When the sun comes out, we all reach for the SPF to protect our skin, but hair can also be badly damaged by UV rays. Here’s how to look after it and keep it looking its best all summer long.
Brought to you by Dyson & Irish Country Magazine.
We spend lots of time ensuring our skin is cleansed and healthy, especially in summer when SPF becomes a top priority, but what steps do we take to ensure our hair is healthier? UV rays can have a damaging effect on our hair health, not to mention spending time in swimming pools or at sandy beaches, so we asked Dyson Hair Scientist, Rob Smith, to share his top tips for looking after hair health this summer.
1. Protect your scalp
Your hair gives the scalp some protection from ultraviolet radiation, the melanin inside the cortex absorbs the UV radiation from the sun to stop it from reaching the scalp and causing damage such as sunburn. However, any exposed skin is not protected, such as where your hair is parted.
Solution: Consider applying a sunscreen to these areas to protect your scalp from UV and its effects.
2. Rinse out chlorine
Chlorine can react with the hair cuticles making the surface of your hair become rougher. Some swimming pools also use copper algaecides to protect against algae. This can turn blonde and bleached hair slightly green.
Solution: After you have been swimming we would recommend washing your hair as soon as possible with a mild shampoo to minimise the risk of damage.
3. Styling in humidity
At hotter times of the year, the air tends to be more humid which can make hair frizzier and reduce style retention, as high water levels in the air reset the bonds created during styling.
Solution: To reduce frizz try using a light hair oil to make hair more supple; to improve retention, consider setting your style with a higher hold hairspray.
4. Use styling tools that don’t rely on extreme heat
While lots of damage can be done outdoors, one of the biggest threats to hair health is the damage we impose on hair ourselves by using tools that use extreme heat to style hair. This summer, consider investing in tools that style without extreme heat, such as the Dyson Airwrap or Dyson Supersonic.
Dyson Airwrap: This nifty styler allows you to create a variety of looks from big bouncy waves to a sleek salon-worthy blow-dry. It uses a clever air technology called the Coanda effect to style the hair from wet to dry without using extreme heat, which means hair isn’t exposed to temperatures that can cause extreme heat damage to the hair or alter hair dye.
The Coanda effect occurs when a high-speed jet of air flows across a surface and, due to differences in pressure, the air flow attaches itself to the surface. Taking advantage of this principle Dyson’s team of aerodynamicists created a way to style hair using only air combined with heat. The result, whether you choose to curl, wave, smooth or rough dry your hair, creates a natural look with a sleek finish, helping prevent extreme heat damage. (€499.99, dyson.ie)
Dyson Supersonic: Powered by the innovative Dyson digital motor V9, this tool broke the mould of hairdryers when it was launched. The ground-breaking technology intelligently monitors the air temperature (over 40 times a second) and regulates the heat, meaning you can rest assured hair is not being exposed to extreme heat as you dry. (€399, dyson.ie)
5. Be beach savvy
Salt from the sea will not cause significant chemical damage but can dry hair out slightly and increase friction during combing and brushing. Sand is an abrasive material that can wear down the cuticle layers.
Solution: To avoid this, gently wash salt and sand out of your hair as soon as possible after a trip to the beach.
Hair tutorial: How to get gorgeous beach waves this summer
For more information on Dyson hair tools and their research into the science of hair, see dyson.ie; or try the technology for yourself in a Dyson store: Stephens Green Shopping Centre, Dundrum Town Centre, Mahon Point Shopping Centre and Liffey Valley Shopping Centre.
Brought to you by Dyson & Irish Country Magazine.
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