Summer is upon us. It’s that time of year when the sun is blazing in all its glory and we’re tempted to spend hours by the pool or at the beach. For many, it is customary to slather on sunblock to protect against the damaging rays of the sun on the skin. However, most of us never consider using it on our hair. Is sunblock for hair actually necessary? Is this just all hocus pocus? Are cosmetic companies trying to suck even more money from us?
Sun damages hair
Hair becomes damaged by two main processes: trauma and weathering. Trauma results from simple combing, brushing and just regular manipulation of hair. Weathering processes include surprisingly sun damage. So how do the sun’s rays damage our hair?
UV light damages the bonds within the hair
Experiments have shown that prolonged exposure to UV light causes a reduction of integral hair lipid. It is worsened by the type of hair you have. The curlier your hair, the more likely your hair will be damaged by the sun exposure as it is naturally lower in integral hair lipid.
It also oxidises some of the proteins within the hair shaft itself particularly attacking the carbon in the amide bonds, and the sulphur molecules as well. The hair colour is affected resulting in a lightening of existing hair colour. UVA is responsible for the colour changes whilst UVB is responsible for protein loss.
Interestingly the pigments found in commercial hair dye has been somewhat useful in protecting the hair shaft itself from further damage from the sun. Yes hair dyes will cause damage to the hair’s cortex but the pigments themselves act to trap the sun’s rays. The downside is that the colour moiety itself can experience a colour shift. People often report that the colour of their semi and permanent dyed hair changing colour after prolonged exposure in the sun.
Hair Sunscreens
The main aim for sunblock for hair is to preserve the hair as a textile fibre. Since the sun’s rays help to decrease the overall tensile strength, colour and other such properties, traditional sunscreens would help to negate these deleterious effects. There are products currently available on the market as hair sunscreens. Most have a two-in-one purpose acting as a fixative spray, gel or mousse designed to be put on last. How well do they stand up to actual usage especially for those who end up at the beach all day? That you will have to test for yourself.
Want me to Investigate some hair care product or practice? Send in your topic to doc@askthehairdoc.com
About
Dr. Llorenia Muir-Green is a practising dermatologist in Jamaica. She has an avid interest in hair and scalp disorders. She is a member of the Medical Association of Jamaica, Dermatology Association of Jamaica and is an Associate Member of the Caribbean Dermatology Association. She was a recipient of the 2013 Fellowship in Hair and Scalp Disorders at the University of British Columbia.
