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Madeleine13
May 8th, 2016, 03:18 PM
I know that heat is not good for hair so I was just wondering if there is anything you can do about the heat from the sun when it is really hot in the summer :)

lapushka
May 8th, 2016, 03:19 PM
Wear a buff, or big headband for "regular" exposure. But I guess it depends on when you go out and if you actually lay/sit in the hot burning sun or not. I would worry more about UVA/B exposure (bleaching effect) rather than actual heat. I know in Belgium it doesn't get as hot as in the rest of Europe (like Spain, Italy).

Sarahlabyrinth
May 8th, 2016, 03:22 PM
Do you spend a lot of time in the sun? I use a white wide brimmed hat. Usually, I keep to the shade as much as I can.

kganihanova
May 8th, 2016, 03:23 PM
I never really thought about this. Maybe I should...what does summer heat do??

meteor
May 8th, 2016, 03:44 PM
While typical summer temperatures shouldn't be problematic for hair in terms of thermal damage (unlike heat styling tools, of course), photo-chemical degradation from UV rays can be a very serious problem, especially for longer hair (older ends, accumulated damage, etc) and with longer exposure to sun.

The only really reliable solution I know is keeping hair covered with sun hats/scarves/buffs (preferably from UPF-rated materials) and keeping hair really compact styles (buns) to reduce surface area of hair exposed to UV rays. You can spray your exposed canopy area with sun protection sprays, but unfortunately, it's hard to get proper coverage for all the hair IMHO, and, unlike SPF for skin, this is not a very regulated area... There are lots of UV filters out there with varying degrees of efficacy and different companies create their own measurements (e.g. Rene Furterer has created a KPF (keratin protection factor) protection measurement rating, L'Anza uses the HPF (hair protection factor) system, etc...), but no overarching methodology across the board.


More details on UV damage:
"Damage to hair due to UV light occurs due to free radicals or cysteic acid, which forms after UV radiation and breaks disulfide bonds." (Pande CM, Jachowicz J. Hair photodamage-measurement and prevention. J Soc Cosmet Chem. 1993;44:109–122)

Comparison on UVA and UVB damage:
"UVB radiation is responsible for hair protein loss and UVA radiation is responsible for color changes." (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19138021)
"Morphological damage is significant in UVB-irradiated hairs, while biochemical changes are greater in UVA-irradiated hairs."
"UVA irradiation can penetrate deeply into the cortex, and so biochemical changes, including cuticles and cortex together, may appear greater after UVA irradiation. On the other hand, UVB cause severe morphological damage, confined to the hair cuticles because of its restricted depth of penetration." The study "shows relatively more destructive cuticular changes after UVB irradiation than after UVA, while disruptions of the intercellular lipid layer show similar results between UVA and UVB irradiation. However, in labile protein analysis, damaged labile hair proteins are much more observed after UVA irradiation than after UVB irradiation." (http://journal.scconline.org/pdf/cc2008/cc059n02/p00151-p00156.pdf, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18408872)

Increase in porosity:
"Chemical damage (oxidative bleach) nearly triples the hair surface area in the first minute of bleaching due to the increase in the number of pores, followed by a sudden drop after 10 min of bleaching from smaller pores breaking down into larger ones. In contrast, UV damage shows an immediate loss in surface area in the first 200 hr of exposure and a gradual increase as exposure time continues." (http://journal.scconline.org/pdf/cc2008/cc059n04/p00303-p00315.pdf)

(More studies here: http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=136845&p=3187913&viewfull=1#post3187913)

meteor
May 8th, 2016, 04:04 PM
I never really thought about this. Maybe I should...what does summer heat do??

Kganihanova, apart from what the protein damage, intercellular lipid disruptions (cortex and cuticle level) and the link to studies I posted above, I should have added color changes from UV irradiation, of course.
UV rays can make artificial dyes fade faster, as well as natural pigment (sun-bleaching effect), and natural gray/white hair can tend toward yellowing after sun exposure (this is referred to as "photo-yellowing" in some studies I've seen):

- Hair color changes and protein damage caused by ultraviolet radiation: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15157906

- Photoaggravation of Hair Aging: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2938585/, http://www.ijtrichology.com/article....=99;aulast=Lee

- Photo yellowing of human hair: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17627835

- Ultraviolet damage on natural gray hair and its photoprotection: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11382847

- Photoageing of hair fiber and photoprotection: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8003327


I have never seen any research on summer heat being a problem for hair though. :hmm: (Obviously, one needs to keep hair moisturized in dry heat (low humidity), but that's a different issue.) If somebody can find any links to studies on this, I'd love to read them. :flower: There is thermal damage, of course (I've posted a compilation on studies on that here: http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=136845&p=3191167&viewfull=1#post3191167), but from the studies I've seen, that starts from ~ 47 C, sometimes more, depending on the study (so anything less than warm setting on blow-dryer setting should be fine, especially if it's not direct heat). If somebody finds more on this, please do share. :flower:

Anyway, it's a great idea to invest in a wide-brimmed sun hat (your skin will thank you for it, too). ;)

rhyebud
May 8th, 2016, 04:36 PM
I think the wide brimmed hat is a great idea.

