If your relaxed hair has been feeling drier than usual, more brittle, or just harder to keep moisturized during hot weather, sun exposure may be playing a part. UV rays can weaken the hair shaft over time. With relaxed hair being more prone to dryness and breakage, lots of direct sun exposure can cause the hair to feel even drier and break more.
The good news is that protecting your hair doesn’t have to mean buying salon-only products with a luxury price tag. Some affordable sprays can help shield your relaxed strands while keeping your style light and touchable.
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UV rays can contribute to protein breakdown in the hair shaft. Since hair is primarily made of protein, this can leave strands feeling weaker and more prone to snapping. Relaxed hair may notice these effects even sooner.
A few signs your hair may be dealing with too much sun exposure include:
Now this doesn’t mean you need to avoid the sun altogether. You just need to be more careful and give your hair a little protection by using a UV spray formulated specifically for hair.
Many UV sprays are formulated with ingredients that provide additional benefits that are good for relaxed hair. Benefits such as helping minimize moisture loss, maintaining softness and shine, reducing dryness, and protecting the hair’s protein structure from breaking down.
It’s got a lightweight formula that is easy to layer. You can use this on damp or dry hair. It's quick-drying, non-sticky, and has a fruity floral scent.
Because this is also a heat protectant providing up to 450-degree protection, it’s great to travel with. You can use it when you’re outside, and then when heat-drying your hair after washing it.
This Pantene UV spray
This does have a summer type of fragrance that includes notes of tropical fruit, coconut, sandalwood, and jasmine.
The directions for using it are: “Shake and spray on damp or dry hair prior to sun exposure. Reapply after a dip in the pool for added protection and repair.”
It seems perfect for beach and pool days with the SPF 30, and it not only does it help protect the hair, but it’s also formulated for scalp use. If you’re going in the water, this UV spray claims to be water-resistant for up to 80 minutes.
It claims to have a lightweight, non-greasy, non-sticky finish and provides some hydration.
The directions for applying it are: “Hold bottle 4-6 inches away and mist generously over hair and scalp. Apply 15 minutes before sun exposure for effortlessly sun-ready hair.”
Adding a UV protection spray may seem like a small thing, but it can help reduce dryness and keep your hair feeling softer throughout the season. And thankfully, you don’t have to spend salon-level money to try one.
If your hair tends to feel more brittle by the end of summer, this might be one of those simple changes worth adding to your routine.
Related read: Protecting Relaxed Hair From Sun And Wind Damage
How the sun can affect relaxed hair
Spending time outside can be great for your mood, but long hours in direct sunlight can be rough on your hair.UV rays can contribute to protein breakdown in the hair shaft. Since hair is primarily made of protein, this can leave strands feeling weaker and more prone to snapping. Relaxed hair may notice these effects even sooner.
A few signs your hair may be dealing with too much sun exposure include:
- Hair feels drier than normal, especially at the ends
- Hair feels rough even after moisturizing it
- Hair is breaking more
- Hair doesn’t feel as soft
Now this doesn’t mean you need to avoid the sun altogether. You just need to be more careful and give your hair a little protection by using a UV spray formulated specifically for hair.
What a UV protection spray is and does
A UV hair protection spray is a lightweight product designed to help shield your hair from the damaging effects of sun exposure. Just like sunscreen helps protect your skin from UV rays, these sprays create a protective layer over your strands to reduce the impact of prolonged time in the sun.Many UV sprays are formulated with ingredients that provide additional benefits that are good for relaxed hair. Benefits such as helping minimize moisture loss, maintaining softness and shine, reducing dryness, and protecting the hair’s protein structure from breaking down.
What to look for in a UV protection spray
Not every spray marketed for summer hair care actually offers much protection. If you’re shopping for one that works well with relaxed hair, a few things can help narrow down your options.Lightweight formula
Heavy products can make relaxed hair look limp or greasy, especially if you wear your hair straight. A lightweight mist tends to work better because it adds protection without weighing your style down.Added conditioning ingredients
Some sprays do more than shield against UV rays. They also include ingredients that help with softness, moisture, or frizz control. That can be especially helpful if your hair tends to dry out quickly in the summer.No sticky residue
If you’ve ever sprayed something on your hair and immediately regretted it because your strands felt tacky, you already know this matters. A good UV spray should disappear into the hair and not leave behind buildup.Related read: Top Humidity-Proof Products For Relaxed Hair
3 affordable UV hair protection sprays under $15
If you’re looking for options that won’t stretch your beauty budget, these are worth checking out. You can find all three at Target.1. Not Your Mother's Beat The Heat Thermal Shield Spray
While the name of this spray is more for a heat protectant, it also provides UV protection from sun exposure.It’s got a lightweight formula that is easy to layer. You can use this on damp or dry hair. It's quick-drying, non-sticky, and has a fruity floral scent.
Because this is also a heat protectant providing up to 450-degree protection, it’s great to travel with. You can use it when you’re outside, and then when heat-drying your hair after washing it.
2. Pantene Sunkiss Glow Spray UV Hair Protection Leave-In Conditioning Treatment
This is a new product release from Pantene, as of the writing of this blog post. While this spray was specifically made with UV protection in mind, it also has some other benefits that make it a pretty good option and overall deal when it comes to what you get for your money.This Pantene UV spray
- Protects against sun damage from UVA/UVB rays
- Protects against environmental stressors
- Enhances shine, helps smooth the hair, and detangles
- Helps repair damaged hair
- Helps improve moisture retention
- Protects against the drying effects of salt and chlorine damage
This does have a summer type of fragrance that includes notes of tropical fruit, coconut, sandalwood, and jasmine.
The directions for using it are: “Shake and spray on damp or dry hair prior to sun exposure. Reapply after a dip in the pool for added protection and repair.”
3. Hawaiian Tropic Hair & Scalp Sunscreen Mist SPF 30
If you don’t mind scents, you may like this one as it has Hawaiian Tropic’s signature light tropical scent.It seems perfect for beach and pool days with the SPF 30, and it not only does it help protect the hair, but it’s also formulated for scalp use. If you’re going in the water, this UV spray claims to be water-resistant for up to 80 minutes.
It claims to have a lightweight, non-greasy, non-sticky finish and provides some hydration.
The directions for applying it are: “Hold bottle 4-6 inches away and mist generously over hair and scalp. Apply 15 minutes before sun exposure for effortlessly sun-ready hair.”
How to apply UV protection spray on relaxed hair
Using these sprays doesn’t need to complicate your regimen. They are really easy to use, and you can get good results using these simple tips:- Spray lightly rather than soaking the hair
- Focus on the outer layer of your hair, since that gets the most sun exposure
- Don’t forget the ends, since they’re usually the oldest and most fragile part of the hair
- As noted in most of the product directions, reapply if you’ll be outdoors for several hours or are taking dips in the pool or ocean
- Use before heading outside, not after your hair already feels dry from the sun and heat
A small step that can help your summer hair routine
Give your relaxed hair extra care in the summer, especially when heat, humidity, and direct sun are all working against your strands.Adding a UV protection spray may seem like a small thing, but it can help reduce dryness and keep your hair feeling softer throughout the season. And thankfully, you don’t have to spend salon-level money to try one.
If your hair tends to feel more brittle by the end of summer, this might be one of those simple changes worth adding to your routine.
Check out these additional tips for summer hair care
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