Summer is coming back around and it’s the perfect opportunity to get that Vitamin D we’ve all been missing, with social distancing in mind of course… When we think of getting in that summertime kind-of-vibe, we all have our own checklist of things to bring. More than likely, sunscreen is on that list. We know better than to put our skin at risk. However, something many people overlook is the effect the sun can have on our hair. Just like the rest of your body, your hair requires some care when spending long periods of time under the sun. From the saltwater and chlorine to the heat and UV rays, taking care of one’s hair during the summer is just a matter of taking a couple extra, but important, safety steps.
Cover Your Head
One of the easiest ways to protect your hair and scalp from sun damage is to wear a hat when long exposure to the sun is expected. If you are concerned about the potential of losing your hair from wearing hats, you can put your worries to rest. It is a myth that wearing a hat and losing hair are correlated. This myth is commonly believed because of the general knowledge that heat and pressure can restrict blood to the hair follicles. However, one would have to wear their hat so unnecessarily tight for a long period of time for that to play a role in any hair loss. It is suggested, however, that hats made from natural fibers like wool or cotton will allow your hair to breathe much more than those made from silk or nylon. These materials can very easily overheat your hair.
It is also important to keep clean any cap or hat you may use. Wearing a hat when under the sun will cause a buildup of sweat, dirt, and bacteria. One can rotate hats to minimize how often they have to wash it. An unclean hat can cause skin irritations when in constant contact with skin.
Oil Treatment
Though it may sound like it, oil treatments don’t have to be anything fancy or complicated. It can be as simple as applying a mix of olive oil or coconut oil or sesame oil with Vitamin E oil and massaging it into your scalp. The purpose of this tip is to mitigate how much oil and moisture your scalp/hair can lose during those hot summer days. This can prevent one from getting an irritated scalp or dry, coarse hair. This will also promote healthy blood flow to your hair follicles through the massaging of the scalp.
Coconut oil is highly recommended for healthy hair as it has many beneficial properties. It is a natural way to help your hair grow longer, thicker, and faster. The vitamins and essential fatty acids naturally found in coconut oil nourish the scalp and help to remove sebum build-up from hair follicles.
Go Easy On The Booze..Drink Water Instead!
It can be difficult to resist the temptation to quench your thirst with your favorite drink. However, it’s very easy to forget how alcohol can dry out your body. Aside from its effects on your body, it can also negatively affect your hair. Due to alcohol’s nature, heavy alcohol consumption can result in dry and brittle hair. This makes it more likely that these follicles can fall out. Moreover, dandruff can become a symptom of heavy alcohol consumption. Other symptoms of heavy alcohol consumption that would contribute to hair loss are raised estrogen levels and reduced zinc levels.
Aside from mixing alcohol with a hot summer day, it has its own negative effects on skin. As far as skin is concerned, alcohol can dry this organ out as well. From premature aging to blotchy skin to broken capillaries and visible veins ⎼ alcohol not only significantly changes your appearance but can cause irreversible damage.
Heavy drinking can also promote weight gain due to the empty calories and no nutritional value. It also makes it even more difficult for your body to burn fat. This is due to the damage alcohol has on the body’s liver, as it decreases its ability to process fat.
The answer does not necessarily have to be to quit drinking. The issue isn’t so much drinking alcohol as it is not drinking the necessary amount of water. If you do choose to drink on your next beach day, just be sure to consume tons of water to mitigate the effects of the alcohol.
Include Vitamin-Rich Foods In Your Diet
The same way that a vitamin-rich diet can benefit all aspects of your body, it especially plays a role in the health of your hair. Creating a diet that is not only healthy but also contributes to healthy hair growth is not very difficult. At the end of the day, it is up to you to determine if supplemental vitamin pills/powders are also necessary. However, checking with your doctor is definitely suggested before doing so, as you may be getting enough from your diet. If you have any questions regarding hair loss solutions or any of our other services, feel free to contact us! The main vitamins that are beneficial to your hair are:
- Vitamin A: You can easily get your daily dose of Vitamin A through a well-balanced multivitamin or even through dietary supplements like Cod Liver Oil which are also available in pill form. Though taking Vitamin A in pill form is an option and a popular one, the supplement might not offer the same benefits as naturally occurring antioxidants in food. Just a few Vitamin A-rich foods you can easily add to your diet include: Pumpkin, Kale, Carrots, Sweet Potatoes, Spinach, Mangoes, Eggs, & Milk.
- Vitamin B: In general, B-vitamins help carry oxygen and nutrients to your scalp, which aids in hair growth. Specifically, these vitamins help create red blood cells, which carry oxygen and nutrients to the scalp and hair follicles.To have not just a Biotin-rich, but a well-rounded B Vitamin-rich diet, be sure to include foods such as: Salmon, Leafy Greens, Avocados, Liver (and other organ meats), Eggs, Milk, Beef, Oysters/Clams/Mussels, Sweet Potatoes, Broccoli, Chicken/Turkey, Yogurt, Nutritional and Brewer’s Yeast, Pork, Fortified Cereal, Trout, and Sunflower Seeds.
- Vitamin C: Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is necessary for the growth, development and the repair of all body tissues. This plays a role in the health of hair since it is the largest tissue of the human body (As we learned from reading about Vitamin A). This vitamin is a strong antioxidant that helps fight against oxidative stress caused by free radicals. Free radical damage can cause a blockage in growth, thus causing your hair to age. Moreover, graying is also affected by free radicals. Being an antioxidant, Collagen may be able to fight this damage and slow graying.
- Vitamin D: Vitamin D is a group of fat-soluble secosteroids responsible for increasing intestinal absorption of calcium, magnesium, and phosphate, and multiple other biological effects. Studies have shown a direct correlation between Alopecia (a technical term for hair loss) and low levels of Vitamin D. Additionally, research also shows that vitamin D may help create new follicles – the tiny pores in the scalp where new hair can grow.
- Vitamin E: Vitamin E is the collective name for a group of fat-soluble compounds with distinctive antioxidant activities. The term “Vitamin E” describes eight different compounds. Alpha-tocopherol is the most active one in humans. Similar to Vitamin C, Vitamin E also plays a role in lowering oxidative stress, thus directly impacting the hair health.
If you’d like to learn more about the top 5 vitamins for hair growth, read our article here.
Shampoo After A Swim
Though shampooing your hair everyday can be counteractive towards its health, it is a good idea to get into this habit after days you spent at the beach or pool. A day at the beach or pool can leave a lot of debris, sand, and chlorine that can block the pores on the scalp and restrict proper hair growth. Moreover, the sand and salt that may collect on your scalp while at the beach act as a sort of mirror/magnification glass for the sun’s UV rays. This further dried out the scalp due to the prolonged exposure to high heat.
During the summer months, it is also suggested that hair dying and coloring be lessened or suspended as the chemicals from these hair coloring/bleach can interact negatively with long exposure to the sun. This can also result in a waste of money spent because the dryer one’s hair becomes, the more likely any coloring they may have will prematurely fade.
Be sure to also condition your hair as a proper conditioner can further moisturize your hair.
