Why Your Hair Needs SPF, Too
Have you ever thought about sunscreen for your hair? If you haven’t, you’re not alone! While we stuff our tote bags with sunglasses, snacks, games, flip flops, a great book and sunscreen – something’s missing. Just like your skin, your hair and scalp need sun protection to stay healthy and beautiful, too.
We all know that protecting our skin from the sun is a must, but have you ever thought about what those UV rays are doing to your hair? Yep, UVA and UVB rays can seriously mess with your hair's structure and moisture. Let me break it down:
UVA Rays: The Sneaky Damagers. UVA rays are the ones with the longer wavelengths that can penetrate deep into your skin and hair. Your hair is mostly made of keratin, a protein that gives it strength. UVA rays break down that keratin, making your hair weaker. When keratin gets damaged, your hair loses its elasticity, making it more prone to snapping and breaking. And brittleness? UVA rays strip your hair of its natural oils, leaving it dry and rough. Whether you have natural or dyed hair, UVA rays can fade your hair color, making it look dull.
UVB Rays: The Burners. UVB rays have shorter wavelengths and mainly affect the outer layer of your skin and hair. They’re responsible for cuticle damage and brittleness. These rays can also zap the moisture right out of your hair, making it feel dry and lifeless. When your hair loses moisture, it often also becomes frizzy and wild!
And something else that’s a real bummer and often painful – a sunburned scalp. SPF can save you from that pain, too.
With this top of mind, here are three ways to keep your hair healthy this summer:
SPF Sprays and Mists. These are super easy to use and effective. For all those curly girls out there who want to get natural, beachy hair with SPF in the product, I recommend Kevin.Murphy Hair Resort Spray. It’s fantastic!
Kevin Murphy’s Shimmer Shine has the most SPF of all their products and the purple one, Shimmer Me Blonde is for blonde hair and the gold one, Shimmer Shine is great for everyone else!
2. SPF-Infused Hair Care Products. Use shampoos, conditioners and leave-in treatments – with SPF. Condition before you go and rinse when you get out of the water. “Ok,” you may be thinking – “but my hair is going to look greasy.” Not with these products. They are lightweight, non-greasy SPF products you will love.
The entire Young.Again line has SPF in it, which is amazing so you can shampoo, condition and use the gloss to keep your hair, shiny, healthy and free of sun damage.
Kevin. Murphy Un.tangled is a perfect SPF leave-in conditioner which makes your hair feel moisturized without being weighed down.
After swimming, rinse your hair with fresh water to remove any chlorine residue or impurities from the lake or ocean. You can also use a clarifying shampoo occasionally to remove buildup and restore your hair's natural balance.The one I love is Malibu C swimmers wellness Shampoo, it’s amazing at getting out all the icky stuff that can be left on your hair.
Kevin. Murphy’s Everlasting Color Wash, Color Rinse conditioner, and Leave-In are amazing for keeping your color vibrant, fresh and protected all summer long!
3. Hats and Physical Barriers. Think straw hat, sitting under an umbrella and/ or in the shade. You don’t have to place a towel over your head – there are many more stylish options to make your color last. Combine SPF with a stylin’ sun hat for that extra protection.
So let’s recap: Condition before you go, rinse your hair when you get out of the water, and wear a hat and your color will last much longer and your hair will feel and look much healthier.
Stop into Salon DeZEN to pick up these products or grab online, and schedule an appointment to get your hair summer-ready!
SEE ALSO: Permanent Makeup: So You Look Like You Woke Up Like This!
