How To Protect Your Hair In An Infrared Sauna

An infrared sauna will provide multiple health benefits; it’s easy to forget that, sometimes, you need protection from the infrared waves. In this case, we’re talking about your hair. 

This guide will explain exactly how an infrared sauna can affect your hair and how you can protect yourself from these effects.

How does an infrared sauna affect your hair?

The major concern for your hair when sitting in an infrared sauna is that the high levels of heat can dry out and damage your hair. This damage can leave you with split ends as the heat strips away the natural oils that protect your hair.

If haircare is your primary concern, then infrared saunas are the much better choice than traditional saunas. 

Due to the way infrared saunas work, the heat is far less intense as they emit infrared light directly to your skin. Because of this, they don’t need to get as hot as a traditional sauna.

A traditional sauna on the other hand heats the air around you, meaning they become far hotter and have more potential to damage your hair.

Are all infrared saunas bad for your hair?

Not at all! In fact, there are a number of benefits your hair can experience when you sit in an infrared sauna.

Infrared saunas promote the production of collagen and elastin which will help your hair grow stronger and healthier. 

Stress is a major factor in hair loss and stress reduction is another major benefit to infrared saunas as they both help you relax and reduce cortisol levels in the body.

Finally, infrared saunas improve circulation, meaning vital nutrients and minerals find their way to the hair even faster.

Ways to protect your hair

Here are some tips you can use to protect your hair when sitting in an infrared sauna:

Sauna hats

While they may look unique, sauna hats are a wonderfully whimsical and effective way to protect your hair. These hats are typically made of wool, which does a great job of insulating and protecting your head from the sauna’s heat.

Keep hair moisturised

Drying out is the major risk for your hair when using an infrared sauna, so it’s a good idea to keep your hair moisturised. 

Dry hair is more likely to suffer additional damage in a sauna; maybe it’s worth opting for a moisturising hair care routine. This could include products like shampoos, conditioners and even hair masks. 

Take hair supplements

Biotin and collagen are fantastic supplements to boost the health of your hair. Taking these regularly can help protect you from the worst hair damaging effects of an infrared sauna. However, it’s important to discuss any new supplements with a healthcare provider first.

Limit sessions

If you find your hair becoming dry and brittle after your infrared sauna sessions then there’s no harm in limiting how long your sessions are. This is particularly true if you find yourself spending an hour or more in an infrared sauna at any one time.

Similarly, there’s no reason why you can’t take a break. Take a day off your usual routine and allow your hair some extra time to recover.

Hair products to avoid

Avoid using any hair products like gels or mousses as many of these products contain alcohol which can cause your hair to dry out even more during your infrared sauna sessions, exacerbating the problems.

Final Thoughts

While certainly not all bad for your hair, infrared saunas can leave your hair feeling dry and brittle. But as long as you take the correct precautions to protect your hair during your sessions, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about.

If you’re interested in an infrared sauna for your home, then get in touch with Sun Stream Saunas today.