How to protect hair from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation

Although sunlight is vital to human health, the ultraviolet (UV) rays it emits can be damaging to hair. Long-term UV exposure can weaken hair strands, resulting in brittleness, dryness, and fading of color. Take precautions to protect your hair whether you’re lounging on a sunny day outside or spending time at the beach.

Many people prioritize shielding their skin from the sun, frequently neglecting to take care of their hair as well. Similar to skin, hair can sustain damage from excessive sun exposure, which could take weeks or even months to heal. All year long, you can maintain the health and vibrancy of your hair by being aware of the risks and taking easy precautions.

Tips	Details
Wear a hat	A wide-brimmed hat can shield your hair from direct sunlight, reducing exposure to UV rays.
Use UV protection spray	Sprays with UV filters can help protect your hair from sun damage. Apply before going outdoors.
Limit sun exposure	Avoid spending too much time in direct sunlight, especially during peak hours.
Stay hydrated	Drink plenty of water to keep your hair hydrated and prevent it from drying out.
Use conditioner	Apply a leave-in conditioner with SPF to add an extra layer of protection to your hair.

Hair and sun

Sunlight was not thought to be a special factor for a very long time. The hair of girls was dry and burned out, and no one knew how to keep curls safe. Many products for shielding hair from UV light have only recently—the last five to seven years—hit the market, but first things first.

Let’s start with the primary point: hair benefits from sun exposure. Because of the impact of sunlight:

• hair grows faster;
• gets stronger;
• the body receives vitamin D, which in turn improves the absorption of calcium.

However, the middle spectrum of light, or those that are present early in the morning or closer to sunset, is also rich in beneficial rays.

Should the curls be exposed to the sun’s utmost activity, even for an extended period of time, then:

• blood circulation worsens, as a result of which the process of supplying nutrients to the hair follicles slows down;
• the protective fatty layer of the hair shaft is destroyed;
• melanin, responsible for pigmentation, is partially lost – this is the most obvious effect, called burnout;
• keratin is destroyed.

The result of all of this is dull, brittle, and dry strands. Salt water exacerbates the problem because the rays are drawn to the salt crystals that are still embedded in the curls.

Girls who possess the following traits are particularly vulnerable to the damaging effects of the harsh sun:

• colored hair. They are initially weakened and thinned, and with prolonged exposure to the sun they lose even more elasticity, acquire an unnecessary shade;
• dark – dullness and change in shade are observed;
• oily – the rods dry out, in the meantime the sebaceous glands begin to work more actively, polluting the root part of the head with sebum even more;
• dry – one of the most vulnerable categories, since the hair shaft is already dry, and ultraviolet light can completely turn it into straw.

The following precautions can lessen the effects of the sun:

• wearing headwear – panamas, scarves, hats;
• avoiding walks during the period of maximum sun activity – this is approximately from 11 to 17 hours, but the interval may vary depending on the region.
• using nourishing masks;
• avoiding products containing alcohol;
• avoiding diving into the sea with your head or rinsing the roots and lengths with fresh water immediately after swimming.
• And the most important advice on today"s topic is the use of special protective products.

What is ultraviolet protection

SPF and KPF filters are added to UV protection products for hair in order to reduce the damage caused by exposure to the sun.

Most people are familiar with the term SPF, or sun protection factor; of course, there are plenty of face and body lotions and creams with this designation. UVB radiation penetration risk can be decreased by using SPF filters to create a reflective screen.

Keratin Protection Factor, or KPF, is a filter that guards against the breakdown of keratin. A product with a KPF of 90 will shield 90% of keratin from destruction, while one with a KPF of 70 will shield 70% of keratin from destruction. The indicator may vary.

However, not every hair protection product has both filters; some only have SPF or KPF. Naturally, the greatest choice would be products that combine the two; these will offer your curls the most protection, but finding them can be challenging because most manufacturers only offer SPF.

There are various formats available for UV protection for hair.

