Sun-Damaged Hair: How to Revive It in 5 Easy Steps

Is sunlight good for hair? 

Sunlight weakens the protein structure of your hair and saps out moisture, which can lead to reduced elasticity and more breakage.  

Does the sun make your hair lighter?

Hair can often become lighter after continued exposure to the sun because sunlight bleaches out the melanin (this is the pigment that contributes to your hair being colour is it is) contained within your locks.

There are other ways to lighten your hair if that’s the look you want to go for – without necessarily exposing yourself to sunlight! Check out our article with four ways to go blonder. 

Sun-damaged hair symptoms

Sun damaged hair symptoms can include discolouration, dry and brittle strands, broken or split ends, thinning and frizziness. You may also find your locks feel drier than usual, which means they’ll be harder to style in the way you want. 

How to protect hair from sun damage

From sun protection for hair to what to do when the damage is done, here’s our roundup of all the tricks and recommended products for looking after your locks this summer.


1. Be Prepared

Hot weather is great, but it also means… frizzy hair! As such, we’d recommend prepping your hair before you even head out into the sun with our Frizz Ease 10 Day Tamer Pre-wash Treatment – simply apply evenly from root to tip when your hair is completely dry and leave for 8-10 minutes before rinsing thoroughly in the shower.  

2. Use a sun hair product for protection

Beat the rays and protect hair from sun with a sunhat or protection spray. Don’t forget to give some extra love to your ends; they’re older and prone to more damage. Run a few pumps of Frizz Ease Miraculous Recovery Repairing Serum through the tips of your hair to help seal split ends and restore dry heat-damaged hair.

3. Add a surge of moisture

Hair needs moisture at the best of times, but even more so in the sun! A good moisturising shampoo and conditioner can really save the day. Quench your hair’s thirst with a long drink of Frizz Ease Miraculous Recovery Shampoo and Frizz Ease Miraculous Recovery Conditioner. Don’t forget to finish with a cold blast of water to seal in the goodness. For more tips on how to keep your locks from feeling thirsty, check out our guide to hydrating hair at home.

4. Nourish your locks

Just like a green smoothie after over-indulging, Frizz Ease Miraculous Recovery Deep Conditioner is the life-restoring miracle damaged hair needs. Enriched with Milk Protein and Avocado Oil, this deep conditioner gives silky-smooth softness and shine, contributing to conditioned and healthy-looking hair.

5. Repair

Much like heat damaged-hair, sun-damaged hair can be prone to breakage, which is why it’s important to take steps to repair and nourish your locks.

While your hair is feeling a little delicate, it’s best to go easy on it. Brush occasionally, and very gently. Use products designed to repair damage and restore strength like Full Repair Strengthen + Restore Shampoo and Hydrate + Rescue Deep Conditioner.  

Enjoying the sun needn’t spell the end for your lovely locks. We’ve covered how to prep, protect and repair your hair this summer, so enjoy it while it lasts! For more advice on reversing damage for coloured hair, check out our guide to quenching your locks after bleaching.