How to Protect Your Hair from Sun Damage

Last Modified: September 20, 2021 at 3:50 pm by Tianna | Leave a comment

FTC Disclosure: This post was kindly sponsored by Petal and Post, a wonderful eco luxury shop based in Canada. All opinions and thoughts are 100% my own!

| How to Protect Your Hair from Sun Damage |

Although many people consider the damage the sun does to our skin, we usually don’t think about the kind of damage it can do to our hair. Just the same as our skin, our hair needs protection from sun damage! In order to prevent and/or minimize the damage done to your locks during the summer, try these simple tips 😉

How to Protect Your Hair from Sun Damage

USE GENTLE & NATURAL HAIR CARE PRODUCTS

Using natural hair care products is a great way to improve hair health. If you use conventional products, many of the ingredients in your shampoo and conditioner can be stripping natural oils out of your hair. This can dry your hair out, fade hair color faster, age your hair, and do tons of damage. With natural hair care products, you will find that the gentle cleansing keeps your hair more balanced, hydrated (but not oily), soft, shiny, manageable, and that your hair bounces back from color treatments and styling much faster.

MINIMIZE HEAT STYLING & TRY NON-HEAT STYLES FOR SUMMER

Although natural hair care products will help to minimize and correct any damage from color and styling, you still may want to minimize heat styling during the summer. This is because the sun is already beating down on your hair all day every day and, depending on your region, can do quite a number on your hair if you don’t protect it. Minimize the damage by nixing or lowering heat styling and going for non-heat hairstyles like braids, no-heat curls, buns, and other fun hair styles.

USE A WIDE TOOTH COMB

If you can, avoid brushing your hair until it’s dry. You will experience much less hair fallout that way. If you can’t resist (I can’t), then do yourself and your hair a favor by using a wide tooth comb. Pair it with a natural detangling spray. This is much gentler on your hair while wet and won’t pull out as many hair strands.

AVOID COLOR AND CHEMICAL HAIR TREATMENTS

As we all know, color and chemical hair treatments can break the proteins that keep hair healthy and strip hair of valuable moisture. In order to minimize the damage done to your hair during the summer (from the pool, beach, and sun), try avoiding doing any intensive color or chemical treatments. Naturally lighten hair with manuka honey and lemon juice, henna or fun hair chalks. Let your natural hair do it’s thing 🙂 Your hair will thank you by giving you healthier locks!

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INCORPORATE A WEEKLY/BI-WEEKLY ANTIOXIDANT RICH HAIR MASK

Even if your hair is already pretty healthy, a weekly or bi-weekly hair mask is always a good thing to add to your hair routine. This can soften hair, make it more manageable, and add in necessary hydration which can improve your hair’s shine, minimize frizz, and help diminish the appearance of split ends. Natural hair masks also help add in vital nutrients back to your hair follicles, soothe your scalp, and keep hair hydrated in between all those pool and beach days.

TRY CO-WASHING HAIR OR WASH HAIR LESS OFTEN

I recently shared my experience with co-washing and why I’ve been loving it this summer, but if you’re not familiar with what that is, check out my post! The long story short definition is that co-washing is cleansing your hair with conditioner and/or limiting the times you shampoo your hair. You can incorporate dry shampoo powders to absorb oil or use aloe gel to lift roots. You can use a stimulating oil with essential oils like eucalyptus which will not only help hair growth, but also invigorate and stimulate follicles while locking in moisture.

USE A HAIR OIL BEFORE SWIMMING

Before swimming in a pool or at the beach, consider using a hair oil to minimize damage. Using hair oils will prevent too much of the chlorinated pool water  (or salt water) from being absorbed into your locks. This will prevent it from drying your hair out.

APPLY UV PROTECTANT HAIR MISTS DAILY

Nothing prevents hair aging, hair drying and hair damage done by the sun like UV hair mists. You can use a hair mist with SPF protection in the formula or simply use a rich hair oil mist or serum which will help filter some of those damaging UV rays while locking in hydration.

DRINK MORE GREEN TEA

This is going to sound a bit odd, but it’s backed by science! Both drinking green tea and applying topically to your skin have been shown to fight off free radical damage, including offering protecting from UV rays that cause skin cancer. BOOM. Go drink that tea, girl!

How to Protect Your Hair from Sun Damage

Hair Protective Products I’m Loving…

Rare El’ements Marula Cocktail Leave-In Mist – Discontinued

This leave in mist smells lovely, helps hydrate hair, and minimizes frizz. It’s great if you have frayed split ends (like me) and want to smooth them down in between trims! The formula in this mist is pretty legit: coconut, baobab, marula, and abyssinian oils along a blend of plant essences help add natural shine as well as deep condition hair throughout the day and in between washes. There NO silicones and it’s light enough for all hair types. I love using it on my ends after showering and in between shampooing.

Rahua Omega 9 Hair Mask 

This hair mask is such a life saver! Rahua ungurahua oil helps strengthen and hydrate weak hair follicles while soothing your scalp. Sunflower oil adds shine, quinoa helps heal and hydrate, while a blend of plant essences relax your senses. I love using this a few times a week or after swimming to repair any damage done to my hair. It works like a charm to soften, moisturize, and smooth out my unruly hair, but doesn’t weigh my hair down at all!

Leaves of Trees Eucalyptus Argan Oil 

This lovely argan oil is infused with eucalyptus oil which has been shown to stimulate and exfoliate your scalp. This can help to get rid of build up on the scalp and encourage hair growth. It’s been shown to balance oily scalps and relieve itchiness and dandruff issues as well! I use it to gently exfoliate my scalp and as a hair oil before going into the pool, lake, or ocean. While the eucalyptus oil works it’s magic, argan oil helps lock in moisture, protect from sun damage, and heal already damaged locks. The only two ingredients? Argan oil and eucalyptus essential oil. PLUS, you can use this on skin as well!

Dealing with Dry, Damaged or Imbalanced Hair this Summer? Click through for tips on how to protect your hair from sun damage!

How Do You Protect Your Hair from Sun Damage?

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*Affiliate links in post; Not all links are affiliate. This post was kindly sponsored by Petal and Post, a wonderful eco luxury shop based in Canada. All opinions and thoughts are 100% my own!

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