I will usually wrap my hair in a scarf if I'm going to be out in extreme heat, or extreme wind, or any extreme really! I spent a whole week in the desert last year with my hair wrapped in a scarf and I was impressed with how little damage it suffered. Also a little shea butter mist can be really nice. Honestly I think the dryness of the desert was really the culprit for any damage and not so much the heat, but if you're concerned I would recommend the scarf wrap.

RebekahE
May 8th, 2016, 06:07 PM
How do you get the hat to work? I can put my bun super low and it still interferes with the hat.

meteor
May 8th, 2016, 06:18 PM
How do you get the hat to work? I can put my bun super low and it still interferes with the hat.

Great question! :D Since my bun is large, I can only keep it slightly covered under the brim, unfortunately, it doesn't fit into any hats I've tried. Using sunhats with straps under chin helps keep the hat on, even if it doesn't fit snugly due to protruding bun pushing the hat upwards.
Another solution is to use scarves or buffs from UPF-rated materials or to carry one of those UV umbrellas/parasols: thankfully, they are getting pretty popular even outside beach areas.

Sarahlabyrinth
May 8th, 2016, 06:25 PM
I altered my hat so that it balances well right on the top of my head 18th century style and also use elastic under my chin to hold it on. It really doesn't interfere with my buns.

http://i1253.photobucket.com/albums/hh582/Sarahlabyrinth/DSCF7888.jpg

Garnetgem
May 8th, 2016, 06:27 PM
I usually just comb in leave in conditioner in the hot weather and i wear it loose and i have never had a dry hair problem...on the good side summer heat speeds up hair growth.

RebekahE
May 8th, 2016, 06:29 PM
Thanks! Not sure I could put up with a hat, I'm afraid it'd be coming off all the time since I ride horses (even my darn cowboy hat with a stampede doesn't like to stay on when i'm competing). Does anyone know of some good videos I could watch for tying scarves/buffs? I ran into one last winter that had a young Jewish woman and I really like how she did it but for the life of me I cannot find it grr.

Complexity
May 8th, 2016, 06:35 PM
Wrapunzel. That's where I've spent a good chunk of my day haha. Though I imagine a quick YT search would bring up a whole bunch as well :)

Anje
May 8th, 2016, 06:37 PM
How do you get the hat to work? I can put my bun super low and it still interferes with the hat.

It's definitely easier with thinner or shorter hair -- mine's starting to make too-large buns for my hats of choice. That said, a more horizontal bun like an infinity bun, or two buns side-by-side at the nape of your neck should interfere less than one round one. :)

ETA: I recall this was a really good site for haircoverings, and it's got a bunch of styles for how to tie scarves around the head. http://www.tznius.com/

meteor
May 8th, 2016, 06:40 PM
Thanks! Not sure I could put up with a hat, I'm afraid it'd be coming off all the time since I ride horses (even my darn cowboy hat with a stampede doesn't like to stay on when i'm competing). Does anyone know of some good videos I could watch for tying scarves/buffs? I ran into one last winter that had a young Jewish woman and I really like how she did it but for the life of me I cannot find it grr.

Could it be Wrapunzel, by any chance? ;) Here is their website (http://wrapunzel.com/hair-wrap-tutorials/) and their YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2XCTY8ZiotLYahaaianj-w

For riding horses... hmm, I don't even know, that's a tough one... How about Frida Kahlo braid (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaMNBDjAcHw) (milkmaid braids with scarf woven into for some coverage) or maybe Elizabethan hair-taping with a scarf? Also, if you aren't outside for that long, I think going without a hat should be OK, especially if your hair is hidden in a compact style. You might want to spritz some leave-in UV protection product on the canopy hair. (And of course, SPF on partings and all over exposed skin.)

Wildcat Diva
May 8th, 2016, 08:51 PM
I'm not really sure if this thread is about general heat or sun exposure. Here it's HOT, I sweat, it's fine. I wear it up. Wear a hat if I am in direct sun, or a shemagh if I am prepared.