• oil;
• spray;
• fluid – light cream;
• shampoos, masks, balms.

We pay special attention to the last point – shampoos, balms and masks with sunscreen. Such products really exist – for example, ESTEL Laboratory has Beauty Hair Lab Aurum shampoo with UV filters. But you need to understand that when you wash off the shampoo, you will remove most of the substances added to it for protection from the surface, which means that the effect of the product will be minimal, almost imperceptible. But this does not mean that such products are useless – they are designed to create multi-layering, which significantly increases the resistance of hair shafts to the effects of the sun. If you first use shampoo, then conditioner and then spray with UV filters, the degree of protection will be higher than when applying only one spray.

Any girl should have leave-in products in her arsenal if she is unable to use UV-filtered shampoo, conditioner, or masks. This is just an extra precaution.

Different product formats have the same overall effect, but they differ noticeably in terms of composition, texture, and application method.

• oil, as the name suggests, has an oily consistency. Usually made on the basis of a mixture of different cosmetic and essential oils, but this is not necessary – there are oils without oils, no matter how strange it may sound. Such products are recommended for dry hair, since the oil base will give additional nutrition to the strands and visually smooth out dryness. But for oily hair, it is better not to use oil – there is a high risk of weighing down and gluing the strands;
• spray. Sprays are economical, since the distribution occurs due to a fine spray. Also, the spray allows with a greater probability to distribute the composition evenly and affect all the strands. However, sprays should be used with caution on dry hair, since most of these products contain alcohol – a drying component. But for oily hair, a spray is more suitable – it will not weigh down or glue the hair;
• fluid. Fluid is a creamy product with a light, almost weightless texture. Suitable for all hair types.

UV filters can be added to thermal protection hair products, like the spray from OROFLUIDO, in addition to the products mentioned above. However, it is best to use these products in conjunction with hot styling before heading outside in the sun, rather than using them alone.

7 best hair protection products from the sun

Let’s define a few selection criteria before delving into particular product analysis:

• hair type. The specific type should be taken into account when choosing the product format – cream, oil, spray. As mentioned above, creams are universal, oils are for dry hair, sprays are for oily hair. Girls with a normal type can use any product they like;
• composition. A combination of both SPF and KPF is desirable – this way the curls will be safer. Useful components – plant extracts, vitamins, panthenol, hyaluronic acid – will not hurt;
• manufacturer. Better known, since large companies care about their reputation and create safe formulations.

Payot, Benefice Soleil Anti-Ageing Protective Oil

Let’s get started right away with Payot’s protective hair oil and the luxury section. Since the oil is fairly liquid, a spray is used to apply it, making it a great choice for dry hair. nourishes and moisturizes without being heavy. Applying the product half an hour before venturing outside in the sun is recommended.

• Duration of action – 8 hours, after which the protection should be renewed.
• Price category – over 1000 rubles.

Aveda, Sun Care Hair Veil

Aveda is a sun protection spray that is suitable for both hair and body. It contains oils such as shea, coconut, and camellia, along with green tea extract and vitamin E. It offers stability for up to sixteen hours because of its exceptional resistance to the sun. Renewing the layer is preferable at the same time as water procedures.

The product is highly well-liked, but it has a serious drawback: it doesn’t contain any ingredients that provide protection. The most likely way to achieve protection is to combine silicones, alcohols, and other compositional ingredients; however, we are unaware of any potential effects of the aforementioned ingredients. Please share your knowledge about Aveda’s protective measures with us in the comments section.

In spite of this paradox, the spray softens hair, shields it from the sun’s rays, and keeps it from drying out. used in moderation.

• Price category – over 1000 rubles.

Kérastase, Soleil

Bambassu oil and an SPF filter are ingredients in Kérastase Nourishing and Structuring Oil Spray. The oil has the effect of softening and shining the hair shafts. Although the level of protection is not stated, it is advised to replace the product every five to six hours.

