Exposure to sunlight can make hair brittle and dry. Here’s how to choose the right products for scalp protection
During the summer also the hair, as it happens to the skin, can burn itself and, if an adequate factor of solar protection is not used, at the end of the holidays you can find yourself with a dry and ruined hair. Leaving aside the numerous treatments, here are some DIY tips to keep your hair hydrated.
Choose sunscreen
First, it is important to know how to choose sunscreen products with SPF (Sun Protection Factor, or the number indicated on cosmetics that contain sunscreens and which defines the ability to defend against UVB radiation) that act as a shield, in particular for avoid moisture loss.
The direct exposure of the hair to the sun, in fact, increases the risk of dryness and dehydration, in addition to making the hair more opaque, less luminous and full of split ends to counteract, in addition to causing premature aging of the hair, decreasing its thickness.
Currently on the market there are three types of sun protection for hair with 50+ filters:
- spray oil, rich in moisturizing ingredients and therefore ideal for long hair;
- gel, more suitable for scalp and short hair;
- dry oil, which is not greasy like spray oil but maintains high hydration.
In all three cases the product should be applied in the morning before leaving the house and removed in the evening with a mild shampoo. For hair that tends to be heavy and fat after being exposed to the sun, it is better to use spray products: they are very practical to use, they do not grease and above all leave the hair moisturized, nourished and untangled without weighing it down.
When the hair is particularly dry, a protective oil is more suitable: you can choose between coconut oil – with a tropical scent – and Argan oil, excellent for untangling knots and leaving hair soft and flowing. As an alternative to oil you can use Shea butter, a vegetable fat with emollient, antioxidant and moisturizing properties, to be applied to lengths and on the head before and during exposure to the sun.
Apply a nourishing mask
To keep the hair soft and hydrated it is essential to take care of it even during the washing phase, especially after shampooing, strictly delicate. To prevent the summer from damaging your hair, making it dull and lacking in vitality, it is important to ensure effective nutrition for the entire length of the hair, regularly applying a nourishing mask, even DIY and natural, after washing. In this way, the hair remains healthy and regenerates from the aggression of the sun and other “pitfalls” of summer.
