How Pollution Affects Your Hair
Anti-pollution skincare isn’t new by any means but it’s definitely strange that we’re not as concerned about how much pollution affects our hair too. If you live in a city then this is going to be especially useful for you as there’s way more dust and grime in the air. This can have a lasting effect on your hair health and could be why it’s way more prone to breakage and greasiness.
As gloomy as this sounds we thought it would be good to share everything you need to know in order to protect your hair from pollution. These quick tips and clever products will make a big difference and could really help to improve your hair health so they’re totally worth it!
How does pollution affect your hair?
If you’re living in an area where there are increased levels of dust and smoke then all that grime will be deposited onto your scalp and your hair. These pollutants can build up and cause dry ends, dandruff, greasy roots and breakage as well as hair loss in some cases. Pretty scary, right? It’ll also make your scalp produce a lot more oil than usual which will make you wash your hair more, leading to even drier locks.
How can you protect your hair from pollution?
If you’re worried about pollution damaging your hair then we’ve found some really great hacks to protect it that you can incorporate into your daily routine. We’re not saying that you have to do all of these but trying out one or two of the tips will make a big difference!
Use A Shampoo That Contains EDTA
Tetrasodium Acid is a cleansing agent that grabs onto loose minerals and removes them which makes it perfect for overly polluted locks. Not only will it remove all the excess buildup but it also helps to soften hard water for a more gentle cleanse. One of our favourite shampoos that uses EDTA is the Bumble and Bumble Sunday Shampoo which will give your hair a deep but gentle clean.
Use A Protective Spray
We all know how important it is to protect your hair from heat damage but it’s just as important to make sure your hair is protected from environmental damage too. These protectants will form a barrier over your hair so that the dirt and grime can’t penetrate your locks and dry them out. There are a few dedicated products that can do this but we love the Philip Kingsley Daily Damage Defence Spray. It covers your hair from heat damage, pollution and UV rays while detangling and nourishing your strands at the same time to keep your hair looking super healthy. Just use a dust of this or something similar every morning and you’ll see a big difference in no time.
Cover It Up
The easiest way to protect your hair is by covering it up, either with a hat or by twisting it into a low bun as the less your hair is exposed the less it’ll get damaged. If you notice that your ends are feeling super dry then it might be worth covering up your strands a few days a week while you’re commuting, especially if you want it to look great at the weekend. If you need some inspo we’ve got a video with some
gorgeous hat hairstyles here that you might find useful.
Keep Your Hair Really Nourished
Pollution really dries out your hair so if you’re living in a city you’ll want to keep it as nourished as possible. Use a mask once or twice a week, switch to a moisturising shampoo and try and avoid salt sprays and dry shampoo as much as possible. To really recharge your locks we’d also recommend the Aveda Damage Remedy Intensive Restructuring Treatment. It includes quinoa protein and jojoba oil to rebuild your strands after environmental exposure while strengthening your hair and repairing damage.
We hope these quick hacks have you feeling a little more clued up on protecting your hair from pollution. We get that this is more for you city gals but it might make sense if you’re commuting everyday and you’re noticing more and more damage. If you found this useful then
click here to check out some more haircare posts that will really supercharge your locks.
