Can your hair stand the heat?

WITH scorching heatwaves sweeping the UK this summer, how do we look after our hair and scalp?

- BY LARA OWEN

Here, top trichologists and stylists tell us what we should be doing to protect our hair from the sun.

What damage does UV actually do?

Prolonged sun exposure can wreak havoc on your hair.

“UV rays act on your hair in a similar way to bleach,” says Philip Kingsley’s president and trichologist Anabel Kingsley. “They oxidise pigment, degrade protein structure and damage the chemical bonds that hold the hair together.”

And it doesn’t stop there. “The scalp is skin, and it can burn just like any other area,” says Anabel. “Sunburn on the scalp can cause soreness, flaking and long-term damage like accelerated follicle ageing - and even skin cancer.”