Look after your hair this summer!

Mercifully, the days are getting longer and we’re all seeing more of the sunshine. 

Before we know it, the clocks will change and longer, warmer days will be back.

Yippee!

However, remember that you’re a haircare superhero and with great weather comes great responsibility.

Healthy hair doesn’t just leave us feeling more confident; as just one part of our body, it plays a vital role in and is a great indicator of, our overall physical health. 

And a surefire way to promote hair health is to look after it’s home: your scalp. 

The sciencey bit

Oxidative stress is the term used for “the hair’s inability to sufficiently counteract the sources of oxidation” – in other words, the hair’s ability to fight sun damage. 

To compound the problem, scalp damage (when well covered) can go under the radar, increasing the risk of longer-term problems; the light that carries UV rays can penetrate gaps in hair to reach areas of the scalp, no matter how thick it is.  

A factor in this damage is the presence of an organism called Malassezia – a natural fungus found in the hair of many animals, including humans (Trüeb et al, 2018). It sounds off-putting but the presence of Malassezia is completely normal and found on most of us; however, when over-abundant, it can increase hair loss and reduce general scalp health. 

An unhealthy scalp may exhibit symptoms such as dandruff, dermatitis or hair loss – clear indicators of “pathological conditions” (Trüeb et al, 2018). However, in the event of sun damage, hair may be suffering from oxidate stress before it emerges, meaning it’s not always easy to detect the impact UV rays have had.

The best way to protect the scalp against symptoms like these is to apply preventative measures. In short, look after your scalp and it’ll look after you:

1. When out in the sun, wear a hat or some form of head covering to reduce or eliminate the light reaching your scalp. Even thick, voluminous hair lets some UV light in, making another layer of protection essential.
2. For those of us with more exposed scalps, sun cream is another powerful way to protect scalps against the impact of sun damage. 
3. Best of all, staying in the shade as much as possible ensures that UV rays are unable to reach the head at all, maximising your chances of maintaining a healthy scalp.

If you do find yourself exposed to the sun more than your hair would like, there are other potential remedies. The first step would be visit a healthcare professional to determine the safest course of action and whether any products might cause more harm due to allergies and intolerances. 

Once you have determined how to look after your hair, there are products that can combat some (not all, but some) of the damage UV rays might have done to your hair and scalp.

Potentially, the most effective measure is a simple one: shampoos with agents designed to fight Malassezia – such as sodium caproyl– are typically gentle on the skin and effective in fighting the fungus.

Additionally, foods rich in l-methionine, a natural amino acid that – as well as other health benefits – fights oxidative stress. This includes most animal products, especially fish, beef, eggs and dairy products, as they contain a full range of proteins. 

If you have a plant-based diet, foods with higher concentrations of protein such as oats, sunflower seeds and quinoa will help, though you may need to eat more of them to compete with the benefits of animal products. 

The benefits of shampoos and foods that contain these agents are broad and include:

1. Reducing hair loss
2. Fighting dermatitis
3. Combating psoriasis
4. Treating dandruff

The best bit? Hairdressing supplies provide a full range of shampoo products that contain these antioxidants.