Hello Sun! 7 Ways to Protect Your Hair in the Sun

How to protect your hair in the sun this summer? Continue reading to learn more about our best sun protection tips and tricks for hair.

It’s summer, and this only means one thing - the perfect time to soak up the sun, get your daily dose of vitamin D, and boost your serotonin levels with an exciting amount of sunlight that lacks during the winter months. 

However, despite the benefits of the sun for your skin, hair, and overall health, there are some disadvantages as well.

Prolonged exposure to the harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation that the sun emits can deplete the hair of its natural moisture, leaving it dry and brittle, as well as more prone to breakage. But luckily, you can prevent this!

In this article, we will take a look at how to protect your hair in the sun this summer. So, let’s dive right into it:

1. Wear a hat

One of the best sun protection tips for hair is to wear a hat or a scarf that covers your hair completely, especially the scalp. This provides a physical barrier against the sun’s harmful UV rays, minimizing direct exposure and reducing the risk from damage.

Hats are not only a stylish and beautiful accessory to complement your outfit on your summer holiday, but they also provide excellent coverage to your scalp. 

This is important because excessive sun exposure on the scalp can lead to sunburn, dryness, and it can also damage the hair follicles. In fact, scalps are particularly vulnerable to sunburn because they have thinner hair coverage, making them more sensitive. 

And let’s be honest - nobody enjoys experiencing redness and itching during the summer vacation for which they’ve been waiting the whole year! 

Adding a hat or a lightweight scarf is a great way on how to protect your hair in the sun while elevating your holiday outfit.

2. Use a thermal heat protectant

Among the best sun protection tips for hair is to use a thermal heat protectant when going out.

This non-greasy, lightweight product is specifically formulated to shield your hair from high temperatures and UV radiation, providing a protective barrier between your hair and the sun (or a heat styling tool in case you are doing thermal hair styling.

Using a thermal heat protectant made from natural ingredients like the NuMe Watch me Werk comes with multiple benefits for your beautiful mane, including:

• UV filters - to help block or absorb a portion of the sun’s UV radiation, reducing the amount of UV exposure that reaches the hair shaft and scalp. Essentially, it works as sunscreen for skin.
• Heat resistance - made with caviar extract and a proprietary blend of proteins, this heat protectant creates a protective barrier on the hair strands to provide some resistance against environmental factors, including the sun's rays.
• Hair strand protection - thermal heat protectants also prevent the hair cuticles from getting damaged by prolonged sun exposure. They help to fortify and strengthen the hair strands, making them more resilient against sun damage.

In addition, using a heat protectant when going out is a good way to preserve the color of dyed or color-treated hair, which may fade and lose its vibrancy when exposed to the UV rays. 

So, before you put your hat on, make this addition to your hair styling routine to protect your hair in the sun. 

3. Hydrate your hair

As we mentioned earlier, prolonged exposure to the sun’s rays may deplete the hair from its natural moisture and oils, which can lead to dryness and brittleness - similar to the signs of heat-damaged hair from heat styling tools.

Dry hair is more susceptible to breakage, split ends, and frizz, which means that providing proper hydration will be essential if you want to maintain your hair healthy and shiny all summer long. 

The NuMe Vegan Tourmaline Hair Care Set is the perfect combination of deeply hydrating products that moisturize from the roots during all steps of your hair styling routine. 

This shampoo, conditioner and hair mask trio work together to coat your scalp in antioxidants, and help fight free radicals while delivering optimal hydration. Made from tourmaline power, 11 amino acids and essential fatty acids, they will protect your hair in the sun all day long. 

Each product is suitable for all hair types, which means that you can use them worry-free and enjoy your stunning, shiny hair during your next summer vacation.

4. Limit sun exposure

Spending the whole day at the beach might be tempting, but it can also take a toll on your hair if you are not taking the right measures. If possible, limit sun exposure during peak hours when the sun is at its strongest.

Depending on the country, the sun may be at its peak at different hours, but in most cases, it’s between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. 

And we are not even talking about summer only - in fact, you should take care of your skin and hair even in winter when UV radiation is often underestimated.

