Scalp and Hair Damaged: Summer Sun Protection Strategies

For most people, summer is a time that impacts their skin. Warm weather is now a time for sun cream, drinking water and protection from the sun. But, while hours of exposure to many of these environmental stressors is common to hair, issues like sun damaged hair are often overlooked.

With the growing awareness among dermatologists and hair care professionals of the importance of protecting skin from the sun becoming commonplace, scalp and hair protection has not necessarily become common practice.

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In summer, hair is subjected to UV exposure, humidity, salt water (and chlorinated water), heat, sweat, and washing more often. Dermatology and cosmetic science research reveals that these can progressively weaken the hair shaft, disturb the lipid balance and impact on the barrier function of the scalp in ways that may not be immediately apparent.

One reason it is hard to spot the damage to the hair at first is it can be slow to occur. The first noticeable changes are that hair can feel slightly rougher, less manageable or even more tangled before it becomes dry, loses colour, breaks, and splits at the end of the season. Many salon professionals say that this change becomes more obvious in late summer when it accumulates.

Growingly, holistic beauty and wellness magazines focus not solely on cosmetics styling but also hair care, scalp health, hydration, and environmental wellness.

UV Sun Exposure Damages More Than Hair Colour

Vitamin C and E are not only essential for hair health, they also help repair damage caused by exposure to harmful UV rays.

A great misconception regarding hair care in the summer is that it only applies to coloured hair. In fact, almost all hair responds to the effects of UV exposure.

Studies in cosmetic science have shown that the UV radiation can cause damage to the keratin proteins as well as oxidize the lipid layer on the hair surface. This will cause the hair fibre to lose its structural strength, flexibility and smoothness of the outside cuticle layer over time.

The scalp is also more susceptible than individuals realize, dermatologists note. Repeated direct exposure to the sun's UV rays can cause dryness, irritation and sensitivity in areas with less hair coverage or part lines.

This is why many people are changing their haircare regimen to focus on repairing their hair rather than just using shampoo and conditioner.

Consumer demand is growing for salon-grade products that can help restore moisture balance as opposed to just cleanse the hair when dealing with seasonal dryness, post-workout frizz, heat exposure or coarse texture.

One brand that frequently appears in these conversations is Davines, the Italian haircare company known for its sustainability-focused formulas and treatment-based approach. 

This brand can be incorporated into treatment routines for professionally treated hair or for hair that has suffered from damage caused by seasonal changes and/or chemical processing because they are formulated with hydration, bond repair, and scalp balance.

Their collection includes hydration masks, products for the scalp, strengtheners, and moisture-repair products, all designed to replenish moisture or repair environment-damaged, sun-damaged, or over-washed hair.

One of the reasons their products have become popular is that they don't do as much as harsher cleansing systems that can further dry or texture hair.

There are a number of formulas that many stylists find clients appreciate, as they help to nourish and protect the scalp barrier, lessen excessive dryness and preserve softness without weighing down the hair and depositing too much product.

The demands for hydration, comfort and lightweight repair have come into play more than ever before, as more and more individuals wash their hair on a regular basis in order to keep up with their workouts, outdoor activity and the changing weather.

There are also several other major brands competing in this space with their own distinct focus areas. 

Kérastase is often associated with luxury salon repair systems and targeted hair concerns, while Olaplex became widely known for bond-building treatments designed around damaged or chemically processed hair. 

Briogeo is more associated with clean ingredients, Redken, preferred in salon performance environments, and Moroccanoil, which is more popular for moisturising in dry or coarse hair.

Moisture from hair fibre is lost faster during summertime. Excessive water loss can occur from the hair shaft due to heat, direct sunlight and wind exposure, particularly in chemically processed or already dry hair.

Why Humidity Creates a Different Type of Damage

Humidity will impact hair differently than direct heat or sun.

As humidity increases, the hair shaft takes up too much moisture from the environment.

From the cosmetic science literature, it can be seen that this continuous swelling and shrinking of the hair fibre cause dis-alignment of the cuticle, leading to frizzy, tangled and uneven texture.

Curly and textured hair types are especially susceptible to these changes as hair structure will be more porous and responsive to moisture changes in the environment.

People tend to react by increasing the heat of their product during wet season to achieve smoothness. But stylists often advise against re blow drying or straightening already dry or compromised hair.

Articles on holistic wellness are becoming more frequent, and suggest that instead of trying to combat texture changes in the season, an effort should be made to balance environmental exposure with restorative care.

Chlorine And Salt Water Affect Hair Differently

The stress on the hair shaft is quite different in swimming pools and seawater.

Chlorine removes the natural oils from the scalp and hair. As time passes, dermatology observations reveal that this can lead to a decrease in the protective lipid layer, which results in hair that is rougher, drier and easier to tangle.

Blonde hair is particularly susceptible. Chlorine may affect trace metals in pool water, resulting in undesirable changes in colour or dullness with repeated exposure.

