Does sauna use benefit or damage your hair?

According to our Sunasusa team research, personal beauty depends greatly on hair health, and many people spend a lot of money on cosmetics to make their hair look better. But as we get older, the quality of our hair frequently declines, and hair shafts cannot function as well as they once did.

There are both non-surgical and surgical ways to deal with this problem. We’ll talk about a new personal hair development tool and examine how infrared treatment can help promote better hair in today’s article.

Table of Contents

The Science of Hair: Heat Damage and Growth

Hair is technically dead and looks like nails. Even with its “dead” status, hair needs to be kept in check and kept healthy. The hair shaft’s outer top layer, which resembles covering a form, determines its look and feel. Hair seems healthy when its outer layer is smooth; when it is open, hair may appear curly and lifeless.

The heat from saunas and shaping appliances damages hair by causing the cuticles to open, increasing the risk of breakage. By increasing blood flow to the scalp, they encourage the growth of hair. Open pores may improve the way conditioner and treatment absorb moisture from the hair, which could improve the texture of the hair.

Read also: Is a sauna helpful for asthma?

Hair Loss Reasons

There are the following reasons for hair loss, given below:

Stress: Because stress puts the body in a long “fight or flight” mode, stressful life events can cause hair thinning or loss. Regular use of an infrared, steam, or traditional spa helps promote natural hair growth by restoring the autonomic nervous system to a relaxed state.
Autoimmune Disorders: Extended stress may worsen autoimmune diseases, which can lead to hair loss. By stimulating a transition to the autonomic state, spas can help in relaxing and improving hair growth.
Male Pattern Baldness: Although red and near-infrared light treatment is thought to enhance hair development by increasing blood circulation and metabolism, male pattern baldness is typically irreversible. Red light treatment combined with full-spectrum infrared spas may have benefits.

How Do Saunas Benefit Your Hair?

Complete Detoxification and Cleaning: By using heat and steam to open up the hair shafts, saunas provide a thorough cleansing for your scalp and hair. This facilitates the flow of natural oils, which cleanse and refresh the scalp to promote healthy hair growth while eliminating dirt and product buildup.
Enhanced Blood Flow and Hair Development: Steam room heat increases blood flow to the scalp, supplying essential nutrients and oxygen to the roots of the hair. In addition to gaining hair volume, this improved circulation stimulates hair shafts, encouraging healthier and possibly faster hair development.
Effect of Natural Moisturising: Spas prevent dryness and weakness in hair by using steam to naturally hydrate the strands. By reducing damage and maintaining flexibility, this hydration keeps hair strong and smooth.

How to Protect Your Hair in a Sauna?

Saunas are excellent for releasing and cleansing; the intense heat and humidity can damage hair. Your hair may become weak and dry with long heat exposure, which raises the possibility of damage and split ends. The increased humidity may cause roughness and make hair more difficult to manage. It is crucial to take the right care to safeguard your hair to maximize the benefits of sauna use while reducing harm.

Pre-Sauna Hair Care Tips

You should always protect your hair from the heat and humidity by wearing hair protection before you enter the sauna. Consider the following pre-sauna hair care advice:

Tie your hair up: During your sauna session, keep your hair tied back in a clip or band to avoid sticking and damage. Use a flexible hair tie to reduce pulling and breaking.
Use a hair mask: Before going to the sauna, protect your hair by using a healthy hair mask. Select a mask that adds moisture by using components like cocoa butter, argan oil, or protein. Wash it out after allowing it to soak for 10 to 15 minutes.
Use a conditioner: You may help protect your hair from heat and humidity by using a light conditioner. Apply it before pulling your hair back to keep it hydrated without making your curls seem weighed down.
Avoid hair products: Hair products should not be used before a sauna session since they can gather up on the scalp and hair, blocking pores and possibly causing damage.
Wrap your hair in a towel: Before going into the sauna, cover your hair with a soft, absorbing towel to further protect it from the elements. You may keep moisture and lessen your exposure to heat.

You can protect your hair from breakage, heat damage, and dryness by using these pre-bath hair care suggestions, which will keep your hair looking and feeling beautiful.

How to Keep Your Hair Safe in a Sauna?

