We all know that the sun’s rays can cause damage to our skin, which is why we protect it by using sunscreens and limiting our exposure. But did you know that those same UV rays can also cause damage to your hair?
On sunny days (and cloudy days, too!), UV rays damage your skin by means of burning, but your hair goes through a process called “hair weathering” from repeated and prolonged exposure to the sun. Hair weathering is the deterioration of the hair shaft from environmental elements and stressors, including UV rays.
To put it simply, the outermost layer of the hair (called the cuticle) acts as a barrier for the hair shaft to keep moisture and essential nutrients in and damaging elements like free radicals out. Think of the cuticle like shingles on a roof: you want them laying down flat to keep the inner part of the hair shaft protected. When exposed to the sun for prolonged periods, that cuticle gets lifted, opening the inner core of the hair—aka, the cortex, where all of the strength and elasticity lives—to drying and damaging elements.
How to protect your hair from UV damage
In order to prevent this type of damage to your strands, you have a few options:
- Wearing hats or scarves while in the sun to physically block the rays from touching your hair
- Use a UV protectant on your hair before you expose it to the sun
A UV protectant provides a little more flexibility in styling your hair (who wants to always wear a hat?) and can often deliver additional hair-nourishing benefits. Our new Briogeo Superfoods™ Avocado + Kiwi Mega Moisture 3-in-1 Leave-in Spray is bursting with nutritious fruit-and-veggie ingredients that hydrate and help detangle wet hair, while also providing protection against UV damage with organic Sunflower Sprout Extract.
How does plant-powered UV protection from Sunflower Extract work?
Sunflowers are uniquely adapted to withstand the sun’s harmful rays—they have to be, since they actually position themselves to always face toward the sun! The sunflower sprouts have super-high concentrations of essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals, all of which help protect the plant (and your hair) against extreme UV exposure and pollution. Sunflower sprouts are also powerful antioxidants, helping to protect your hair against free radical damage.
How do I repair my hair if it’s already damaged?
If you’re already noticing the dry and damaging effects of the sun on your hair, treat your strands to this ultimate hair repair duo once a week.
- Don’t Despair, Repair!™ MegaStrength+ Rice Water Protein + Moisture Strengthening Treatment: A concentrated dual blend of rice water protein and moisture that’s scientifically proven to strengthen hair up to 2x after one use
- Don’t Despair, Repair!™ Deep Conditioning Mask: Our Allure Hall-of-Fame-winning hair mask treatment that strengthens and repairs dry, damaged hair while preventing future breakage. This is your one-two punch to treat any and all forms of damage on your hair.
