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How to protect your red hair from sun damage

How to protect your red hair from sun damage

Red hair already glows, and we want to keep it that way! Summer is upon us, and we have the best heat, sun and UV protection hair advice for you!

We all know about the damage that the sun can cause your skin, but the sun also heavily impacts the health of your hair. Whether that’s through discolouration, or dryness and brittleness, the sun will affect your gingerness in some way!


How does the sun affect your red hair?

According to sun health specialists at the Cleveland Clinic, if you have your head in full sunshine, you are not only risking a burned scalp, but also frizziness, split ends, and thinning your hair. 

The Cleveland Clinic notes that “sun damage can happen to most hair types, but there are ways to keep your strands and scalp protected”.

“If your hair has prolonged exposure to the sun, UVA and UVB rays can damage the outside cover of the hair strand, called the cuticle,” they added. 

The sun’s rays can cause just as much damage as a hair dryer, if not more. A sign that your hair is damaged is if it feels like dry grass, or straw. Another sign of heat-damaged hair is if your hair has lost its natural colour (usually appearing lighter), or if it won’t curl or style properly.



According to a doctor at the Cleveland Clinic, “the sun’s rays act very much like bleach on hair”. Like bleach, the sun can react with the melanin in hair, and will remove the colour and natural proteins – also known as keratin. 

Although any colour hair can be affected by the sun, people with lighter-coloured hair are more prone to hair damage. For us redheads, our hair already attracts the light – so we best take all of the precautions necessary!


What can you do to protect your red hair from the sun?

Aside from using good cover-ups solutions, such as hats and bandanas, using a hair sunscreen is a good way to prevent UV ray damage. 

The Aveda Sun Care Protective Hair Veil is a vegan and sulphate-free product that “is formulated with UVA/UVB filters derived from wintergreen and cinnamon bark oils which help protect hair from sun damage”.

Hair masks are also one step further to promoting healthier hair in summer. 

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The Gingerful Henna and Rose Hair Mask for Redheads will keep your hair hydrated and conditioned all year round. It boasts overall softness, smoothness, strength, and shine!

Heat protection sprays are for great for those of you that also regularly use direct heat on your hair – for instance, curling wands, as well as hair straighteners and dryers. 

Natural hair oils can also help to protect your hair from dryness and discolouration. Coconut oil is the most popular choice as it works to prevent protein (keratin) loss and UV damage to your hair. Coconut oil works best when it is applied before and after washing your hair.  

However, although these products are your best bet at keeping your hair shiny and healthy, you should be sure to wear a sunhat! Unlike these products, a sunhat will not restore the nutrients back into your hair follicles – however, it does a very good job at shading your head from the UV rays!

Prevention is always the best defence!

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