Ask a beauty editor: Does my hair really need UV protection?
words by Sarah Tarca and Sherine Youssef
“Much like skin, the sun can also wreak havoc on the hair, dehydrating and stripping it of colour and natural moisture.”
Sarah Tarca and Sherine Youssef are Australian beauty editors and the founders of Gloss Etc, a weekly newsletter dedicated to the best beauty reviews, news and tips. With 20 years of experience and a wealth of product knowledge, they’re here to answer beauty questions from Fashion Journal readers each fortnight.
Hi Sherine and Sarah, I have a question about ‘UV protection’ hair products. Sun protection for your hair sounds like a load of BS; the dead strands of hair sprouting from our heads can be damaged by sunlight? Really? This has to be marketing spin to get us buying more product, right? – Brittany
We like nosy people. Don’t be shy, head to our Beauty section for more.
Gloss Etc: Sorry Brittany, not this time. Because we’re all sun safe girlies, we’re all well-versed in the many ways sun exposure can damage the skin. For starters, it’s the number one contributor to skin ageing, and in much the same way, it can also wreak havoc on the hair, dehydrating and stripping it of colour and natural moisture.
Ultraviolet rays can break down the lipids (fats) in the cuticle (the outer layer of hair responsible for keeping in moisture), and break down keratin, the protein that gives hair its strength and resilience. Think about what happens when you get too heavy-handed with the exfoliating acids and damage your skin barrier: your skin becomes reddened, flaky and just generally pissed off.
A damaged hair cuticle and loss of keratin can sap hair of its moisture and structure, and hair that can’t hold on to moisture just ends up looking and feeling dry, dull, brittle, frizzy and frayed. As a result, hair is susceptible to breakage and becomes unmanageable and no longer able to hold a style.

Sarah and Sherine, founders of Gloss Etc.
Dry hair is also more porous, making your expensive salon dye jobs more prone to leaching. In addition, the fact that sunlight also naturally lightens hair means those exxy highlights will turn brassy and fade even faster than usual. This is especially true of curly hair, which already leans dry thanks to its structure.
Even more important than your wallet woes, though, is sun protection for your scalp. This makes a whole heap of sense because your scalp is… skin. And we know you know how important it is to shield your skin from the sun. So yeah, it might feel weird to be popping sunscreen through your parting, but it’s so important to protect it with SPF, plus a hat or a sun umbrella. And don’t forget to treat your hair with nourishing, deeply hydrating products: shampoo, conditioner, masks and leave-in conditioners work a treat after a day at the beach.
As a side note, there is some research to suggest that finer or lighter hair is more susceptible to UV damage than darker or coarser hair, and bleached or grey/white hair (which has no pigment) is also at a greater risk to UV damage than its darker counterparts, so protection is always a good idea.
How to protect your hair and scalp from sun damage
Apply sunscreen to your scalp
Powders, mists, sprays – there are a lot of options out there, so find one you like because then you’re more likely to use it regularly. You don’t need a specific ‘hair sunscreen’ as any SPF spray will do, but if you like to keep your SPF separate, try Sun Bum Protecting Scalp & Hair Mist SPF 30 Sunscreen Spray, $22
Use heat-protecting hair products
Sachajaun Hair In The Sun, $45, pulls double duty, as a styling cream that also contains UV filters, while Aveda Sun Care Protective Hair Veil, $60, wraps hair in a light, invisible screen to shield it from UV rays.
Wear a hat
Bonus points if it’s one made from UPF 50 material, the textile equivalent to an SPF in sunscreen. Look to local brands like Tina M Copenhagen and Solbari for inspiration.
Use a sun umbrella
We’re bringing the parasol back, but now with UPF! It protects a wider vicinity and saves your cute hair style, too. NZ brand Blunt Umbrellas do the best ones we’ve found.
Got a question for Gloss Etc? Email it to editorial@fashionjournal.com.au with the subject line: ‘Ask a beauty editor’.
For more on UV protection in Australia, read this.