The sun is normally less strong in the early morning and/or late afternoon, so these may be the best hours to go out if you are looking to protect your hair in the sun.

5. Lead a balanced lifestyle

One of the most important, but underestimated ways on how to protect hair from UV damage is to do it from within. Eating foods that are healthy, especially for hair - like leafy greens, nuts and seeds, eggs and salmon - can contribute to the overall health and resilience of your hair.

In turn, this will help protect it from sun damage and UV radiation. Foods that are rich in nutrients like vitamin A,C, E, omega-3 fatty acids and proteins, zinc and selenium, are great for supporting the health of your hair and scalp. 

They help to maintain the integrity of your hair strands and enhance their resistance to damage, including the one from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation. In addition, healthy foods are rich in antioxidants, and they protect your body from the damaging effects of free radicals.

Remember to drink an adequate amount of water as well - according to Harvard, this means about 13 cups and 9 cups for healthy men and women. If you are physically active or live in warmer climates, the proper amount may be even higher. 

Proper hydration from the inside out is essential for protecting your hair in the sun, because strong and hydrated hair is more resilient and better able to withstand environmental stressors like UV radiation.

6. Rinse hair after swimming 

Another way on how to protect hair from UV damage is to rinse it properly after swimming. The chlorine from the swimming pool or the saltwater from the sea can have negative effects on hair, such as drying it out and making it brittle.

Combined with dehydration from direct sun exposure, this will lead to moisture loss and dry the hair even further. To prevent excessive drying, which can lead to hair damage, it is recommended to rinse your hair with fresh water right after swimming.

This will help to remove the residual chlorine from hair, minimizing its damaging effects.

7. Use the right tools for heat styling

The use of low-quality heat styling tools such as hairdryers, curling wands and flat irons may further dehydrate and damage sun-exposed hair. For this reason, it’s important to use a high-quality heat styling tool made from the gemstone tourmaline.

Tourmaline hair styling tools are known for their ability to emit up to 6 times more negative ions than ceramic-coated or titanium ones, which helps to retain moisture in the hair during the styling process.

Negative ions seal the hair cuticles (the outermost layer of the hair shaft), creating a protective barrier that locks in moisture and prevents it from evaporating. This allows for easy and effortless heat styling without the damage.

Tourmaline-infused plates or barrels in styling tools also distribute heat more evenly, which means that you can achieve desired results with lower heat settings. Lower heat reduces the risk of excessive drying and damage to the hair, helping to retain moisture.

Unless you have thick curly hair, you will mostly want to heat style without reaching the highest temperatures on your flat iron or curling wand.

Looking for a tourmaline flat iron or curling wand? Check out the award-winning NuMe Megastar Flat Iron and the NuMe Automatic Curling Wand.

So, if you are looking for ways on how to protect your hair in the sun, make sure that you are taking the right steps before exposing it - such as using heat styling tools with negative ion conditioning and far infrared technologies.

FAQ

Which oil can I use to protect my hair in the sun?

If you are already suffering from dry hair and are worried about further dehydration from sun exposure, you can use an argan oil such as the NuMe Argan Oil Serum. 

This lightweight, non-greasy moisturizer is perfect for softening the hair and keeping it hydrated.

Does the sun damage all hair types equally?

No, the sun does not damage all hair types equally. Different hair types have varying levels of natural protection, such as melanin content and thickness. 

Fine or light-colored hair is generally more susceptible to sun damage, while thicker or darker hair offers some natural sun protection. However, all hair types can benefit from sun protection measures.

What should I do if my hair is already damaged from sun exposure?

If your hair is already damaged from sun exposure, it's important to provide it with extra care and hydration. Deep conditioning treatments, hair masks, and leave-in conditioners can help restore moisture and repair sun-damaged hair. 

Trimming split ends and limiting heat styling can also aid in the recovery process.

Can I use regular sunscreen on my hair?

While regular sunscreen can be used on the scalp and hairline, it may not be ideal for applying directly to the hair strands. Sunscreens formulated specifically for hair are recommended, as they offer protection without leaving a heavy or greasy residue. 

Look for products labeled as "hair sunscreen" or "UV protectant" for optimal results.