Don’t Forget Sunscreen for Your Hair

I took my niece to the pool the other day, and as I walked out of the pool back to my table, I realized that my hair had instantly dried in the span of almost 7 minutes! Either I blow dried my hair along the way and have no recollection of it, my water was alcohol-free so that could not have been it or the sun was so hot and strong that it did not take long to dry my sopping wet hair. The later was the probable cause.

Your hair and scalp need protection from the sun just like your skin. (Photo: Thinkstock)

I then realized, “Wow, so I put sunscreen on my body to avoid sun damage, but what about my hair? And my scalp? And I just got my highlights done. Is my hair going to fall out now?” Great. All this could have been avoided had I sprayed some of my Banana Boat sunscreen on my head. Wait. Spray actual sunscreen on my head? As I told my 8-year-old niece of this marvelous idea, she suggested against it. Alas, I was forced to turn to technology to
Google if hair sunscreen was even a thing. Guess what, it is.

Turns out that there are some good reviewed hair protectants with SPF in them made specifially for hair and scalp protection during those grueling, summer days. The best thing to know about hair sunscreens is that you need to make sure you not only spray it on top of your hair, but also that you rub it down deep into your scalp. By just spraying the top, you aren’t ensuring that your scalp will have UV protection if your hair part moves or if you tie your hair halfway up.

Let us not forget that skin cancer is still a real thing. and that you can get skin cancer from your scalp being exposed to he sun’s harmful rays. Look for products that contain zinc oxide and titanium oxide because these ingredients are physical blockers of sunlight. To use something that will not leave that silly white residue, use avobenzone, which is considered a chemical blocker. It is just as good, but will not leave you with a white, patchy scalp.

Below are my two favorite products when it comes to sun protection. Do not forget to invest in hair protection with products that work. After all, our hair is something that can age women as well. If it is brittle and super dry from sun damage, you might not look as bright-eyed and youthul as you know you can be.

Coola’s Organic SPF 30 Scalp & Hair Mist can be sprayed on wet or dry hair at any time. (Photo: Coola)

Coola’s Organic SPF 30 Scalp & Hair Mist retails for $26. It is vegan and cruelty-free by not including animal ingredients. This spray provides heat and UV ray protection. Not to mention that its plant extracts help to keep the scalp and hair strands moisturized while protecting your hair from the sun.

Philip Kingsley’s Instand Beach can be sprayed into wet hair and if scrunched with fingers will give you a smooth, crimpy look while giving you sun protection. (Photo: Phillip Kinglsey)

Philip Kingsley’s Instant Beach retails for $38, and is a cute travel-sized spray. This sun protectant also helps control frizz. So if your hair is always a hot mess like mine with fly-aways but you aren’t one to hair spray use, this product is also great for that. The barrier that this spray creates also serves as hair protection from chlorine and salt water. If you want your hair sunscreen to do more, then this is your new flavor for the year.