As summer and trips to the beach approach, the same phrase keeps coming up: “sea water and the sun damage your hair.” So, fact or myth? LAO did the research for you!

Sea water

First of all, you should know that the effects of sea water depend on your hair type: whether it tends to be oily, or dry and damaged.

Sea water is made up of chloride and sodium (alkaline pH), which tend to dry out the hair by slipping under the scales of the strand and absorbing moisture from it. Sea water is said to be hygroscopic.

If you have dry, damaged hair that has already been exposed to harsh, stripping chemical products, sea water will weaken it even further and make it brittle.

However, if your hair tends to be oily, sea water has purifying properties. It can help regulate your sebum, absorb excess oil, soothe irritation and, thanks to its antifungal properties, reduce dandruff.

Sea water is an excellent natural exfoliant for your hair. It helps remove chemical or silicone residue at the roots. By gently massaging your scalp after a swim in the sea, you will also stimulate blood circulation, which promotes hair growth.

The sun

Protecting our skin from the sun has become a habit, but what about our hair, which is also exposed to UV rays?

UVA and UVB rays damage hair irreversibly, because hair is made of dead cells. By altering the outer layer of the hair shaft, the cuticle, UV rays leave hair dry, damaged and brittle and cause split ends.

UVA rays are mainly responsible for the lightening of your hair, while UVB rays promote the loss of the proteins found in your hair.

The sea water + sun combo can also affect your hair color. Brown hair can turn reddish and blonde hair can take on a blue/green tint.

Because exposure to chlorine and sun makes hair brittle and porous, it absorbs more easily the other chemical substances present in sea water that cause discoloration.

Anti-UV hair sprays exist, but they are made with chemical UV filters, since minerals would be too thick to apply on a head of hair.

Some of these filters are considered allergens and others are accused of being endocrine disruptors. So make sure you read the ingredient list of these sprays carefully before using them, and don’t overdo it!

What’s more, these chemical filters also contribute to the destruction of marine life: a 2008 Italian study proved that anti-UV molecules kill the micro-algae living in coral tissue, and many states have simply banned certain filters.

The state of Hawaii, for example, recently banned the use and sale of sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate in order to protect its reefs.

Wearing a hat remains one of the most effective ways to limit your hair’s exposure to the sun… and it makes for pretty great photos at the beach!

@jacquemus

Hair routine to adopt in summer:

First of all, before swimming in the sea, we recommend applying a vegetable oil to your hair. It forms a protective film and shields your hair from external aggressors... but not from UV rays!

Raspberry seed oil and wheat germ oil are very effective, and you can find them produced in France! Once you are out of the water, you can give yourself a light scrub by massaging your scalp: the tiny salt crystals in sea water will help purify your hair. (Don’t forget to protect your skin from the sun again after a swim, and to wear a hat.)

It is important to wash your hair with clear water after a day at the sea, and you can use your usual natural shampoo and conditioner. Finally, applying a mask to your lengths and ends will help care for your hair, depending on its type.

Sources