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How to Treat and Prevent Sun-Damaged Hair
Updated on September 2, 2025 | 4 min read
Jaclyn LaBadia, Davines Writer
You already know the damage the sun can do to your skin, and that’s why sunscreen is a must. But what about your hair? UV rays can damage the hair shaft, leading to dry, brittle strands, broken or split ends, frizziness and thinning. Add saltwater, chlorine and sweat to the mix, and you’re in for some serious summer hair damage. To help you manage the stressors of the season, we’ve put together a summer hair rehab guide. Here’s how to recognize, treat and prevent sun damaged hair, including expert tips and product picks for your best summer hair.
Key Takeaways
Understanding Sun Damage
- UV rays cause hair damage leading to dryness, frizz, color fade, breakage and thinning.
- Protecting your strands by applying hair SPF and creating physical barriers like things like hats, scarves and umbrellas can help.
- Treat sun damaged hair by adding moisture and nourishment with deep conditioning after sun hair treatments.
In This Article
Recognizing Sun-Damaged Hair
The Science Behind Sun-Damaged Hair
SPF Hair Protection
How To Shield Your Hair from the Sun
Common Sun Damage Myths
Protecting and Treating Sun-Damaged Hair
Maintaining Healthy Hair in the Sun
FAQs
Recognizing Sun-Damaged Hair
Sun damaged hair is pretty easy to recognize. It comes with some obvious signs including dryness, brittleness, increased breakage and split ends, dullness, fading color, frizziness and thinning. It can also feel rough to the touch, and be prone to knots and tangling.
The sun can also negatively impact the scalp, causing dry skin, sunburn, flakes and itching. Sun damage affects all hair types, but some are more susceptible than others. Fine, light or otherwise damaged hair tends to be more vulnerable in the sun. So taking preventative measures before, during and after sun exposure is a must for maintaining healthy hair in the summer.
The Science Behind Sun-Damaged Hair
The science behind sun damaged hair is pretty simple. Over time, the sun’s ultraviolet rays strip away at the proteins and pigments in the hair shaft, leading to a loss of moisture and strength. This causes discoloration, dryness and brittleness, making strands porous and prone to snapping and splitting. UV radiation also degrades the hair’s outer layer, the cuticle, leading to frizzy hair that’s rough and unmanageable. Essentially, the sun slowly weakens hair strands, stripping them of their much-needed, essential nutrients.
SPF Hair Protection
The best way to protect hair from sun damage is by creating a protective barrier to shield it from harmful UV rays. Enter hair sunscreen. Similar to SPF for your skin, hair sunscreen forms a physical barrier on the hair and scalp, absorbing or reflecting UV radiation (depending on the formula) to prevent it from penetrating the hair shaft and scalp. Using hair sunscreen during periods of prolonged UV exposure helps to prevent damage like sunburn, dryness, color fading and breakage. Especially if your hair is already damaged, lightened or color-treated, SPF hair protection is a must anytime you spend time in the sun.
How To Shield Your Hair from the Sun
Wondering how to protect hair from sun damage in addition to using hair sunscreen? With other preventive techniques for hair protection, like wearing hats, scarves and hiding under an umbrella. These are the best ways to shield your hair from the sun’s damaging UV rays.
Make Your Scalp a Priority
Hair products with sunscreen are the best way to protect against damage, but not if you forget your scalp. Pay special attention to your hairline and parting when applying your hair sunscreen, and reapply often when you’re in the sun.
Create a Physical Barrier
Protecting your hair with a physical barrier is the best way to avoid UV damage to your strands and scalp. Cover up with a baseball cap, wide-brimmed hat, scarf or even an umbrella to keep your head protected.
Avoid Chemicals and Heat
The sun strips your hair’s pigment and degrades keratin, irreversibly. So do chemicals (like bleach and other lightening agents) and hot tools. Using these things on your hair in addition to spending time in the sun allows UV rays to penetrate the hair shaft even easier, for faster damage.
Deep-Condition Often
Moisture makes hair stronger and less prone to frizz and breakage. Deep conditioning once or twice a week (depending on your hair type and its condition) provides essential moisture to combat sun damage.
Load Up on Fruits and Veggies All Summer
The sun’s UV rays cause oxidative damage to your strands. Combat this by eating antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables to your diet. Aim to eat at-least four to five different fruits and vegetables a day to help cut the damage.