That’s not the case with salt water. Salt crystals may temporarily lend hair texture and bulk, but as they dry out they extract moisture from the hair. This makes the hair rougher and can make it harder to detangle, especially for sun-damaged hair, if repeated exposure without rinsing occurs.

It's recommended that people wash their hair right after swimming to prevent mineral and chemical accumulation and to promote the long-term health of their hair.

Scalp Health Is Often Ignored

During the summer months, it's common for people to only pay attention to their hair and neglect their scalp.

During the summer months, dermatologists say there are more factors that can disrupt the balance of scalp microbes, including increased sweating, makeup, sun exposure, and sunblock. This can cause itchy skin, overproduction of oil, flaking or irritation depending on skin type.

Overwashing often worsens the problem. Frequent shampooing strips protective oils from the scalp, which may trigger rebound oil production or increased dryness depending on skin type.

That’s why treatments for the scalp and sun-damaged hair are more prevalent these days in modern haircare routines. Besides conditioning products, lightweight exfoliation products, scalp serums, and moisture-balancing treatments are also gaining popularity.

Heat Styling Adds To Seasonal Stress

Summer naturally exposes hair to more heat even before styling tools are introduced.

The specific heat energy of dark-colored hair can cause the temperature of the hair surface to increase greatly in direct sunlight. In conjunction with the use of flat irons, curling irons or blow drying at high temperature, this can speed up the process of weakening of protein bonds in the hair fibre.

Thermal damage has been proven to weaken the structure of keratin bonds, which can result in split ends, loss of elasticity and permanent damage to the texture.

A lot of salon stylists are even adapting to reducing the temperature in the summers instead of the same temperature they would have in the colder months.

More people now wear protective hairstyles.More people are wearing protective hairstyles now.

Protective Styling Is Becoming More Common

Loose braids, scarves, hats, silk wraps, and low-maintenance hairstyles are gaining popularity across a variety of hair types, as they help reduce exposure to the environment during the summer months and protect sun-damaged hair from further UV-related stress and moisture loss.

Covering the scalp also greatly helps lower exposure to the sun, especially around part lines where there is thinning or exposure, dermatologists note.

The conversation about holistic wellness is now associated with longer-lasting, more in-depth hair preservation and protection strategies, not just with looks.

During the summer, there are no periods when nutrition and hydration do not affect hair.

Also READ - Choosing the Best Halo Hair Extensions for You

Nutrition And Hydration Affect Hair During Summer Too

Hydration status has been shown to impact function at the scalp level and deficiencies in certain nutrients can lead to increased shedding or decreased hair strength under environmental stress.

Protein is particularly crucial as hair is made up of keratin protein. Other nutrients that seem to help with supporting the function of the follicles and circulation of the scalp include iron, zinc, omega-3 fatty acids and some vitamins.

In the summer months irregular schedules, travel and eating changes may indirectly impact the health of the hair over time.

Air Conditioning Can Dry Hair Indoors

Another overlooked cause of hair dryness during the summer is the indoor climate.

The air-conditioned conditions cause the humidity to decrease, and this may also lead to the scalp and hair shaft becoming dehydrated after exposure, particularly in sun-damaged hair that is already more porous and prone to moisture loss. Humid outdoor air is frequently alternated with dry air indoors during the day.

This constant shift and change can lead to frizz, consistency, moisture instability and changes in hair texture.

This is why there has been a greater emphasis on moisturizing your hair during the summer months instead of just using a product to style it.

Damage to your hair usually accumulates over time during the summer.

Summer Hair Damage Is Usually Cumulative

You don't see immediate changes all the time after a beach day or pool visit. The hair fibre may weaken over weeks or months, however, with repeated UV exposure, chlorine, salt water, heat, and moisture loss can slowly weaken the hair fibre.

Many individuals will notice more of these problems – the shedding, colour fading, rough texture and split ends – by late summer, but won't realize that it is a result of many tiny environmental factors that went on for a long period of time.

Today's haircare discussions are more geared towards long-term scalp support, hydration balance, and protective maintenance. Both dermatology and cosmetic science share a focus on healthy hair practices, which include an understanding of the environment's impact on general well-being — in addition to hair care.

Sources

1. Robbins, C. R. (2012). Photodamage determination of human hair. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology, 106, 101–106. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1011134411002417

   
   

2. Gavazzoni Dias, M. F. R., Baby, A. R., & Kaneko, T. M. (2015). Hair photodamage: A review. International Journal of Trichology (PMC article). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4387693/

   
   

3. Hair Professionals Institute. (n.d.). Chlorine and hair: What happens when you swim. https://hairpros.edu/chlorine-hair-what-happens/

   
   

4. Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). The dirty truth about washing your hair. Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/the-dirty-truth-about-washing-your-hair

   
   

5. Cruz, C. F., & Costa, A. (2025). Hair fiber structure and environmental damage mechanisms. National Center for Biotechnology Information. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12701549/