Is Sunlight Good for Hair?

Sunlight on hair of a woman

We are told from a young age that getting out in the sun is good for us – but equally that we must protect our skin if we want to age gracefully and safely. From the UV rays which can cause carcinogens to develop in the skin, to the long term negative impacts of allowing skin to burn in the sun, protecting the skin is an important factor in outside exposure. 

But with such a focus on keeping our skin safe from the harmful effect of the sun’s rays, are we forgetting to care for our hair?

What does the sun do to your hair?

The most important thing to remember about your hair and its exposure to the sun is that it isn’t just the hair strands themselves that are affected – it is also the scalp beneath your hair. And while the hair strands are not going to be affected by UV radiation in the same way that causes long term damage to your health, the scalp is subject to this damage and so must be protected as you would protect other parts of your body. 

The hair itself, meanwhile, suffers in a largely aesthetic way. When sun exposure is allowed to penetrate the hair shaft at the roots, it can cause damage to the hair protein and the structure of the hair. As it is this protein which gives your hair its bounce and natural elasticity, hair that has been damaged by the sun is duller, more brittle, and loses much of its sheen. 

And that’s not all – but first, are there any benefits to sun exposure for your hair? 

Benefits that sunlight offers your hair

Woman touching her hair in the sunshine

If you’ve ever been told that the sunlight gives your hair a boost of natural highlights and a golden shine, then you will already know that the sun is not 100% bad for your hair, and that limited and controlled exposure can be a good thing. 

Some of the main benefits to your hair include:

  • The sun provides a dose of vitamin D which helps to create new hair follicles and thus promotes hair growth. 
  • Following the same path of extra vitamin D, sunlight can also help to prevent and combat hair loss. 
  • The sun helps to treat the skin of your scalp in the same way that it benefits facial skin – slowing the growth of skin cells which causes a spread of acne on the scalp.
  • It can lead to brighter, shinier, and more golden hair. 

All of these benefits are best achieved with limited exposure to the sun, ideally between 10 minutes and 30 minutes per day. 

How the sun can damage your hair

We have already touched on the impact of UV rays in damaging the hair protein and thus the aesthetic structure of your hair when it is over-exposed to the sun. But that’s not all. 

The UV light in the sun’s rays can also cause colour to fade and can dry your hair out – acting in a similar way to an intense bleach that you might plaster over your hair to dye your hair. It is worth noting that grey hair is particularly at risk due to the lack of natural melanin protecting it – meaning that grey hair can become particularly damaged through exposure to the sun. 

The other main impacts of over-exposure include frizzy hair, hair which is easily broken and fractured, and hair which is subject to static electricity. 

Protection tips and how to treat sun-damaged hair

Hair exposed to sunlight

So, what can we do to ensure that we benefit from the good parts of sun exposure without burning our hair or damaging its structure beyond repair?

There are a couple of different protection methods available, the first and simplest being to simply cover your hair and head when you are outside. Whether you choose a cap, a wide-brimmed hat or a head scarf, anything which protects your scalp and the majority of your hair, as well as your ears and neck is a good thing. 

Another thing you can do is invest in a hair and scalp SPF spray which is uniquely designed to protect your hair and head without causing your hair to become greasy. These sprays protect both your hair and your scalp especially around your parting, providing all-round protection. 

Finally, consider moving your parting regularly so that the sun is never trained on one area of scalp for too long. This, combined with only a limited time in the sun itself, should mean that your scalp remains protected, and your hair is as safe from the sun’s rays as possible.

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