Wow!  Great hair-great colour!”
(previously published in The Experts Magazine)

Wow!  Great hair-great colour!” Those were the comments for the first few weeks of your new summer look.  Now, all of a sudden, it’s fading fast, and you know that your new look will soon be an old look – a dull, dry, tired look.

How did this happen so quickly?  Your hair color lasts longer than this.  If you faithfully use professional shampoo for color treated hair, chances are the culprit is ultra-violet light.  This ultra-violet light is part of the invisible spectrum of the sun’s rays and is responsible for many things. 

Probably, the most well-known claim to fame for UV rays is darkening of the skin pigment, or tanning.  In this process, the production of melanin or pigment is stimulated causing the skin to darken.  This is a protective measure to reduce the amount of UV rays penetrating to the deeper layers of the skin, causing further damage.

Another function of ultra-violet rays is sanitation.  Sunlight is a natural way to inhibit growth of some bacteria and molds.

Direct sunlight coming in through the window will fade the color on upholstery or carpets.  It will eventually fade the paint job on your vehicles.  Therefore, it is not surprising that UV rays will lighten your natural hair color.  It will only lighten a few levels, taking light blonde to almost white, medium and darker blonde to a golden hue and light /medium browns to an orange color.

If natural color can be lightened by UV exposure, then artificial color lightens even more quickly.  When permanent color is applied, it spends a certain amount of time lightening the hair, then it deposits the chosen color.  The ratio of time between lift and deposit depends on the strength of the developer used and the required color needed to achieve the result.  The color molecules deposited into the hair shaft escape over a period of time which is why artificial color both fades and grows out.  The ultra-violet rays accelerate this process considerably.

Unfortunately, exposure to sunlight can also cause the hair to become dry and damaged.  Now, your color has not only faded, but your hair is dry and lifeless.

If you want to enjoy your outdoor activities this summer, without compromising your hair, start using professional hair care products containing sunscreen.  Protect your hair from the sun with BC SUN Guardian.  It’s new – it’s great – it’s Solar Care Technology.  There are 3 steps to sun therapy for your hair:

Step 1:  Refresh – shampoo with aloe vera and allantoin to soothe hair  and scalp.

Step 2:  Protect –  leave-in conditioner with aloe vera and UV filters to maintain color brilliance

Step 3:  Repair -  with aloe vera and amino acids for intensive reconstruction and rehydration to leave in 10 minutes and rinse out.

It really is as easy as 1, 2, 3.

Don’t compromise.  Go ahead, enjoy your summer AND enjoy your hair.