Going to the Beach? Here’s How to Protect Your Hair
Nothing provides a hit of endorphins quite like a day at the beach. But it comes with some rules: apply your SPF, drink plenty of water, and protect your hair from the damaging effects of the sun. But, we hear you ask, how exactly do you protect your hair properly?
The hair’s complex structure of proteins (mainly keratin) comes under daily attack from damaging external aggressors, such as heat styling and pollution. But prolonged periods spent in the sun are thought to be the most significant cause of damage, especially in color-treated hair, which is already more vulnerable to protein loss. Here’s what you need to know about how to protect your hair color during a day of fun in the sun…
How do I protect my hair from UV rays?
Just as heat styling with a hairdryer, curling iron, or straightener can leave the hair looking frazzled and dry, so can UV (ultraviolet) rays from the sun. Our hair’s outer lipid layer, known as the cuticle, is made up of overlapping cells that – when healthy – sit flush against the hair fiber. Although too tiny to see, they have a very important job: allowing moisture in and out of the hair shaft, while providing a protective shield for the proteins that make up 90% of our hair.
When exposed to excessive or prolonged heat (say, from heat styling or sitting in the sun), these frontline cells take the hit, lifting and cracking (which affects moisture levels) and degrading, meaning they can no longer protect essential proteins from being lost. So, what’s the answer? Reinforcing the lipid layer with products designed specifically to offer protection against all types of heat exposure.
Finding the best heat protectant spray for your hair
Since hair is made up of more than 90% protein, Nexxus’ world-class scientists dedicate their work to proteomics (the study of proteins), infusing each collection with the correct PROTEINFUSION for its intended hair type or issue. Nexxus Leave-In Lightweight Prep & Protect works by moisturizing, detangling, and softening the hair, and is enriched with a PROTEINFUSION blend that locks in proteins, without weighing the hair down.
Behind every good heat protection spray is an equally good hair care regime, and it’s worth remembering that hair health begins from the moment you step into the shower. Treat thirsty strands to moisture-restoring hair care, such as the Therappe Ultimate Moisture Shampoo and Humectress Ultimate Moisture Conditioner. Then, apply your protection spray from root to tip (it can be used on both dry or wet hair), followed by a styling product that smooths and controls frizz – another after-effect of sun exposure. Prefer a bouncy blow-out? We recommend the Smooth & Full Blow Dry Balm. More of an air-dry-on-the-go kind of person? Try our Shape & Define Multi Styler. Both offer protein-preserving qualities, without weighing down your style, especially when used alongside the Prep & Protect Leave-In Spray.
How to stop hair color from fading
With UV rays strong enough to break down the hair’s essential proteins, it’s no surprise it can speed up the fade of your salon color, as well as the natural pigment in non-chemically-colored hair. And we probably don’t need to remind you that the sun has a bleaching effect, too.
If preserving your color is a priority, team your heat protection with an in-shower routine formulated to replenish hair with the nutrients and protein building blocks lost during the color process (cysteine, glutamic acid, and serine, to be specific). The Color Assure collection boasts a PROTEINFUSION blend with elastin protein and quinoa, helping your new hair color stay vibrant for up to 40 washes. Blondes may benefit from using the Blonde Assure Purple Shampoo once or twice a week, designed to neutralize brassiness brought on by the sun, extending the life of your color while flooding the hair with strengthening and restoring keratin protein. And if that doesn't get your endorphins flowing, we don’t know what will…
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