As the days get longer and the weather gets warmer, it is easy to forget how important it is to protect your hair from sun damage. UV rays first affect the outer cuticle layer of your hair, reducing their ability to protect the rest of your curls from radiation. Eventually, this radiation will affect your hair's inner structure, resulting in hair loss or reduced growth. Luckily, there are ways that you can treat sun damage that has already occurred using these six easy tips.
Repair Regularly With Your Wash Day Routine
Start your wash day routine with hair products that do not contain added sulphates or parabens because too many of these ingredients tend to reduce the hair's natural moisture. Instead, to avoid or reduce the effects of the sun, your main goal should be to preserve your curls' natural oils on your scalp.
Sofnfree’s Hydration Shampoo With Manuka Honey can help replace any moisture loss from your scalp to your ends as it cleans because it is sulphate-free. Then, our conditioner can also restore your curly hair’s natural shine and bounce as it nourishes your hair with ingredients like manuka honey and avocado, which can help create a better environment for hair growth. Finally, you can lock in the moisture from our shampoo and conditioner with Sofnfree’s leave-in conditioner, which is also helpful in adding a natural shine to your curly hair.
Adopt The Right Accessories
Using a hat, particularly one with a wide brim, is one of the most effective means of protecting one's scalp from sun damage. If you enjoy swimming outdoors in the summer, remember to shade yourself with an umbrella or cover your head with a headscarf while not swimming. When your curly hair is wet after swimming, detangle the knots using your fingers and apply a hair serum to smooth out any remaining kinks.
As your curls are more prone to damage due to the sun, avoid using the wrong hair accessories, like tight elastics, as they can harm your hair's follicles by causing further tension on your scalp. Also, try to steer clear of tight topknots, as they also result in more pressure to your hairline. Use more delicate hairstyle options, such as a low ponytail, braid, or two-strand twist.
Trim Your Ends
Trimming the ends of your hair damaged by the sun can be ideal for maintaining healthy curls and encouraging better hair growth. If your hair is recovering from sun damage, try to get it cut at least once every three months. If you take action as soon as you notice split ends, you can avoid additional damage to your curly hair later on.
Make A Silk Or Satin Pillowcase At Night A Priority
Not only does sleeping on a silk or satin pillowcase provide a much more cool and comfortable night's rest, but it can also improve the quality of your hair. Because silk and satin are materials, unlike cotton or linen, which do not absorb moisture quickly, your hair will experience less friction. Ultimately, this can reduce hair breakage, leading to fewer split ends and hair loss. Additionally, it can help your hair stay shiny and smooth, which is especially beneficial if you want to avoid waking up with morning frizz.
Try A Restorative Hair Oil Treatment
A hot oil treatment is another way to restore the natural moisture in your hair following too much exposure to the sun. For instance, applying hot coconut oil to your hair could help you prevent sun damage from occurring in the first place because coconut oil has a natural sunscreen effect.
In addition, coconut oil can also help as a post-sun hot oil treatment. Depending on the length of your hair, add one tablespoon to a quarter of a cup's worth of coconut oil to a bowl. Melt and heat this oil to the point where it is comfortable to touch. The temperature of the oil should not be extremely high because this could burn your scalp. You should first test a tiny amount on your wrist to ensure it is not too hot.
If the oil temperature is ideal, warm some in your hands, then massage it to your scalp and curls. Next, cover your head with a warm towel or shower cap, and let this oil sit on your hair for around twenty minutes before rinsing it out. Following the treatment, your curly hair will have a silky-smooth texture and be much easier to detangle. If your hair is severely damaged, you could carry out this treatment once a week until your natural hair feels healthier.
Give Heat Styling A Miss
Most of you know that using too much heat for styling can damage your curly hair. Furthermore, if your hair is already damaged from the sun, it is best to take a break from applying heat to your curly hair for several weeks. As everyone's natural hair is different when it comes to recovering from any damage to your curls, you could assess the condition of your hair every week before deciding when you can start using your heating tools again. In the meantime, various styles do not require the use of heat and will leave your hair looking amazing. For instance, you can use Sofnfree’s Curling Creme With Coconut & Jamaican Black Castor Oils to create hold and definition for a twist out. In contrast, our Curl Elongating Gel With Flaxseed Oil & Rosewater can create elongated curls following your wash day.
The sun's rays can damage the structure of your curly hair, reducing its elasticity and definition, which makes it more prone to breakage. But spending time in the sunshine does not have to mean the end of your beautiful curls. The tips above will help you get your curly hair ready for the summer by providing ways to fix any damage from the sun it may have sustained. In that way, you can focus more on enjoying the hotter weather.