Anya15
May 8th, 2016, 11:31 PM
I am facing a major issue of scalp sweat. The high temperature plus humidity is making this happen. It was okay until last week, but this week it's really really bad. Not sure how to deal with it since frequent washing makes me shed. :(

pailin
May 8th, 2016, 11:41 PM
Normally is say that sun exposure is the only concern. General hot weather shouldn't be a problem. Especially if you think about it that some parts of the world which still have a big long hair tradition do get really hot- like India or Myanmar.


I am facing a major issue of scalp sweat. The high temperature plus humidity is making this happen. It was okay until last week, but this week it's really really bad. Not sure how to deal with it since frequent washing makes me shed. :(


Perhaps water-only washing might be an option on the days in between your regular planned washes?

I wash daily, partly because of sweat- it gets pretty hot here, especially April and May. And I use shampoo daily but my scalp needs that.

Entangled
May 9th, 2016, 05:00 AM
I altered my hat so that it balances well right on the top of my head 18th century style and also use elastic under my chin to hold it on. It really doesn't interfere with my buns.

http://i1253.photobucket.com/albums/hh582/Sarahlabyrinth/DSCF7888.jpg
Ooh! With a hat like that you could use a decorative hat pin!

Horrorpops
May 9th, 2016, 06:12 AM
I altered my hat so that it balances well right on the top of my head 18th century style and also use elastic under my chin to hold it on. It really doesn't interfere with my buns.

http://i1253.photobucket.com/albums/hh582/Sarahlabyrinth/DSCF7888.jpg

Gorgeous! I love this!

But yeah OP if I'm good I'll use a wide brimmed straw hat for outdoors stuff when its really hot and sunny. Unfortunately for me its really hot and sunny 95% of the time where I am and my number of sun-protected hair days is too low :laugh:

Rosamaria
May 9th, 2016, 08:59 AM
Oh, Sarahlabyrinth, that hat and bun combination looks so elegant!!

meteor
May 9th, 2016, 09:47 AM
Normally is say that sun exposure is the only concern. General hot weather shouldn't be a problem.

I definitely agree about UV rays being a problem, but normal summer heat itself not being a big issue for dead organic matter like hair (unlike thermal damage from hot tools, of course).


Especially if you think about it that some parts of the world which still have a big long hair tradition do get really hot- like India or Myanmar.

This reminds me... Darker hair pigment and some morphological differences (integral intercellular lipids) might actually play a role in the degree of hair's ability to resist UV damage. :hmm: :


It has been found that gray hair undergoes more severe UV damage and needs more UV protection than dark brown hair (Ultraviolet damage on natural gray hair and its photoprotection: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11382847).


African hair showed more severe damage on hair surface than others. The lipid compositions across human populations were similar, but Asian hair had more integral hair lipids than other groups as a whole. Especially, free fatty acid contents were higher than other lipids. After UV irradiation, lipid contents were decreased. These patterns were shown in all human populations. Asian hair has more integral hair lipid than European or African hair. After UV irradiation, European and African hair samples exhibited more damage because they have less integral hair lipids. However, Asian hair samples have less damage.
[...]
We determined that samples from Asians demonstrate higher levels of integral hair lipids than other groups. Free fatty acids, cholesterols, and wax esters were also higher in Asian samples. African samples exhibited higher levels of squalene, but overall, lipid content was lower for this group than for Europeans or Asians.
[...]
Damage to the integral lipid layer was similar across groups. Normal hair had a uniform lipid layer, but UV damaged hair displayed swelling of the lipid layer and disruption. The bulging of the lipid layer was mainly observed in samples exposed to UVA irradiation, and the disruption of the continual lipid layer was mainly observed in samples exposed to UVB irradiation.
[...]
We determined that Asian hair contains more integral hair lipids than European or African hair. After UV irradiation, African and European hair samples exhibited more damage than Asian samples. Therefore, we concluded that integral hair lipids may protect hair against UV light.
(The Ethnic Differences of the Damage of Hair and Integral Hair Lipid after Ultra Violet Radiation: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3582929/)

Inga-Marjukka
May 9th, 2016, 10:23 AM
I went to the supermarket today to pick up a sunscreen for skin and ended up finding one for my hair as well! It's called Calypso Sun-Sea Hair Protection and promises to condition and protect against sun, chlorine and dehydration. It contains argan oil, three sorts of keratin, panthenol and glycerin and feels nice so far. I've never really paid attention to sun-damage. Looking back my hair has often gotten a bit brittle in the summer though, but as a child it was the "summer hair" season because my hair would turn so much lighter than it was in the winter.

