Preventing Summer Damage

[HairEgo]

Everyone knows the importance of putting sunscreen on their skin....but how many of us think about our hair? Since hair IS a type of modified skin, shouldnt we be protecting it also? When I teach classes, I like to explain it this way:

Think of your favourite bathing suit; you may wear it all the time to the beach or the pool, its exposed to heat, salt water and chlorine. Then you toss it into the washing machine in hopes of getting it clean and to add a cherry ontop, you throw it into the dryer and use heat to dry it. If you take a picture of that same bathing suit when its brand new, compared to how it looks once summer is over, you will likely notice the colour has faded/changed, the fibers on the clothing are loose and streched and have a somewhat 'fuzzy' appearence.

Now relate that to your hair; your hair is made of fiibers, 95% of women have some sort of chemical in their hair - the hair will become dull and faded. Frizz will occur becuase of the lack of moisture and protection being given. And lets not forget about the possibility (if you have fine or thinning hair) of your scalp getting burnt.

"Hair-screens" are now widely available - both from professional and drug store brands. I cant truthfully state the quality of the drug store brands as I have not used them, but all the professional ones I have used make the WORLD of a difference.

Here are a few...

Shiseido

KMS California

Nioxin - this one protects both the hair and scalp

Biologe

What are your thoughts on protecting your hair?

 

[magosienne]

Gina, i agree with you, i talk from experience, so i will say it out loud : PROTECT YOUR HAIR !

One year i stayed in the parisian area, the whole summer, and when the time came of my usual september haircut, my scalp was red and flaking, and i got cut more than 10 centimeters of hair straw. Plus the pro products the hairdresser told me to buy that were surely more gentle than mine. Boy did my credit card burned too that day. I went to the hairdresser two months after, got cut a good part of my lengths too. It's only when i got my hair cut at my jawline and then allowed it to grow again that i noticed it was back to its usual state.

I now use this sunscreen : René Furterer summer fluid. Milky, not greasy, can be used on wet or dry hair, and lasts a few months.

One thing i will add is don't hesitate to do hairmasks regularly and more often during the sunny months. Your hair gets attacked by the wind, the salt, the chlorine and needs more moisture to compensate. Don't go expensive, coconut oil does wonders.

 

[Johnnie]

Thanks for the advice Aude!

 

[Noir Sakura]

I don't believe in hair sunscreens. For the main reason that almost none of them have a SPF rating and most people only apply them once a day, when in order for a sunscreen to be effective, it has to be applied constantly and consistently through the day.

I believe in a preventative and immediately reactive approach. The first thing is to do is to get any chemical services done and get a trim in May/early June. The weather is warm, but still mild enough where your hair can be worn out without being assaulted. This should be your last visit for to the salon until September (unless you have a special occasion). Honestly, continually going to the salon to get blow fried and dyed will do much more damage to your hair than the sun, wind and surf will. This is what I consider the preventative approach.

So if you do choose to to have fun in the sun (and who wouldn't, the weather's great and you look good), always correct any possible damage immediately after it has occurred. I never, EVER leave a pool house or beach without washing and conditioning my hair. A lot of people just rinse, but IMO, you should definitely shampoo, especially if there was any chlorine involved. The surfactants in shampoo will bind to and remove lots more chemicals and debris than just water will. Also, never let your hair dry completely after leaving a body of water. Your cuticle will be raised while in the water, but it will close a little when it dries. So all the yucky stuff that was in the pool may be in your hair now. I also agree with magosienne about hair masks. Trust me, they are summer hair's friend. And disregard some of those package directions. If you are really active or outdoors a lot, use them once a week. And of course, the old sound advice of wearing a hat or bandana/scarf works wonders to. This would be my immediately reactive approach.

This is how I've been treating my hair during summer for the past 6 years and I have never had to get a "lose summer damage" haircut or treatment since.

 

[HairEgo]

Originally Posted by Noir Sakura /img/forum/go_quote.gif I don't believe in hair sunscreens. For the main reason that almost none of them have a SPF rating and most people only apply them once a day, when in order for a sunscreen to be effective, it has to be applied constantly and consistently through the day.. Unfortunetly, due to FDA regulations, the hair care industry is not allowed to let the consumer know the level of SPF in their products. That is why you will likely see on bottles 'UV FILTERS' as opposed to the actual SPF rank. I have worked for 2 major, professional hair care brands (which i will not name) they both have sun protection lines within their lines, one of the 2 contains an SPF 20, while the other only contains an SPF 2. So while its true that the consumer doesnt know the level of protection they are getting, I would rather have an SPF something, then nothing at all.

 

[Orangeeyecrayon]

i think this is a great idea for daily use (people put sunscrean on their faces everyday you should prob due the same for the hair)

though for times when extended sun exposure is present i would prob want something with a higher spf than 2 lol.

i saw you posted about a chi unscrean a while ago in a thread and i was going to get it but i wasnt sure cause i am not a fan of chi products. but since KMS makes one i wil definately be picking one up, i am in love with everything KMS and since i should use a hair sunscreen i will be getting that one

 

[Roxie]

I agree, it's a really good idea to care for your hair in summer. I don't spend terribly a lot of time in the sun like everyone else as I am not crazy about the heat, but it is important to me to wear a hat when I go out. Unfortunately, last summer I didn't have a hat and I did go treaking and I admit I did notice a difference. I will be wearing a hat next summer, no questions asked and get sun protection spray for my hair.

 

[magneticheart]

Thanks for posting G!

I'm really paranoid about protecting my hair from the sun, now I dye it red it fades like crazy if I'm on holiday in the sun.

 

[Noir Sakura]

Originally Posted by HairEgo /img/forum/go_quote.gif Unfortunetly, due to FDA regulations, the hair care industry is not allowed to let the consumer know the level of SPF in their products. That is why you will likely see on bottles 'UV FILTERS' as opposed to the actual SPF rank. I have worked for 2 major, professional hair care brands (which i will not name) they both have sun protection lines within their lines, one of the 2 contains an SPF 20, while the other only contains an SPF 2. So while its true that the consumer doesnt know the level of protection they are getting, I would rather have an SPF something, then nothing at all. That's probably because most hair care products are considered cosmetics and actual sunscreens are considered drugs by the FDA. So again, I don't think "sun protection"products from hair care companies do much. Not to mention, sun protection has to be reapplied to work effectively and none of the product give directions to do so.

 

[HairEgo]

Originally Posted by Noir Sakura /img/forum/go_quote.gif That's probably because most hair care products are considered cosmetics and actual sunscreens are considered drugs by the FDA. So again, I don't think "sun protection"products from hair care companies do much. Not to mention, sun protection has to be reapplied to work effectively and none of the product give directions to do so. Well, everyone is entitled to their own opinions

The brand that I currently use, actually does say on the bottle to reapply.

 

[MERitt]

Ouidad makes a great sun-protection product with UV - it's a light, non-greasy spray. I have fine hair and it doesn't make my locks feel heavy or slick.

 

[magosienne]

On my bottle it says KPF90 (K for Keratin, and 90 because it protects 90% of the hair's keratin, or so they claim).

If you don't believe in hair sunscreen, another thing you could do if you still want some product on your hair is use your skin sunscreen on it. I'm not sure it wouldn't grease it, but if it works on your skin, why not on your hair ?