Common Sun Damage Myths
Sun exposure causes damage to your strands including dryness, brittleness, discoloration and breakage, but there are several common myths that we’re here to debunk. Let’s take a look below!
Sun Exposure Causes Permanent Hair Loss
While sunburn on the scalp can cause temporary thinning or hair loss in an affected area, it’s usually not permanent.
Sun Exposure Causes Permanent Hair Loss
While sunburn on the scalp can cause temporary thinning or hair loss in an affected area, it’s usually not permanent.
Sun Exposure Causes Permanent Hair Loss
While sunburn on the scalp can cause temporary thinning or hair loss in an affected area, it’s usually not permanent.
Only People with Light Hair Experience Sun Damage
On the contrary, darker hair actually absorbs more UV, making it more susceptible to damage.
You Can Only Get Sun Damage on Sunny Days
UV rays can penetrate clouds, so even on cloudy days, your hair can be affected.
The Sun Permanently Changes Hair Color
While sunlight can lighten hair that’s already grown out, any new growth will remain the original color.
Hair Protects the Scalp from Sun Damage
Quite the opposite actually, your hair can hide dangerous sunburns on the scalp, potentially delaying early detection of problems, like skin cancer.
Dandruff is Caused by Sun Exposure
It’s true that sun exposure can worsen dandruff, the condition is caused by other scalp conditions or fungal growth.
Sun Exposure Causes Permanent Hair Loss
While sunburn on the scalp can cause temporary thinning or hair loss in an affected area, it’s usually not permanent.
Only People with Light Hair Experience Sun Damage
On the contrary, darker hair actually absorbs more UV, making it more susceptible to damage.
You Can Only Get Sun Damage on Sunny Days
UV rays can penetrate clouds, so even on cloudy days, your hair can be affected.
The Sun Permanently Changes Hair Color
While sunlight can lighten hair that’s already grown out, any new growth will remain the original color.
Hair Protects the Scalp from Sun Damage
Quite the opposite actually, your hair can hide dangerous sunburns on the scalp, potentially delaying early detection of problems, like skin cancer.
Dandruff is Caused by Sun Exposure
It’s true that sun exposure can worsen dandruff, the condition is caused by other scalp conditions or fungal growth.
Protecting and Treating Sun-Damaged Hair
The best hair products for sun exposure both protect and treat sun damaged strands. That’s why we created SU, a complete product line to protect your hair and skin before and after sun exposure. Formulated with antioxidants to protect hair and skin cells from free radicals caused by the sun. An absolute must-have for the season is SU Milk, a leave-in spray with SPF great for use both before and after sun exposure. SU Milk protects the hair thanks to anti UV-A and UV-B filters, preventing it from drying out and becoming damaged by the sun’s rays. Use it after sun exposure too, as an additional conditioning treatment after SU Hair & Body Wash, a hydrating shampoo that moisturizes your hair and skin after being outside.
The Advantages of After-Sun Treatments
If you’re really feeling sun-kissed, restore and hydrate your skin and strands with an after-sun treatment like SU Aftersun and SU Hair Mask; a soothing, mineral-rich skin gel and restorative and hydrating anti-aging hair mask.
Enhancing Hair Health
In addition to hair products with SPF, our Sheer Glaze and Momo Hair Potion can help in the prevention of sun damage. The leave-in treatment and hair lotion provide hydration, shine, and heat protection to thirsty strands.
Maintaining Healthy Hair in the Sun
Maintaining a healthy summer hair care routine is essential to combat the damaging effects of the summer on your hair. Follow our tips and stock up on the highest quality hair products for your summer hair, like the ones from Davines. We’ll help you keep your hair healthy through the season’s harshest elements.
FAQs
Can you repair sun damaged hair?
While you can improve the health and appearance of sun damaged hair to some extent, by adding moisture and SPF protection, damage cannot be reversed.
How to tell if hair is sun damaged?
Sun damaged hair presents with dryness, brittleness, increased breakage and split ends, dullness, fading color, frizziness and thinning. It can also feel rough to the touch, and be prone to knots and tangling.
Is sun damage to hair permanent?
In the sense of structural damage to the hair shaft, sun damage to hair is permanent, but any new hair growth from the scalp will not be affected by previous sun exposure.
How do you protect your hair from sun damage?
The best hair protector when it comes to sun damaged strands is a combination of UV protection in the form of a hair sunscreen, and using a physical barrier like a hat, scarf, protective hairstyle or umbrella.
Treat Yourself
Visit your local Davines salon for personalized, stylist-approved care.
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