Sprayed with a tiny sprayer, guaranteeing efficient use and thorough coverage along the whole length. The solar series includes a spray as well as a filter-containing shampoo and a mask to nourish and soften hair after sun exposure.

• Spray cost – over 1000 rubles.

Wella Professionals, Sun Protection Spray

Because Wella spray contains amino acids and a vitamin complex, it not only keeps curls healthy but also shields hair from the sun and saltwater. Oil is among the ingredients, which helps the product stay protected for a longer period of time—even after swimming.

The spray is meant for thin and normal hair, but it should also work on dry hair, according to the manufacturer. Sprays nicely, producing a big cloud of tiny particles. There’s no need to replace the product in the daytime. falls under the salon cosmetics category.

• Price segment – over 1000 rubles.

Rene Furterer, Protective Summer Fluid

Rene Furterer is the only sunscreen fluid in our selection that has a KPF filter. 90% is the keratin protection level. The product offers complete protection because it also includes a UV filter in its composition.

The liquid is sprayed finely, but it leaves a creamy layer rather than water on the hair. To ensure that the product is distributed evenly, you must comb the strands after using. However, despite the presence of castor and sesame oils, the product is completely washable off and will not provide protection against seawater.

• Price category – over 1000 rubles.

Periche, Kode KONE Hair Treatment Ten In One

Up to ten tasks can be accomplished with Periche leave-in mask-spray, including heat protection, UV protection, treating dry and damaged hair shafts, and controlling unruly hair. Applying the product to slightly wet curls enables them to be dried naturally or with the use of a hairdryer thanks to the product’s thermal protection properties.

After application, the results of the use are evident; however, this is not an easy task to accomplish, as the mask has a texture resembling balm or air conditioning. The curls shine, are softer, and are easy to comb after use. The effect lasts even after being exposed to the sun.

It’s unclear how to update the product. Maybe this is because the means are multifunctional; you can’t give instructions by a single task. Our editorial team suggests using a spray mask as an extra layer of protection from the sun.

• Packaging 100 ml – up to 1000 rubles.
• Packaging 250 ml – over 1000 rubles.

Revlon Professional, Sun Proting Detangling Conditioner

Keratin, wheat amino acids, and moisturizing ingredients are added to Revlon hair conditioner for sun protection. Apart from its primary function, the product facilitates hair shaft restoration and facilitates easier combing.

Shake the bottle well before using to combine the protective and caring phases. Spent like a spray, because of a handy dispenser nozzle. leaves behind a faint odor that goes away fast.

• Price over 1000 rubles.

It’s crucial to use UV-blocking sprays, wear hats or scarves when outside, and use nourishing conditioners to keep hair hydrated in order to shield it from the damaging effects of UV radiation. Even after extended sun exposure, you can keep vibrant, healthy hair by following these easy steps.

Questions

How should sun protection for hair be applied correctly—to the whole length or just the surface?

Although the manufacturers do not make this point clear, we personally advise protecting the roots with a hat or other summer headgear and applying protection to the length. Applying the product to the roots can cause them to become dirty more quickly, particularly if they have an oily tendency.

Are folk remedies effective in protecting hair from the sun?

Naturally, there are recipes; one could make masks, sprays, and scrubs at home to solve any issue. Castor, almond, and coconut oils are used to protect hair. However, you must realize that no oil can counteract the effects as well as certain products can. They can be used as a preventative measure, such as to replenish fluids and nourishment after a beach visit.

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To keep your hair looking good and in good health, you must shield it from UV rays. Wearing a hat, applying UV-protective hair products, and limiting your time in the sun can all have a big impact.

Sundry effects can be mitigated by regularly implementing nourishing treatments like deep conditioning and oil-based cosmetics. Even on the brightest days, these routines will help to maintain the strength and color of your hair.

You can enjoy being outside without worrying about UV damage to your hair by being aware of it and taking preventative action.

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