Whether or not exposure to the sun is good for your hair can be a complex question to answer. We know the importance of guarding our skin against the sun with products like sunscreen, so should we be similarly shielding our hair?

The main concern people have when coming in contact with the sun is ultraviolet radiation. Ultraviolet radiation is a form of non-ionizing radiation that is emitted by the sun. Artificial radiation sources include tanning beds, some fluorescent and incandescent lights, and certain types of lasers. 

There are three different types of UV radiation. The ozone layer and atmosphere completely absorb ultraviolet C. However, most ultraviolet A rays and some ultraviolet B rays reach the earth and can influence the quality of your hair.

Prolonged exposure to the sun may damage your hair’s cuticles which are the outermost part of the hair shaft formed from dead cells and meant to act as protection. So, are there any benefits to exposing your hair to sunlight?

Believe it or not, sunshine can be good for your hair, and the reason is simple: vitamin D. Today, WOW Skin Science will explain the sun’s impact on your hair and the dangers of vitamin D deficiency.

Table of Contents:

• How Does Sunshine Impact Hair Growth?
• What Are Signs of Low Vitamin D?
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Reduced Endurance
• Aching Muscles
• Painful Bones
• Low Moods
• A Quick Caveat

How Does Sunshine Impact Hair Growth?

Your skin is covered in hair follicles. At the root of these follicles are sebaceous glands. These glands produce sebum, an oil that naturally lubricates your skin and hair. This waxy substance travels through the follicle and goes into your hair, moisturizing and protecting it. 

Both the sebaceous gland and follicle have vitamin D receptors. These have been shown to be essential for hair follicle integrity. Additionally, vitamin D is metabolized in the skin by keratinocytes. When your body’s vitamin D levels are too low, the keratinocytes in your hair follicles can have trouble regulating the growth of your hair.

Simply put, what all of this means is that if you do not have a healthy intake of vitamin D, you may begin to experience hair thinning or hair loss. There are even links between vitamin D deficiencies and hair loss conditions.

Sunlight is specifically important for your vitamin D intake because there are very few alternative ways to receive it. Not many foods naturally contain vitamin D, and most vitamin D is produced in your skin as a response to direct contact with ultraviolet light from the sun. This is why Vitamin D has been coined the sunshine vitamin.

What Are Signs of Low Vitamin D?

A vitamin D deficiency does not only affect your hair. Therefore, if you are still unsure as to whether your hair loss or poor hair quality is caused by diminished exposure to the sun, there are other symptoms that you can look out for. Here is a list of additional signs you may need to increase your vitamin D intake.

• Fatigue

Fatigue is one of the most commonly overlooked vitamin D deficiency symptoms. We tend to write off our fatigue because there are several other reasons we may feel tired and weak. 

That said, your body needs vitamin D to produce energy. 

A lack of vitamin D can cause you to feel tired and sluggish throughout the day. If you notice that you are feeling more tired than usual, do not ignore it — consult your healthcare provider to see if your vitamin D levels are low. 

• Dizziness

Unknown to many, Vitamin D plays an important role in helping your ears function properly. Vitamin D receptors in the calcium channel transport systems are located in the inner ear. These serve to maintain a proper balance of calcium. 

Low levels of vitamin D may disrupt this process. When calcium crystals located in your inner ear become dislodged, you may experience sudden bouts of dizziness, a spinning sensation, or nausea. This condition is actually called Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo. 

• Reduced Endurance

If you are physically active but notice that your endurance is decreasing for no apparent reason, the cause of your problem may be low levels of vitamin D. As previously mentioned, vitamin D plays a vital role in maintaining and increasing energy. 

Physically active people can sometimes experience low levels of endurance even if they believe they are getting enough sunlight daily. The good news about this symptom is that if a vitamin D deficiency is a culprit, your endurance will likely improve as soon as you raise your levels.

• Aching Muscles

Vitamin D plays an important role in supporting your muscle function. Vitamin D enters your muscles when metabolized and helps ensure proper muscle contraction. This process is also necessary for building and improving your muscle strength. 

If you are experiencing muscle pain that you are sure is not due to muscle exertion, there is a chance that it is due to low levels of vitamin D. Muscle pain that is unresponsive to basic muscle treatments is often on account of a vitamin D deficiency.

• Painful Bones

Even as an adult, old bone tissue is regularly replaced by new tissue. Vitamin D is vital for this replacement, meaning that your bones may soften in the case of a serious deficiency. This is called osteomalacia or adult rickets and may even lead to osteoporosis. 

Muscle pain can very closely resemble bone pain. However, it is possible to differentiate between the two. Aching bones are often felt as a broadly spread pain while aching muscles tend to be centered in a specific location.

• Low Moods

Vitamin D is not only an important factor in your physical health but also your emotional health. The areas of your brain that determine your mood have vitamin D receptors, so low vitamin D levels can affect your brain cells. 

Though there is not enough research to confirm the link between low vitamin D and low moods, evidence suggests that vitamin D can increase certain neurotransmitters called monoamines, including feel-good substances like serotonin and dopamine. 

Not having enough of these chemicals in your brain can cause you to feel low. This is believed to be one of the reasons why more people experience low moods during the winter, when there is less sunshine.

A Quick Caveat

Now that you know the importance of getting enough vitamin D, you may feel tempted to go lounge in the sun. While the sun is good for your hair, too much sunlight can damage your locks by drying them out and making them brittle, often resulting in split ends. Overexposure to the sun’s ultraviolet light may also damage your scalp, leading to unwanted dandruff. 

To keep your hair safe while soaking up the sun, try using a heat protectant spray for your hair. Several sprays on the market are designed to reduce heat damage. If you are already dealing with sun damage, invest in a hair mask to rejuvenate your hair back to health.

We recommend the WOW Skin Science Moroccan Argan Oil Hair Mask. Our formula consists of nutrients like sunflower biolipids, wheat protein, and argan oil that can bring new life to hair that was previously damaged by UV light. Additional benefits of the mask include treating hair damaged from dyes, heat or chemical styling, and other daily wear and tear.

To use our Moroccan Argan Oil Hair Mask, apply the product all over your damp hair from roots to tip. Gently comb through your hair to spread evenly, and then let the mask sit for 10-15 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with warm water and then rinse again with cool water to seal the cuticles.

If your accrued sun damage has prompted hair loss, there are remedies for this as well. Try using WOW Skin Science 10-In-1 Hair Oil. Our moisturizing oil is specifically designed to support hair growth. 

Apply a few drops of hair oil 30 minutes before showering, or let it rest overnight. Using your fingertips, massage your scalp and leave it on until you shower. Wrap your hair with a hot towel to open the hair cuticles for improved results. Shampoo and condition as usual to remove the hair oil.

That being said, the sun is not only good for your hair’s health but necessary. The benefits of vitamin D extend beyond keeping your hair looking and feeling good. An appropriate intake level will support your overall well-being. 

However, any contact with the sun must be done with care and in moderation. Keep your hair and skin safe by applying the appropriate products, and go out of your way to support your hair’s health by treating it with moisturizing masks and oils.

Explore the WOW website for more natural hair care products. From our all natural sulfate, silicone and paraben-free hair care collection we recommend Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo and Red Onion Black Seed Oil Shampoo. And if you would like to learn more about apple cider vinegar's benefits or onion oil's benefits check out our ultimate guide on how to use them on your hair.