Do UV rays damage your hair?
When the sun is shining, for many it's time to go to the beach, lie in the sun, tan and switch off. But just as UV rays damage our skin cells in too high a quantity, they do not leave our hair untouched.
How you can prevent or repair damaged hair with the rays and how you can save your hair color, you will learn in this article!
What do UV rays do to my hair?
Our hair is exposed to various environmental factors on a daily basis, and UV radiation is one of the most aggressive factors. UV rays can damage the hair structure, break down the colour pigments and dry out the hair. Unlike our skin, which has a certain natural protection against UV rays due to the pigment melanin, our hair has no built-in protection. Therefore, it is important to take special care of your hair in summer and protect it from UV radiation.
UV rays can be just as harmful to your hair as they are to your skin. The rays can penetrate the outer layer of the hair, the cuticle, and lead to the destruction of the protein keratin, which is responsible for the strength and elasticity of your hair. This weakens the structure of the hair and makes it brittle and brittle.
UV radiation can also lead to changes in the pigmentation of your hair. If you have blonde hair or hair dyed in a different color, you may notice that it takes on a yellowish tone after prolonged exposure to the sun. Dark hair may lighten, other colors may fade the shine and the sun will cause the color to fade.
So if you're regularly in the sun in the summer, you should protect your hair from UV rays and care for it with the right products for your needs.
How to care for and protect your dyed hair from UV rays
As you've just read, the sun and UV rays don't exactly have a positive effect on your hair color. Depending on the hair color, the changes manifest themselves differently.
Care and protection of blonde hair
With blonde dyed hair, the yellow tint is a common issue. Unfortunately, the sun makes this problem even worse: UV rays and chlorinated water also contribute to its formation.
What helps against this? Silver shampoo! The Prima Blonde care series, developed by ESTEL especially for bleached hair, counteracts a yellow tint in a complementary way thanks to the violet pigments it contains, thus creating a beautiful cool blonde tone. The series consists of the Prima Blonde Silver Shine Shampoo, the Prima Blonde Silver Shine Balm and the Prima Blonde Care Mask. Apply the products as often as necessary and watch your yellow tint disappear after the first application!
So the next time your hair has lost its beautiful blonde tone after a long session of sunbathing, you can quickly counteract it!
Great blonde care routine for cool blonde tones
Guide to Dyed Hair in a Different Color
If you have dyed your hair brown, red or variegated, you will not notice a yellow tint from UV rays, but you will still notice a change in color: Dark hair lightens, the original shine fades overall and the intensity of the color evaporates faster.
Ordinary shampoos make your hair color fade even more with each wash, which makes your radiant hair color disappear quickly. If UV rays are added to this, you will quickly run out of your beautiful hair color.
ESTEL has developed the Otium Color Life care range for exactly this problem: the nourishing ingredients moisturize and nourish the hair and effectively maintain your hair color instead of washing it out. The colour is intensified and the natural shine is retained. For optimal protection of your hair color, you can first use the Otium Color Life Shine Shampoo and then give your hair a color and care kick with the Shine Balm and the Color Life Shine Mask.
Tips for sun protection of your hair
Curative care
If you've been enjoying the sun for a little too long and your hair is no longer in its top shape, it's probably due to the effects of UV rays. But don't worry, you can also do a lot for your hair afterwards!
1. Cut tips
Many dream of long hair and are reluctant to cut anything off again. But: If the tips look too brittle and dry from too many UV rays and simply can't be revitalized, it often looks better to simply cut them off with a lace haircut. Then you will have a fresh mane again and your hair will look healthier overall!
2. Rich products
Of course, hair care products are the most important thing for healthy hair. A good care routine already starts with shampoo: its effect is often underestimated, but it only prepares the hair for the subsequent care. The HC Luxury Collagen Shampoo contains important nutrients that nourish your hair, give it elasticity and shine and optimally strengthen it through the collagen it contains.
A conditioner and leave-in care are also included in the HC Luxury Collagen range and together form a particularly rich care that your hair needs after damage from UV rays.
HC LUXURY COLLAGEN Shampoo
In addition to collagen, there are also other highly effective ingredients in hair care that can care for sun-stressed hair after too many UV rays and make it shine again: The red algae extract and important minerals in the More Therapy care set, consisting of shampoo and conditioner, cleanses mildly and creates shine and elasticity. In addition, the products contain natural heat protection, which is of course ideal when you go back into the sun afterwards!
MORE THERAPY CARE ROUTINE FOR SHINY AND STRENGTHENED HAIR
3. Hair masks
Stressed hair often needs additional and rich care, which you can give it with a hair mask every few weeks. Did you know? ESTEL has a hair mask for every need of your hair. If you want to find out which mask and care best suits the needs of your hair, feel free to take a look at our blog article:
Preventive tips
Of course, it is best to get to the root of the problem and prevent the damage caused by UV rays from occurring in the first place. Therefore, we have 3 more tips for you on how to protect your hair from the sun preventively.
1. Headgear
Of course, the easiest way is to put on a hat and prevent the sun and UV rays from reaching your hair on a large scale at all. From caps to large straw hats, you also have many options here in terms of style - so it's a real win-win situation!
2. Heat protection spray
Most people know that hair styling with heat such as with a hair dryer, straightener or curling iron is not particularly gentle on the hair. The hair is attacked by the heat and thus reacts even more sensitively to UV rays. However, what helps to prevent damage both during heat styling and in the hot sun is the HC 1.3 Batiste Heat Protection Spray. Simply spray on the hair before blow-drying or sunbathing and you're done!
If you prefer to use heat protection spray instead of hairspray, which contains alcohol, you are always on the right and most beneficial side.
HC 1.3 BATISTE Heat Protection Spray
3. Hairstyles
If you wear your long hair down, not only you, but also your hair itself quickly becomes too warm. If, on the other hand, you wear them braided in a braid or bun, the UV rays do not reach your entire hair, which relieves it. If you now also give heat protection over your braided or pinned hair, they will be very grateful to you. So it's time for a beautiful braided hairstyle!
By the way: It is also very beneficial not to parting when you go out in the sun. This way you protect your scalp from UV rays and avoid sunburn!
Result
UV rays are not particularly good for our skin or hair – they can dry out your hair and change colour. With the right care, however, you can intervene preventively and even for hair that has already been attacked by UV rays, there are good ways to get your hair through the summer in the best possible way with the right care and other tips. We wish you a sunny time and have fun with your hair care!