum. A scalp sunscreen is designed to provide targeted UV protection to vulnerable scalp skin without leaving behind a greasy residue or clogging your hair follicles. Be sure to choose one that’s water-resistant if you’ll be sweating or swimming.
Alternatively, you can protect your scalp skin by sporting a hairstyle without a part, like a slicked-back bun or other updo. This brings us to our next point…
Good hair day by @mr_alexandrycosta.
4. Style Strategically
Securing your hair into braids, tight buns, or with a claw clip can help reduce how much of your hair gets exposed to direct sunlight. Check out our roundup of 40 of the Trendiest Plaited Hair Ideas to inspire your next braided ‘do, or head to our article How to Do a Slicked-Back Bun In 5 Easy Steps for tips on creating a sleek look with less damage. As mentioned above, try creating these styles without a part line to help protect your scalp. If you do prefer to part your hair, throw on a hat or apply scalp sunscreen to ward off a burn.
5. Stay Out of the Sun During Peak Hours
As the day goes on and the sun moves higher in the sky, the sun’s UV rays become more intense and potentially more damaging to your skin, eyes, and hair. That’s because when the sun is at its peak, the UV rays travel a shorter distance to reach the Earth. If you can, we recommend limiting your time in the sun during those peak hours, which typically start around 10 a.m. and last until 2 p.m., according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
If you’re in an office from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., this tip will likely be easy to adhere to. But understandably, if you’re on vacation, you may not want to miss out on prime beach time. In that case, we recommend sitting under a beach umbrella during peak hours. A beach umbrella allows you to enjoy everything you love about the ocean while protecting your strands. It can also be wise to break up your day with some indoor activities—enjoy some air conditioning and give your hair a break from the sunshine.
For a more customized sun protection haircare consultation, use our salon locator to book an appointment with a stylist near you.
Next Up: Do Chlorine and Salt Water Cause Hair Damage? What to Know
Header photo credits: Brands