Using steps to protect your hair from the extreme heat and humidity is essential when enjoying a sauna. If you don’t take good care of it, it might get weak, dry, and break easily. For hair health servicing, it is also critical to know how long is best to spend in the sauna. Here are some tips to protect your hair when in a sauna:

Maintain nourished hair: Your scalp might become quickly dry from the heat in a sauna. Use hair oil or conditioner to keep in moisture before going indoors to avoid this. To moisten your locks with water all over your session, you can also bring a spray bottle.
Mild sweat: Although sweating is a normal aspect of using a sauna, too much sweat can dry out your hair. Take regular breaks to cool down, and use a towel to wipe away any extra sweat from your scalp and locks to avoid drying it out.
Avoid Heat: To reduce your hair’s exposure to intense heat, wrap it in a towel or put on a protective cap. Providing an additional layer of defense against heat damage is a heat shield spray.
Avoid Tight Hairstyles: Tight hairstyles like bands or ponytails may stress your scalp, especially when it’s hot outside. Go for airy hairstyles that let your hair flow freely and breathe.
Sauna Cap: A sauna hat protects your hair from heat and moisture; they are typically made of wool or other insulating materials. It reduces matt and tangling while keeping your hair dry.

Decreasing the temperature and reducing the length of your infrared sauna session can help keep your hair from getting too dry or rigid. You can prevent damage to your hair when using a sauna by paying attention to these suggestions.

After-Sauna Hair Treatment

To protect and preserve the health of your hair, you must take care of it after your sauna session. Here are some hair care suggestions for after a sauna:

Use cool water for washing: After using a sauna, wash your hair with cold water to seal the cuticles and avoid further damage. Washing your scalp with cool water also helps remove pollutants and sweat.
Condition: To replace moisture loss, use a moisturizing conditioner. After applying it up to your scalp from the ends of your hair, properly wash.
Drying Your Towel: To get rid of extra water, carefully stroke your hair with a towel. Refrain from rubbing, as this can lead to damage and curls.
Maintain Hydration: Before and after your sauna session, make sure you drink lots of water to stay hydrated and avoid dry hair.
Stay away from hot water: Avoid using hot water to wash your hair after the sauna. It might remove natural oils and increase damage.

How Blood Can Promote Hair Growth

There is evidence that decreased blood flow may contribute to some forms of hair loss, even if the science of hair development and loss is still not completely understood. Women’s pattern hair loss is less well understood than male pattern hair loss, which is often linked with decreased blood flow.

Blood flow is important for hair development, but it’s not the only one. Inflammation, aging, hormone fluctuations, and genetics all have significant impacts on hair health. Research indicates a correlation between increased blood flow from saunas and hair renewal, yet we cannot tell with certainty which causes the other.

Are infrared saunas bad for hair?

Excessive heat exposure can harm fragile hair, even though infrared saunas can increase blood flow and skin hydration, both of which are essential for healthy hair. Heat, both damp and dry, can damage hair cells. Heat-induced moisture loss from hair changes the structure of proteins and causes layers to separate, leaving hair more vulnerable to additional harm. The effects of heat damage to hair are permanent. But there are methods for handling it:

Cut off the injured areas and let the plant recover.
Apply moisturizers, deep conditioning treatments, or hair serums.
To renew damaged cells and relieve a dry scalp, increase blood circulation.
Use a shower cap to protect and seal in moisture after your shower.

Use Infrared Light to Protect Your Hair

Whether you take care of your hair or are a professional in the field, knowing when and how to protect it is essential. Because it is prone to damage, it is important to protect its health. By taking a few easy steps, infrared baths can greatly improve the condition of your hair. Red light therapy has also been shown to promote hair growth; for even greater effects, combine it with sauna use. Infrared baths encourage hair development before going into red light therapy.

Are infrared saunas harmful to hair?

Compared to conventional spas or steam rooms, infrared saunas provide dry heat at slightly lower temperatures. Infrared heat protects it from the inside out by keeping moisture in the hair. If you are concerned about heat damage, using a moist towel soaked in cold water before having infrared therapy can help shield your hair.

Conclusion

The effects of sauna use on hair can be conflicting. In addition to enhancing scalp circulation, the heat and steam can encourage hair growth. Overheating and sweat may cause damage by drying out the hair and scalp. It is critical to maintain hydration and employ precautionary measures, such as conditioning treatments, to lessen any negative effects.

Does sauna use benefit or damage your hair?