Beauty

How bad the sun is for your hair (and how to protect it)

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Every morning I apply SPF to my face. It doesn't matter if it's November or August: I reach for that tube with the bright yellow cap. Because we all know very well what the sun does to your skin. And that is, apart from a summer tan, not much good. What we seem to forget a bit is that your hair is just as involved in that battle; your locks are also vulnerable to UV radiation. That doesn't mean you have to dunk your hair in a bucket of factor 50. The cosmetics market has long catered to this.

The side effects of summer days

First of all: why is the sun bad for your hair? It dries out your strands by extracting oils, which then makes it frizzy. And the UV radiation that you check so often on a summer day removes pigment from your hair. Less pigment equals a less intense, dull color. Good hair products with UV protection essentially do three things: they protect the keratin in your hair, they help prevent color fading, and they ensure that your hair stays hydrated instead of ending up straw-like.

hailey bieber smiling in the sun with a green bikini on the beach wearing a hat

Oil vs. cream

If I may simplify it, there are two types of sun protection for your hair: oil formulas and creams. You use the first category as a shiny hair protector, but they often do more than that; many oils also work well as aftersun for your skin. They usually consist of a mix of plant oils that naturally have a light UV-blocking effect, supplemented with soothing and smoothing ingredients. And then there are the cream products. Think of leave-in conditioners that not only protect your hair but also truly nourish and care for it. They are made to help your hair throughout the day and can actually be used at any time: before you go into the sun, while you're in it, or right after, when your hair clearly shows that hydration is not a bad idea.

Products for your beach bag