Angela
Elite member
- Messages
- 21,823
- Reaction score
- 12,329
- Points
- 113
- Ethnic group
- Italian
I live in an overcast area that rains or snows most of the year. When I'm exposed to the sun for long periods, especially going into saltwater at the beach my hair will lighten up. I'm sure that's true for a lot of people. I've noticed (along with my grey hairs) my hair will turn a slight copper reddish blonde that I've never had.
Pheomelanin, the pigment responsible for a "reddish" tint in hair, breaks down slower than eumelanin. That's why when women with brown hair get "highlights" or bleached strands, the strands come out looking rather reddish, and, unless that's the woman's preference, they have to apply a "toner" to the hair to get rid of the red. The sun (and salt) bleach the hair just as peroxide does. The chlorine in a pool will also do a number on hair...lifeguards who have very fair hair can develop a radioactive sort of green "glow" to their hair if they don't constantly rinse the chlorine out with fresh water.