Wildcat Diva
May 9th, 2016, 01:24 PM
I am facing a major issue of scalp sweat. The high temperature plus humidity is making this happen. It was okay until last week, but this week it's really really bad. Not sure how to deal with it since frequent washing makes me shed. :(

My sweat just dries and honestly it's no problem. However, a misting bottle with some water and essential oils can be sprayed on roots to freshen up at the day's end. :D

Sarahlabyrinth
May 9th, 2016, 01:34 PM
Ooh! With a hat like that you could use a decorative hat pin!

Very true! :)


Gorgeous! I love this!

But yeah OP if I'm good I'll use a wide brimmed straw hat for outdoors stuff when its really hot and sunny. Unfortunately for me its really hot and sunny 95% of the time where I am and my number of sun-protected hair days is too low :laugh:

Thanks! ;)


Oh, Sarahlabyrinth, that hat and bun combination looks so elegant!!

Thank you Rosamaria :)

RebekahE
May 9th, 2016, 01:37 PM
I love that hat, definitely reminds me of 1800s (Love that era, if I could go back in time I'd want to go there). Thank you for the Wrapunzel that might be her. I found two scarves at an anitique shop today, will try them out later once they dry from being washed. I can get my hair to stay in a bun for riding if I braid it before I bun it. I just received my 5 prong Jeter fork in the mail today but I'm kind of clueless with what buns would work with it. I have it in a modified nautilus type bun right now.

Hailwidis
August 5th, 2016, 04:36 PM
I've also found a decent sunhat that leaves just enough room for a low bun. :) It's got a broad brim which keeps my face and neck fully protected.

Here's a picture taken when I was on holiday in Ireland, I've been wearing it a lot this summer.
http://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u529/Hailwidis/Hair/P1040661_zps9hxtxo18.jpg

The bun isn't really visible but it's just above the nape of my neck.

Overall it's functional (though it'd be even better with an elastic to secure it on windy walks), but it's nothing as stylish as yours Sarahlabyrinth ;)

rmani
August 6th, 2016, 05:13 PM
Super helpful thread! This is my first summer as a grey/white hair and I can attest to the yellowing.
I use a UV Buff when hiking/running. I had used a normal Buff years ago when I trained for my first marathon. Used it year-round (the part of Canada I am from we have heavy cold winters and humid hot summers. Hair nightmare).
Just bought this hat for an upcoming trip https://www.echodesign.com/p/metallic-floppy-hat-4671

Groovy Granny
August 6th, 2016, 05:50 PM
Super helpful thread! This is my first summer as a grey/white hair and I can attest to the yellowing.
I use a UV Buff when hiking/running. I had used a normal Buff years ago when I trained for my first marathon. Used it year-round (the part of Canada I am from we have heavy cold winters and humid hot summers. Hair nightmare).
Just bought this hat for an upcoming trip https://www.echodesign.com/p/metallic-floppy-hat-4671

Chlorinated water can also yellow hair, and some shampoos.

Last Summer I realized that ARGAN oil discolors white hair, so check your ingredients.
It disappeared after I clarified it and stopped the oil.

You may also just need a purple shampoo to cancel the yellow and brighten your silver.
Hubby and I use one with great results....1-2x/month
I clarify once a month....but he is fine as he uses no conditioner or other products.

Cg
August 6th, 2016, 05:56 PM
I have two of these https://www.sundayafternoons.com/p/sundancer-hat/. If I'm going to be in direct sun for more than a few minutes, I cover the exposed bun with a scarf or snood.

rmani
August 7th, 2016, 06:19 AM
Thanks Groovy Granny!

Groovy Granny
August 7th, 2016, 07:42 AM
Thanks Groovy Granny!

You're welcome :)

My info may not be complete ....or accurate lol ....but that is my (our) experience, that came to mind when you mentioned the yellowing.
Hubby and I both see it, but both have different causes, and treatments; our water doesn't seem to be a factor....he never needs chelating/clarifying.

Good luck :cheer:

Tassledown
August 9th, 2016, 12:18 AM
If you look on Youtube under "tichel" you'll find a lot of headscarf wrapping tutorials similar to Wrapunzel's work, however many are not really cross-compatible with hats. Hijab styles often are if you put your hair low enough, but obviously those can be awkward if you're not wearing it consistently. I use cloth snoods a lot when I need to have something on top (although it can turn out odd) and currently I have a hat that actually fits pretty well over a crown-braid with some hairtaping. I wish I'd gotten a picture but I am still working on that.