Many of us take UV protection for our skin.
But it's not just your skin that matters!!
"My hair is dry and frizzy", "It's not shiny", "My hair is fading"
Have you ever encountered these problems?
Could be caused by UV rays
We tend to protect our skin from UV rays and forget that our hair also needs protection and care.
Here we will tell you how UV rays affect hair and how to take care of it effectively and easily.
Impact on hair
1. Feels uncomfortable to the touch
The cuticle on the surface of the hair contains a natural oil-like substance called MEA (18-MEA/methyl eicosanoic acid).
This is an ingredient that makes hair smooth to the touch and prevents tangles between hair strands.
However, this MEA (18-MEA/methyl eicosanoic acid) is also vulnerable to UV rays!
When hair is exposed to UV rays, the amount of MEA (18-MEA/methyl eicosanoic acid) on the hair's surface gradually decreases, and eventually, the hair becomes squeaky, frizzy, and frizzy to the touch.
Furthermore, once this MEA (18-MEA/methyl eicosanoic acid) is lost, it cannot be regained. Until new hair grows in, you will have to live with these uneven hairs.
2. Dry and hard
Hair that has lost MEA (18-MEA/methyl eicosanoic acid) will have damaged and flaky cuticles on the surface of the hair. This can lead to dry, damaged hair! In addition, water and components inside the hair will leak out from the peeled cuticle, causing severe damage to the hair.
Skipping sun protection on your hair puts you at risk for dry, frizzy hair and a noticeable lack of shine.
3. Faded hair
Hair unfortunately absorbs UV rays. Absorbed UV rays break down the melanin pigment that determines hair color, which can cause natural hair to turn reddish brown.
Also, dyed hair has less melanin pigment than undyed hair, so color fading and fading may be more noticeable.
4. Factors that make you look older
Just like your skin, your scalp is also skin, so it will burn naturally. Just like sunburned skin, becomes dry and wrinkled, even the face, where it meets the scalp, is affected by sagging skin!
In addition, the dry and hard scalp caused by sunburn is like a dry field. Healthy hair cannot grow in such soil... Eventually, it will fall out, thin out, and turn old gray.
UV protection for hair and scalp
1. Wear a hat when going out
If you have long hair, tie it up and tuck it inside the hat.
2. Use UV protection spray for hair
A spray bottle is the obvious and easy-to-use solution. Just spray some sunscreen spray on your hair while you're applying sunscreen to your skin and that's it!
Plus, hair sunscreen often contains a number of other good hair-nourishing ingredients, so it can also act as a moisturizing conditioner.
3. Avoid getting wet hair
When enjoying summer leisure activities such as swimming at the beach or pool, the risk of sunburn on wet hair increases sharply due to exposure to sunlight.
This is because hair that contains a lot of natural moisture is more susceptible to damage, and the breakdown of melanin pigment by UV rays is also more likely to happen by the presence of moisture.
A swimming cap is essential for good swimming.
If you've just been playing in the water, protect your hair from getting wet by pulling it up in a bun to keep it as dry as possible.
4. Wash your hair gently
Are you washing your hair in a hot shower to clean your scalp after a hot and sweaty day? Vigorous washing or scratching puts stress on your sunburned scalp and even removes essential oils from your skin, leaving it dry.
If you shower at a slightly warm temperature of about 38°C and wash your hair with a mild shampoo, you can expect your scalp to be well taken care of after UV exposure.
Here is an article about UV radiation for the eyes.
In fact, no matter how much you cover your body, you can still get a sunburn in your eyes. Please refer to the article Can the eyes get sunburned like the skin? and it also provides UV protection to the eyes.
Article referenced at: Cleveland Clinic