KEMA Column
While many people reapply sunscreen to their face, few have started protecting their hair from UV rays. However, your hair sits at the highest point of your body and faces the sun without any obstruction. It is said that the amount of UV radiation the head receives is two to three times that of the face, and unlike skin, once hair is damaged, it cannot heal itself. In this installment, we will break down how UV rays affect hair, how to protect it during the day, and how to care for it after exposure, in step-by-step order.
UV Rays Destroy the "Inside" of Your Hair
The main component of hair is a protein called keratin. UV rays (especially UVB) break the bonds of this protein, gradually destroying the hair's internal structure. At the same time, the proteins and lipids in the cuticle that protect the surface are oxidized and degrade. When the cuticle lifts and peels away, it creates a "porous" state where internal moisture and proteins can easily escape.
The resulting effects are coarse texture, loss of shine, and breakage or split ends. While skin can regenerate through cell turnover after a sunburn, hair is a collection of dead cells and cannot self-repair. Any damage incurred during the summer will inevitably arrive as a "bill" once autumn comes—which is precisely why prevention before exposure is more important than anything else.
Color-Treated Hair Needs Special Attention—Fading Progresses with "Light"
For color-treated hair, UV rays are an even more formidable opponent. The dyes inside the hair are broken down by UV rays, causing colors to turn yellowish or fade into reddish tones. High-tone colors involving bleach and ash shades are particularly prone to rapid fading because both melanin and dye are broken down, making it not uncommon to find that "the color dyed in July has already changed by August."
Additionally, hair that has been repeatedly colored or permed already has a cuticle that is more prone to opening, leaving it in a state more susceptible to the effects of UV rays than healthy hair. If you want to enjoy your fresh hair color for a long time, it is correct to think of UV protection as part of your color care routine.
Don't Forget About Scalp Sunburn
The roots of your hair, along your part and crown, are the most exposed areas on your body and the most prone to sunburn. When the scalp gets sunburned, it causes not only redness and stinging but also dryness and stiffness, which disrupt the environment around the hair follicles and affect the condition of hair yet to grow. Healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp—a summer scalp sunburn is a debt to your future hair.
If you wear the same part every day, that single line is continuously exposed to concentrated UV rays. Small adjustments, such as changing your part occasionally or applying a UV mist to your part before going out, can be effective.
Protecting During the Day—A Two-Pronged Approach of "Blocking" and "Veiling"
The foundation of hair UV protection is to physically block it. A wide-brimmed hat is the surest way to protect both your scalp and hair, and using a parasol together can cover even the hair falling onto your shoulders. In Korea, the use of summer parasols has become firmly established regardless of gender, and the sentiment that "the best thing is not to be exposed to the sun at all" is widely shared.
On days when you can't wear a hat, use a "veil" of UV-cutting hair mist or spray. Ideally, spray it over your entire head and part as the final step of your morning styling, and reapply it before going out during the day. Furthermore, simply tying your hair up reduces the surface area exposed to UV rays. A loose updo is also a practical summer hairstyle.
On Days After Exposure, End the Night with "Repair"
No matter how careful you are, you cannot reduce summer sun exposure to zero. That is why after-care on the night of exposure is so important. First, gently wash away sweat, sebum, and any sprays applied during the day with shampoo. Because your scalp may be in a state of mild inflammation on days when you've been in the sun, avoid using water that is too hot and use lukewarm water instead.
Follow this with a treatment to replenish the proteins and moisture that have likely leaked out. UV damage occurs inside the hair, so coating the surface is not enough. Apply an internally penetrating repair treatment, focusing on the tips, and let it sit for several minutes before rinsing. Creating an oil barrier with leave-in care at the end provides a modest defense against the next day's UV rays.
Daily Habits: KEMA's Popular Items
KEMA's repair line is designed to deliver repair ingredients to the deepest parts of the hair using advanced liposome technology, replenishing proteins lost to UV rays from within. Make it the cornerstone of your summer after-care.
KEMA Crema Shampoo
★★★★★ Protein replenishment while washing
Infuses hair with four types of protein—keratin, silk, collagen, and wheat—while washing. Replenish components lost to UV rays with your daily shampoo.
¥9,020 (tax included)
KEMA Crema Treatment Black
★★★★★ For intensive care after sun exposure
A highly moisturizing treatment that fills hair with moisture from within using proteins, amino acids, and natural oils. For after-sun care on damaged hair.
¥11,990 (tax included)
KEMA Miracle Bond Balm
★★★★★ Leave-in high-repair care
A leave-in treatment that restores color-damaged hair from within. Protects the ends of summer color-treated hair, which fades easily, as part of your daily finishing routine.
¥4,290 (tax included)
KEMA's Inherited Korean Aesthetic
At the root of KEMA lies the Korean aesthetic of order, balance, and harmony. Summer UV protection is nothing more than the practice of balancing the season with your hair—not by avoiding the sun and staying indoors, but by properly blocking what needs to be blocked and carefully replenishing what has been lost. When summer ends, may your hair shine as if "nothing ever happened." Start your dual approach of prevention and repair today.
Replenish as much as you've been exposed to
Please try KEMA's repair line to restore UV damage from within.
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