Memorial Day weekend usually kicks off the summer BBQ season which means you’ll be outdoors much more often. When most people think about protecting themselves from UV rays, they just focus on the skin. However, your hair needs protection, too. UV rays are the most damaging of all the environmental factors. So how exactly does it damage your hair?
To answer this, we’ll first have to look at the basic structure of the hair. Looking at the cross section of a hair fiber, there are three major parts from outside to inside:
- The Cuticle is the outermost layer and it consists of overlapping cells (scales). To visualize how it looks, think of shingles on a roof.
The cuticle has a protective function and is responsible for hair’s luster and texture. - The cortex makes up the bulk of the fiber and it provides color, mechanical strength and elasticity.
- The innermost layer is the medulla but this doesn’t play a part in hair cosmetics.
Lastly, there is a Cell Membrane Complex that surrounds the fiber and glues or binds all the cells together.
In healthy hair, the cuticle is smooth, unbroken and lies flat along the hair shaft appearing shiny & smooth. When exposed to UV radiation, the cuticle is weakened so it chips and breaks more easily, leading to less shine, greater roughness and a tendency to tangle.
What else gets affected? Just within the cortex, the disulfide bonds (gives hair its strength) and the pigment granules. The degradation of the pigment granules is why you’ll notice your hair color fading in the summer. The Cell Membrane Complex lipids are also affected, and their degradation leads to dull, brittle, and weakened hair.
Stay tuned to find out how to keep your hair healthy in these sunny, summer months!
UPDATE: Part II is now available here!
