When you fake tan, you are covering your skin in a layer of dihydroxyacetone (DHA). DHA is the active component in almost every sunless tanning skincare product, regardless of whether it’s delivered as a spray tan, mouse, water, gel or cream.
This chemical reacts with the amino acids in your skin to create a brown pigment. While this may give you the desired bronzed look, it has an adverse effect on your hair. The mechanism by which DHA damages the hair is primarily through a chemical reaction between DHA and the proteins present in the hair. This reaction can alter the protein structure and integrity of the hair, leading to various forms of damage, including: