Hello readers! We always enjoy spending time under the sun, don’t we? Sun-kissed skin and hair always seem more attractive to us. But have you ever wondered if the sun can make our hair lighter? Do we get natural hair highlights just by spending time in the sun? Today, we will answer these questions in detail.
Can the Sun Make Your Hair Lighter?
The short answer is yes; the sun can make your hair lighter. But the process of hair lightening is not that simple. To understand this complex process better, we have to go deeper into the science behind it.
The Science Behind Hair Lightening
Hair gets its color from the pigment called ‘melanin,’ which is produced by melanocyte cells present in the hair follicles. Melanocytes come in two types- eumelanin and pheomelanin. Eumelanin is responsible for the darker shades of hair, whereas pheomelanin produces the lighter shades of hair color, such as blond or red.
When we expose our hair to the sun, the UV rays penetrate the cuticles of the hair and reach the cortex, which is the thickest and innermost layer of hair. Here, the UV rays react with the melanin present in the hair, resulting in the breaking down of melanin pigments into smaller molecules. This process reduces the amount of melanin and reduces the hair’s color, making it lighter over time.
Factors That Affect Hair Lightening
- Hair Type: Dark hair contains more eumelanin pigments and fewer pheomelanin pigments, making it harder to lighten.
- Hair Thickness: Thicker hair reflects more sunlight, making it less likely to lighten when exposed to the sun.
- UV Exposure: The intensity and duration of UV exposure can significantly affect hair lightening. Longer periods of exposure and intense sunlight weaken hair and damage strands.
The Pros and Cons of Sun-Kissed Hair
Getting lighter hair color by directly exposing it to the sun may sound like an attractive idea, but it has both pros and cons. Let’s have a look at both sides.
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How to Safely Get Sun-Kissed Hair
If you want to get sun-kissed hair safely, you need to follow some essential tips. Let’s go through them.
Limit Your Sun Exposure
If you want to get natural highlights, you don’t need to spend hours in the sun. Start with short periods outdoors and gradually increase the time to avoid damaging your hair or skin.
Protect Your Hair with SPF
To prevent hair damage, you can use hair products that contain SPF or wear a hat when outside. This provides an added layer of protection and reduces the hair’s exposure to direct sunlight and UV rays.
Nourish Your Hair
The sun can leave hair dry, brittle, and even discolored. To keep your hair nourished, use conditioners and hair masks that protect from sun damage, hydrate hair, and repair UV damage.
Conclusion
The sun can make your hair lighter, but the process is not that simple or quick. Natural hair lightening by the sun is an unpredictable process that may cause hair damage or skin burns. However, we believe that sun-kissed hair can look utterly gorgeous if done correctly, and we hope that this article has provided helpful information on how to get sun-kissed hair safely.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Can the sun lighten colored hair?
- Can you lighten hair in the sun without lemon juice?
- Does hair get lighter in the sun even with sunscreen?
- Is it better to lighten hair naturally, or with hair products?
Yes, it can. Sunlight can cause artificial hair color to fade, making the hair color lighter over time.
Yes, you can. Sunlight alone can lighten hair by breaking down the melanin pigments in the hair.
Sunscreen reduces the hair’s exposure to UV rays and harmful sun rays, preventing hair damage and scalp burns. However, it does not stop hair from getting lighter in the sun.
Both options have their pros and cons. Lightening hair naturally is less expensive and chemical-free, but the results are unpredictable and may cause hair damage. On the other hand, using hair products is a more controlled and predictable process, but it can be expensive and involves chemicals.
References:
– https://www.healthline.com/health/sun-kissed-hair#science
– https://www.glamour.com/story/can-the-sun-really-lighten-you
– https://www.byrdie.com/can-the-sun-lighten-your-hair