Long ago, surfers used a strange chemical cocktail of wax, sun, and salt water to achieve the infamous sun-bleached surfer hair color.
These days, information spreads faster and faster, and urban legends about maintaining a tan all year round are no longer considered a healthy practice or lifestyle.
Surfers are more exposed to the elements such as UV rays, sea water, sand and wind than non-surfers.
UV rays and salt water are surfers’ best allies when it comes to healthy hair and scalp, but they are also their worst enemies.
As we age and are exposed to these powerful factors over long periods of time, the risks and disadvantages outweigh the benefits.
Now that we’ve identified the positive and negative effects of sunlight on surfers’ hair, let’s look at the effects of salt water:
Surfers of all ages should take simple steps to mitigate the harmful effects of long, daily exposure to the sea and sun.
Here are ten simple steps you can take in your daily life to improve the health of your hair and scalp.
We often hear that people need daily sun exposure to ensure adequate absorption of vitamin D.
The truth is, your hair doesn’t necessarily need direct sunlight—your body needs it for overall health, including healthy hair.
Adults need about 15 mcg of vitamin D per day, which can be obtained from sunlight, supplements, or foods fortified with vitamin D, such as fatty fish, egg yolks, and fortified foods.
The amount of sunlight needed depends on factors such as the percentage of your body surface area exposed to the sun, the time of year, and the climate.
In summer, a few minutes of exposure to 25% of the body may be sufficient, whereas in colder winter regions, up to 2 hours of exposure may be required, with 10% of the body exposed.
It is important to note, however, that your scalp and hair do not need to be directly exposed to the sun to benefit from vitamin D—it only needs to be absorbed through the skin.
Although sunscreen can reduce UV absorption, it is critical to limit unprotected exposure according to the UV index and skin sensitivity.
Interestingly, lack of sunlight itself does not cause hair loss—it is vitamin D deficiency that can accelerate the loss of existing hair.
Studies have shown a link between vitamin D deficiency and excessive hair loss in conditions such as telogen effluvium (rapid hair loss due to stress) and androgenetic alopecia.
However, increasing your vitamin D intake is unlikely to stop or reverse hair loss, although it may help prevent further hair loss.
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Let’s be honest, if you’re a regular working person with responsibilities, Saturday mornings are probably the only time you can surf.
The monofin was the first step in the evolution of the modern surfboard tail fin design. It also revolutionized the way we surf.
Big waves are a thrill for surfers of all ages, and the feeling of riding a solid, perfect cylinder of liquid over your head is indescribable.