Can the Sun Damage Your Hair?

TL; DR. Yes - and you probably don’t even realize it’s happening.

But there’s so much more to it. And you need to know how to prevent that damage if you want to look your best.

The truth is that most guys only worry about how the sun might be damaging their skin. And with good reason. Sun exposure is a major cause of the aging process. It wrinkles your skin, speeds up the formation of fine lines, and leads to pigmentation issues.

Is something similar going on with your hair?

Yes, your hair is also damaged by prolonged sun exposure. But since it doesn’t turn bright red, get inflamed and painful, or peel off, it doesn’t tend to be your major concern.

Still, much like your skin, taking care of your hair will keep it looking better and prevent unnecessary problems. Here’s how to notice sun damage to your hair, what to do about it, and how to prevent it in the first place.

What Is Sun Damaged Hair?

Excessive sun exposure leads to brittle, weak, dehydrated hair. If you rock longer hair, you may notice split ends or easily breakable hair. It can also get out of control - so frizzy and dry that you can’t style it like normal.

Another major effect of sun exposure is discoloration. Have you ever noticed that your hair turns a shade lighter in the summer? Did you think it was a good thing? Actually, that’s sun damage in action.

This is a lot like your skin. Many light-skinned men think of a summer tan as a badge of honor. You have a “healthy glow” - that’s really not so healthy. The same thing happens to your hair. It’s not much different from bleaching or dyeing your hair. Not great if you’re hoping to strengthen and thicken your thinning hair.

What to Do About Sun Damaged Hair

If you’ve noticed signs of sun damage to your hair, your main goal should be to rehydrate both your hair and scalp. That means using conditioner more often - daily at first. This will help replace moisture and nutrients that your hair is lacking due to sun damage.

The good news is that you don’t have to worry about long term damage. The hair follicles themselves are deep enough below the skin to not be permanently altered by sun exposure. Just the strands themselves are affected. With proper care and time, your hair will regrow in all its natural luster.

In the meantime, shampoo less and condition more often. Make sure you’re using a natural shampoo for men that is sulfate-free. Harsh shampoos strip your hair of moisture during the cleaning process - bad news if it’s already dehydrated from the sun. You may want to shampoo only ever other day - or less - for the first week after you notice sun damage.

Conditioner is important - but not all are the same. A natural hair conditioner for men with hydrating and nourishing ingredients is best. Look for ingredients like organic aloe, vitamin E, tea tree oil, and peppermint - all of which are in our Revitalizing Hair Conditioner.

Save Your Hair, Wear a Hat

Prevention is better than treatment after the fact. So wear a wide brimmed hat when you know you’re going to spend all day in the sun. And remember, even cool and cloudy days expose you to damaging UV rays.

Struggling with thinning hair? Keep it strong and healthy with the best thickening shampoo for men. Our Daily Strengthening Shampoo is made with hydrolyzed wheat protein to promote hair growth, increase strand thickness, and build volume.