Fabulosamente Latina: Beauty & Style

Can Sun Exposure Damage Hair?

By Elizabeth Lilly for Fabulosamente Latina

The enviable sunlit look has inspired a multitude of sun-activated hair bleaching products. Unfortunately, the lightened look that hints at wellness and outdoor fun is actually a sign of UV damage. UV light has been shown to break down hair pigment and cause it to lose protein, making protection from the sun essential.

Lighter Hair, Beware
The sun can change your natural hair color, even if you already dye it. Blondes -- whether their hair color is natural or from a bottle -- are more susceptible to UV damage and should be especially careful. If you want lighter strands, score them with a controlled dye job rather than damaging sunlight. Avoidable signs of UV damage, like a sunburned scalp or weakened hair, make your hair look unhealthy and neglected.

Protect Hair
Chic scarves and hair wraps alone won’t protect your hair from UV rays. Consider using the level of protection you give your skin by donning a hat while you’re outdoors. This layer will put an effective barrier between your hair and those harmful sunbeams.

On days when hat hair may be an issue, style your hair without parting -- it will help you avoid a painful sunburn that will peel and flake off like dandruff. Also, use hair products that contain UV protection to help guard your tresses on a regular basis.

Minimize Damage
Just like skin, hair that’s been exposed to harmful UV rays can accumulate visible damage over time. Dull, sun-frazzled locks can be kept at bay with deep conditioning. (All dyed or chemically treated hair should be deep-conditioned on a regular basis, regardless.) Moisturizing products, like hair serum or smoothing lotion, can serve as temporary fixes for sun-damaged hair.

is a freelance writer based in New York City.

Fabulosamente Latina: Beauty & Style

After-sun Skin Care

By Robyn Moreno for Fabulosamente Latina

Soaking in the rays is the perfect way to spend an idyllic summer day, but looking -- and feeling -- like a steamed lobster is not cool! Plus, the sun is responsible for 90 percent of wrinkle damage to the skin. Luckily, lots of post-sun love and a little prevention go a long way.

Dr. Doris Day, dermatologist and author of Forget the Facelift, gives us tips on curing your ailing cuerpo.

Pop and Hydrate
Because the sun dehydrates, headaches can be brutal. Ibuprofen eases the headache the sun can bring, so take two as soon as possible. “It’s also important to drink water, juice or sports drinks to replace body fluids that are lost via sweating and sun exposure,” says Day.

Soothe With Home Remedies
There is a reason most people use aloe gel to treat sunburned skin. Aloe is a natural anesthetic, according to Day, that eases the burn. Other at-the-ready remedies include treating skin with a washcloth soaked in cold skim milk. The cold diffuses the heat, while the protein in the milk helps coat and comfort the skin. Day also loves mixing brewed white iced tea with honey and aloe and applying it topically. “The honey is nourishing salve in the skin, and caffeine is a natural anti-inflammatory. White tea is the highest of all teas -- more than green and black -- in antioxidants, which is amazing after a long, hot day,” she says.

Think Beyond the Beach
“Most sun damage comes from incidental exposure -- like when the sun hits you while you’re driving, and walking to and from your car. It’s important to use SPF all the time,” says Day.

Powder Up
These days, sunscreens don’t just come in creams and sprays. They come in powders that not only screen UVA and UVB rays, but also aren’t as heavy -- meaning they don’t clog pores -- so skin can breathe and glow.

Exfoliate
Sloughing the skin will prevent breakouts, an unfortunate side effect of the combination of sweat and sunscreen.

is a lifestyle expert and the author of Practically Posh: The Smart Girl’s Guide to a Glam Life.