Dumb question about the sun lightening hair color...

[camillacamilla]

I was wondering this morning as I was examining my ends in the sunlight- just HOW does the sun bleach hair? I understand how chemical processes lift color, but how does sunlight? Told ya it was a stupid question, lol.

[canary4624]

I was just wondering this the other day. I don't have an answer for you, but it's not a stupid question at all. Sunlight also lightens fabrics, etc., though... hmm...

[Themyst]

The sun breaks the color molecules in hair apart, thereby making the color degrade.

Here's an interesting article that gives more detail:

http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/gen01/gen01217.htm

[ktani]

Here is more information on UV and hair.

"Blondes and redheads not only are more susceptible to skin cancer, but the source of their skin and hair pigmentation, melanin, actually magnifies the damaging effects of ultraviolet (UV) rays .... National Academy of Sciences.

Melanin filters out UV radiation, but the melanin in hair follicles, particularly in light hair .... increases the sun damaging effects of UV rays and causes cell death in the hair follicle .... Yale School of Medicine."
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=14930 (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=14930)

"gray hair undergoes more severe UV damage and needs more UV protection than dark brown hair."
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...&dopt=Abstract (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11382847&dopt=Abstract)

[Islandgrrl]

Here is more information on UV and hair.

"Blondes and redheads not only are more susceptible to skin cancer, but the source of their skin and hair pigmentation, melanin, actually magnifies the damaging effects of ultraviolet (UV) rays .... National Academy of Sciences.

Oh, now there's a happy bit of information....

[Anje]

Here is more information on UV and hair.

"Blondes and redheads not only are more susceptible to skin cancer, but the source of their skin and hair pigmentation, melanin, actually magnifies the damaging effects of ultraviolet (UV) rays .... National Academy of Sciences.

Eeeeeeeek!

[venividibxtchy]

Here is more information on UV and hair.

"Blondes and redheads not only are more susceptible to skin cancer, but the source of their skin and hair pigmentation, melanin, actually magnifies the damaging effects of ultraviolet (UV) rays .... National Academy of Sciences.

Anyone who hasn't got white hair has melanin in their hair -- there are just two different FORMS of melanin: Phaeomelanin and Eumelanin, and anyone who hasn't got either jet black or the lightest, lightest blonde will have some combination of the two, in varying degrees.