How advantageous is it to use a sunscreen shampoo? The sun's UV rays damage hair by causing a significant loss of tryptophan. Tryptophan is an amino acid that is found in hair and has the interesting quality of fluorescence. Through fluorescence tryptophan can be measured in damaged hair, and by using this measurement and a simple equation the extent of damage can be determined. Hair was selected and five separate samples were made. After shampooing four hair samples with various sunscreen shampoos and one with just water, the samples were exposed to sunlight. The measurements of tryptophan in the hair treated with shampoo and the measurement of tryptophan in the hair with just water were made after the samples were exposed to UV rays. Also, measurements were taken of a sample without exposing the hair to the sun or treating it with water or shampoo. By comparing these numbers, it could be seen whether buying a shampoo with sunscreen was a wise investment or not.

-Lauren Scott, Carson Miller, and Eun Sil Lee