Dr. Geetika Mittal Gupta Breaks Down SPF For Hair & If You Actually Need It

Dr. Geetika says, 'Yes, the hair strands can be affected by both UVA and UVB rays of the sun. UVA rays have been always known to penetrate deeper, that is what causes aging in the skin and similarly, when it comes to hair, it penetrates deeper, and not only breaks down keratin, the protein build up of the hair but eventually makes it very dry and brittle. Breakage can increase because of this.'

'UVB which is generally known for burning of the skin due to its shorter wavelength– primarily affects the outer layer which is the cuticle and thus it might fade the colour of chemically treated hair, leading to weakening of hair strands. Even discolouration of the hair can happen for others since sun exposure degrades natural pigments (melanin) in the hair.'

As mentioned by Dr. Geetika before, brittle and discoloured hair are a common sight for hair damaged by the sun. She lists a few more indicators below:

- Dry, frizzy and and rough hair.

- Lack of natural shine and lusture.

- Noticeable colour fading (especially in coloured or chemically treated hair).

- Split ends and frequent breakage

- Scalp sensitivity or flakiness (from UV-induced irritation)

Dr. Geetika says, 'Yes, you can definitely use products that help safeguard the hair from sun damage. These products contain sun filters like benzophenone and cinnamates and provide similar action to how your skin sunscreens do. These protective ingredients will form a layer on top of the hair shaft to block or reflect back the UV rays from getting absorbed into the hair. They help further with moisture loss since they form a layer on the outside. This also helps in preventing protein loss, thus keeping the hair texture and even colour intact too.'

Hair products with SPF come in a range of formulas like sprays, leave-in conditioners, serums, and even oils. These should be reapplied if you are spending long hours outdoors, especially after swimming. Dr. Geetika says, 'You don't have to wait for sunny days or beach days to wear sunblock. You have to wear it throughout for both hair and skin. A myth that people have is that the product will feel heavy and weigh down their hair. But you need to choose a product according to your hair texture, while also using the right amount of product'.

Aveda's Sun Care Protective Hair Veil is a lightweight hair mist which offers UV defense with UVA and UVB filters derived from wintergreen and cinnamon bark oils that also keep the hair from drying. The best part about this product is that it forms a protective layer to safeguard them from sun damage while feeling like nothing.

This one comes with SPF 30 protection, Coola Scalp & Hair Mist SPF 30 is the most accessible solution that helps protecting your hair from the sun's UVA and UVB rays since the brand is easily available in India. The formula is organic and water-resistant, and the fine mist doesn't weigh hair down or leave it looking greasy.

Clarins Sun Care Glowing Oil SPF30 is a dry oil meant for body as well as hair. It smells luxurious and coats the hair well, providing nourishment as well as sun-protection. The only thing with this one is that since it's an oil, you have to be careful about not applying extra on the hair since reapplication might make your hair oily.

Sunbum is one of the most popular suncare brands internationally. This one is a lightweight, fast-drying scalp mist with SPF 30. It is recommended to reapply this on your scalp every two hours when you are out and about. Also, pat dry your hair post swimming and excess sweating for thorough reapplication.