Roughly 60% of our bodies are made up of water and this is why staying hydrated is so important. When most people think of hydration, they think about drinking water. This is called “internal hydration” and it’s the #1 way to keep hydrated and ensure your body has enough water to stay healthy. But, sometimes we forget about “external hydration“. During the hot summer months, our skin can suffer from extreme dryness, and for sensitive-skinned redheads, this can lead to irritation. Our skin is the largest organ we have, and needs to be hydrated both internally and externally to stay soft, glowing, and healthy. Our hair also needs hydration to stay soft and healthy. Let’s talk about how we can hydrate from head to toe, and keep our hair and skin looking their best this summer:
External hydration: Give the skin moisture
Keeping your skin hydrated will make it softer, more glowy, and healthier. Hydration of the skin can reduce dryness, flakiness, eczema, and other skin conditions. Hydration is crucial for everyone, but it holds particular importance for individuals with redhead skin due to its typically fair and sensitive nature. Redheads often have skin that is more prone to dryness, irritation, and sun sensitivity. Therefore, maintaining adequate hydration helps in several ways:
1. Moisture Barrier Support: Redhead skin tends to have a thinner lipid barrier, which can lead to increased water loss and dryness. Proper hydration helps in maintaining this barrier, preventing moisture loss and maintaining skin suppleness.
2. Protection from Irritation: Well-hydrated skin is less prone to irritation and inflammation. Redheads may experience heightened sensitivity to environmental factors, so keeping the skin hydrated can reduce the risk of reactions.
3. Sun Protection: Hydration supports the skin’s natural UV protection mechanisms. Redheads often have less melanin, which means they are more susceptible to sunburns and skin damage. Hydrated skin can better withstand UV exposure.
4. Anti-Aging Benefits: Adequate hydration can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, which can be more noticeable on fair skin. It promotes a plumper, more youthful appearance.
To maintain optimal hydration, redheads should consider using moisturizers with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, ceramides, and natural oils (such as argan or jojoba). Additionally, drinking plenty of water throughout the day contributes to overall skin hydration.
Here are 15 skin products we love for external hydration:
- TATCHA The Dewy Skin Cream
- COSRX Snail Mucin 96% Power Repairing Essence
- Summer Fridays Cloud Dew Gel Cream Moisturizer
- Farmacy Honey Halo Ceramide Face Moisturizer Cream
- Weleda Skin Food Body Butter
- Kiehl’s Avocado Eye Treatment, Nourishing and Hydrating Eye Cream
- Eucerin Daily Hydration Broad Spectrum SPF 30
- Cetaphil Deep Hydration Healthy Glow Daily Face Cream
- First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration Moisturizer for Face and Body
- La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer
- Vanicream Moisturizing Skin Cream
- NIVEA Cocoa Butter Body Cream with Deep Nourishing Serum
- Neutrogena Hydro Boost Eye Cream
- Peter Thomas Roth | Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream
- CeraVe Moisturizing Cream
External hydration: Give your red hair moisture
Redheads usually have thick, dry, and/or coarse hair that needs added moisture. Keeping your hair hydrated will help with dryness, brittleness, breakage, curl/wave patterns, and frizz. Hydration is particularly crucial for individuals with red hair due to their unique skin and hair characteristics. Here’s why hydration is important specifically for red hair:
1. Hair Texture and Porosity: Red hair tends to be coarser and thicker than other hair types. Proper hydration helps to smooth the hair cuticle, reducing frizz and enhancing shine. Hydrated hair is also more manageable and less prone to tangling and breakage.
2. Color Maintenance: Red hair color is more prone to fading because the pigment molecules are larger and more susceptible to oxidation. Hydration helps to seal the hair cuticle, keeping the color locked in and vibrant for longer periods.
3. Scalp Health: A well-hydrated scalp promotes healthy hair growth and reduces issues like dryness, itchiness, and flakiness. It also supports the scalp’s natural barrier function, which protects against environmental stressors and potential scalp conditions.
4. Heat and Environmental Protection: Red hair can be more sensitive to heat styling and environmental factors such as sun exposure and pollution. Hydrated hair is more resilient and better able to withstand these stressors, reducing damage and maintaining overall hair health.
To maintain optimal hydration for red hair, consider using moisturizing shampoos and conditioners specifically formulated for dry or color-treated hair. Deep conditioning treatments and hair masks enriched with hydrating ingredients like argan oil, shea butter, and keratin can also help restore moisture and strengthen hair. Additionally, limiting heat styling and protecting hair from UV rays with hats or UV-protective products can further support hydration and overall hair health.
Here are 15 hair products we love for external hydration when you have red hair:
- Arvazallia Hydrating Argan Oil Hair Mask
- amika water sign hydrating hair oil with hyaluronic acid
- Briogeo Don’t Despair Repair Hair Mask
- Pantene Gold Series Hair Oil Treatment
- Pureology Hydrate Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner Set
- Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil
- SheaMoisture Intensive Hydration Hair Masque Manuka Honey
- Virtue Healing Hair Oil
- Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Hair Mask
- SheaMoisture Hydrate & Repair Conditioner for Damaged Hair
- Luseta Moisturizing Shampoo & Conditioner Set
- Moroccanoil Treatment
- OUAI Hair Oil
- Maui Moisture Heal & Hydrate + Shea Butter Shampoo
- K18 Leave-In Molecular Hair Mask
Rock it like a Redhead!
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