The 7 Golden Rules of Sun Protection for Your Hair
SPF is a non-negotiable step that protects your skin from harmful rays – but what about your hair? While the damage is different, UV exposure still has a big impact on your hair's condition. So, consider this a friendly reminder: sun care shouldn't stop at your hairline; in order to prevent dryness and shield color-treated hair, you need a hair sunscreen in your regimen.
So, here, we reveal how you can ward off potential sun damage in the summer months – and beyond – to keep your shade looking fresh and your hair beautifully nourished. It's not just about UV protection; we've got all the tips you need for summer care, whether you're hitting the pool, relaxing on the beach or just dealing with day-to-day heat...
Why is Sun Protection for Hair Important?
Heat damaged hair doesn't only happen when you've overdone it with your flat iron; the sun can also scorch your strands, leaving them dry and fragile. Damage from UV rays can have a myriad of negative effects on your hair, starting with dehydration. Like burnt skin, burnt hair lacks moisture, leaving it brittle and prone to breakage.
Plus, if you have colored hair, the sun can shift your shade in unexpected ways. If you're lucky, it will appear beachy and bright, but in many cases, it will fade brassy with orange tones. Leave sun-kissed highlights to the professionals and make sure to shield your color in between salon appointments. Otherwise, your hair may need a color correction and a dramatic cut to trim away split ends.
Can I Use Sunscreen on My Hair?
You can use sunscreen on your hair – but not just any SPF. The protection you use on your face is ideal for your skin, but not for the lengths of your hair. (Think of the white cast!) While it may keep your parting and hairline protected, a skin SPF is often too heavy to use on your roots, leaving your hair greasy and your style weighed down – far from the beachy look you're going for.
So, while you can and should be using a hair sunscreen, it's best to apply specialized formulas that are designed to invisibly shield your strands, like ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum. With a blend of Squalane and Omega-9 fatty acids that leaves hair shiny and nourished from the inside out, this hair oil-meets-hair serum teams UV protection with 96-hour frizz control*. So, not only do you get a UV filter that maintains healthy hair, but you also keep hair protected from frizz-inducing humidity through the warmer months.
7 More Ways to Protect Your Hair from Sun Damage
1. Wash the Summer Day Away
While no shampoo can rinse away the effects of UV rays, a nourishing formula will help to strengthen strands, so they're more resilient in the face of aggressors. Try INVIGO Nutri-Enrich Shampoo, which gently cleanses without stripping strands of essential moisture, making it a vacation must-pack and a summer essential.
If you’re dealing with damaged hair, ULTIMATE REPAIR Shampoo is another kind-to-locks formula that gently yet effectively rinses away impurities, while setting your hair up for a reparative regimen. Massage the luxe lather into wet hair then rinse thoroughly to leave your hair beautifully clean and nourished.
Pro Tip: Instead of rubbing shampoo into wet hair, gently smooth it through roots, lengths and ends, and massage it in. That way, you'll remove oil, salt, sand and chlorine without causing tangles through delicate strands.
2. Apply Deeply Reparative Masks
Make a deep conditioner or hair mask part of your weekly hair care regimen. If your mane has already been hit by UV damage, smooth ULTIMATE REPAIR Mask through the mid-lengths and ends of clean, towel-dried hair. It's packed with smart conditioning agents that identify and care for the areas of hair that need it most.
Pro Tip: Don't forget that sensitive scalp. If it's feeling dry and irritated after a day in the sun, massage INVIGO Scalp Balance Sensitive Mask into the roots of your hair, and let the dose of Allantoin soothe your dry scalp. Not only does it alleviate itchiness, but it's also fragrance-free, making it perfect for those with sensitive skin.
3. Focus on Damage Repair
By building up hair health, you make strands resilient in the face of all aggressors – not just potential sun damage but the stress of chemical treatments and physical styling, too. So, make ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue part of your regimen. It's one of our most iconic products; a leave-in hair mist that treats weakened hair with a skin care-inspired blend of AHA and Omega-9. Simply mist it through clean, dry hair, let it absorb, and it will repair hair damage in 90 seconds* while leaving you with 99% less breakage*.
Pro Tip: Before applying ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue, blot hair dry with a microfiber towel so damp lengths are able to absorb the deeply nourishing goodness.
4. Make Hair Glow with a Shine Spray
No matter your hair type – straight, wavy or curly – a shine spray is a glow-boosting game-changer, adding extra gloss and nourishment through your hair on holiday. And with the right spray, you can also strengthen ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum's protective hair veil. EIMI Glam Mist is your go-to, with built-in UV protection that leaves hair shiny and shielded all summer long.
Pro Tip: Start with just a light veil of EIMI Glam Mist for a trace of shine, and gradually build it up if needed. It's easier to add more of the spray than it is to take it away, so a lighter approach is key.
5. Keep Hair Covered with a Hat or Scarf
The most effective way to shield hair from the sun is to keep it covered up. On days when the UV index is high, reach for a hair scarf or wide-brimmed hat to keep locks under wraps and safeguard your color.
Pro Tip: If you're on the beach or by the pool, having hair covered also gives you a great opportunity to mist a leave-in treatment through parched mid-lengths and ends. Wet hair first, comb a drop or two of ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue through the lengths of hair, then tie a silk scarf over the top, lie back, and relax.
Image Credit: @jhair_stylist
Image Credit: @werner_wella
6. Try to Avoid Exposing Hair to Extra Heat
If it's been an especially hot and sunny day, avoid exposing your hair to extra heat by leaning into your hair's natural texture. (Our round-up of the best products for air-drying hair will help you here!) Or, if heat styling is a must for your look, make sure you safeguard first with ULTIMATE REPAIR Protective Leave-In, a delicate cream that boosts shine while shielding hair from heat up to 450°F. Then, work with low-tension styles that won't put too much stress on your hair. Think low ponies, boho braids, or simply wearing locks loose to avoid pulling and tugging fragile strands.
Pro Tip: If you're ready to ditch heat styling all summer long, embrace beachy, sun-dried styles with a misting of a sea salt spray, like EIMI Ocean Spritz. Perfect for giving guts to straight hair, tousling wavy hair and creating defined, bouncy curls, it also shields against dehydration and has UV protection built in.
7. Drench Hair with Clean Water Before You Swim
This tip isn't about sun protection exactly, but if you enjoy a pool or ocean swim, it will be helpful on your next vacation. Before you get in the water, make sure to soak your hair with clean water (say, from the shower), so it reaches its saturation point, meaning your strands can't absorb anything else. This makes it harder for chlorine or salt water to get in and do their damage. Is soaking hair not an option? Then try to keep your hair pinned up high and out of the water so it still stays protected from chlorine damage.
By following these protective tips, your locks will stay glossy and nourished – come rain or shine. Keeping hair safe in the sun has never been so easy.
