Does hair love summer?
During the hot summer days, we spend significantly more time in the water, whether due to frequent cooling showers or vacations at the sea or pool. The combination of sunlight and water is a favorite for many of us. But how much does our hair like it? We all prepare sunscreen for our skin. But what about our hair? What dangers do naturally occurring lightened strands pose? Short exposure to the sun is beneficial as a natural way to obtain Vitamin D, which is necessary for the whole body, including the hair. It stimulates hair follicles and plays a role in creating new follicles. However, excessive sun exposure leads to the release of substances called peroxides, which can interrupt the hair growth cycle and cause it to prematurely enter the catagen phase. More dangerously, the return to the anagen phase and a new growth cycle can be delayed significantly or may not occur at all. The sun also affects the natural pigment of the hair strand (melanin) by breaking it down. This is why hair lightens during the summer. But this breakdown also affects some hair proteins, causing it to lose strength and become prone to breakage.
The greatest damage from the sun is observed in dyed hair, especially bleached hair, because it has already undergone chemical damage. In addition, artificial pigments are much less stable than natural ones, which is why the color of dyed hair fades even more easily in the sun. This is also why UV filters are mainly added to products for dyed hair. But these filters are also necessary for untreated hair, not only to preserve its color from lightening but also to protect its structural stability. There are various sun protection filters for hair. How well they protect depends mainly on their ability to attach to the hair strand. There are no mandatory tests for hair sun protection, so these products do not declare a sun protection factor. The safest protection is wearing a hat or headscarf because shade is the best sun protection.In the height of summer, many of us seek relief from the heat in the sea or pool. These are the other two factors that negatively affect hair – the salt in seawater and the chlorine in pools.
Strangely enough, the main problem is not what is contained in the water, but the water itself. The reason is the porosity of the hair, especially when damage is already present, for example due to dyeing, bleaching, or heat treatment, after which the hair becomes even more porous. The hair strand “absorbs” water (absorption), causing swelling that leads to its structural weakening. When wet, hair can stretch from its usual size by about 30% to 70%. Under normal conditions, we wet it less often, but in summer, we often do it several times a day. This repeated stretching can cause irreversible damage and disrupt the structural bonds in the hair. Saltwater poses another danger – salt is hygroscopic, meaning it attracts water and can draw it out from inside the hair strand, causing dryness. This alternating swelling and drying is extremely damaging due to the severe disruption of the hair’s water balance.
Still, saltwater has its benefits, but not for the hair, rather for the scalp, as it contains valuable minerals. Unlike seawater, chlorinated water has no beneficial effect on hair or scalp. It is best to avoid wetting with it or to use a swimming cap. Another technique is “sealing” the hair strand with natural oil, such as olive or argan oil. This strengthens the hair’s natural protective layer, the so-called 18-MEA lipid layer. This reduces water penetration into the hair strand but makes the hair heavier and appear greasy. Care should also be taken to avoid getting oil on the scalp, as it can clog pores.
Even ordinary tap water can be harmful to some extent due to the so-called limescale effect, which dulls and literally takes away the shine of the hair. The buildup of a limescale layer on the hair makes it more susceptible to external factors, especially the sun, further drying it out and making it more prone to breakage, significantly reducing its elasticity. The formed limescale layer also prevents dye pigments from penetrating and accumulating in the hair, causing the color to wash out faster. We usually clean limescale buildup from other surfaces with acidic cleaners. But how do we remove it from our hair?Our helper, specially formulated to counteract all the above dangers to hair during summer, is BRAVE. NEW. HAIR. Color Series. The combination of active ingredients is specially selected to protect hair from the harmful effects of sunlight and preserve the color of both dyed and natural hair. Together, the ingredients improve the structure and add density to the hair strand.
Green walnut and UV protection shield the color from damage. Fruit acids close the hair cuticle, cleanse, and prevent limescale buildup, giving irresistible shine. Quinoa promotes pigment accumulation and bonding with the hair. The formula also includes the essential antioxidant for every hair, which protects it from free radicals.You can learn more about the ingredients here. We will share more in the next blog post. If you are curious to read more, follow our blog dedicated to conscious hair care.
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