We tend to associate sun protection with our skin, all while forgetting the effects of prolonged exposure to our hair. It takes a mere eight minutes for UV rays to impact our tresses and the results can certainly derail your #AllSummer17 hair goals! Look out for these three telltale signs of damage and ways to keep them under control.
Sun-kissed highlights are goals around the globe, but when your color begins to drastically change under the sun, it’s a major telltale sign that your hair is in trouble.
For hair colors that oxidize and become brassy, turn to Shimmer Lights Shampoo to neutralize your tone. This brand also makes one specifically for red heads and brunettes.
Dark and Lovely® Color-Gloss Ultra Radiant Color Crème
For strands that feel lifeless and need a color touch-up, reinvigorate them with Dark & Lovely’s Color Gloss. It’s infused with coconut oil and pomegranate, so you don’t have to worry about losing moisture as you alter the tone.
If you are out in the sun for long periods of time without SPF, expect your hair to become dry and brittle. It is imperative that you moisturize often! Invest in a leave-in conditioner to use outside of your normal cleansing routine.
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Curls™ Blueberry Bliss Reparative Leave In Conditioner
Change in texture can occur for a myriad of reasons, but can be exacerbated by spending long hours in the sun. How this occurs is quite science-y, but can be broken down simply! Essentially, the sun’s UV rays disturb the top layer of your hair, also known as the “cuticle.”
Once the cuticle is disturbed and no longer lays flat, the inner layer called the “cortex” is then exposed, leaving it susceptible to damage. In short, added protection outside of your product lineup is essential! If you haven’t already, incorporate hats into your wardrobe.
If you’ve ever been to ESSENCE Hollywood House, you know it’s more than just a series of panels—it’s a gathering of visionaries. A space where Black creatives and leaders come together to share stories, strategies, and solutions. This year’s conversation, Let’s Talk About LA: Preserving Our City, presented by AT&T, was no different.
The discussion brought together three voices, each deeply invested in shaping LA’s future: D. Smoke, the Grammy-nominated rapper and educator; Olympia Auset, founder of SÜPRMRKT, a grocery service tackling food apartheid in LA; and DJ HED, a radio personality and advocate for independent artists. Though their paths differed, their mission was the same—creating opportunities, protecting culture, and ensuring Black spaces in LA don’t just survive but thrive.
For Olympia Ausset, the work she’s doing with SÜPRMRKT goes far beyond providing fresh groceries—it’s about laying the foundation for a stronger, healthier community. “The LA we love, the cultural beacon it’s known as today, was built by people who worked hard to create their own spaces,” she shared. “The reason I do what I do is because it’s essential. We can’t achieve any of the changes I want for my community without being in good health and having access to affordable, organic food. Without places where we can gather, heal, and support each other, none of the other goals will be possible. It starts with taking care of ourselves and building those spaces together.”
From Olympia’s focus on wellness and accessibility to DJ HED’s belief in the power of self-worth, the discussion explored what it means to dream beyond individual success and invest in collective progress. “I see a lot of people who aren’t proud of where they come from, what they look like, or where they’re at in life,” he said. “I had to learn to give myself grace, to grow. I grew up in Inglewood, raised by a single mom. We lived in a car, we were on welfare, but I knew I wanted to be bigger than my circumstances. That’s what dreaming in Black is—believing in something greater and nurturing it until it grows.”
DJ Smoke also touched on this, emphasizing the importance of intention and fulfillment. “You don’t want to climb that ladder and realize you went real high in the wrong direction,” he warned. “A lot of people in LA are ambitious, but if you don’t understand your ‘why,’ you can get to the top and still feel empty. The goal isn’t just to make it—it’s to make it mean something.
Sometimes, as Black creatives, we only dream as far as the next gig or the next check, but dreaming in Black means going beyond that. “It means thinking bigger than what’s right in front of you,” said host Donye Taylor.
This conversation was a call to action – a reminder that preserving LA’s Black culture means investing in community, honoring our history, and building a legacy that lasts.
