All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
You may have your face and body sunscreen routine down—but what about those other hard-to-remember places? Off the top of my head, there’s the tip of your nose, the back of your hands, and that tiny triangle on your back that you can’t quite reach without assistance. And there’s one more spot…. Oh wait, it is the top of your head—a.k.a. your scalp.
“Whether you’re without hair or [you] have hair that’s always parted one way, the scalp is always in direct view of the sun,” Marisa Garshick, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology and clinical assistant professor at Cornell University in New York City, tells SELF. “Most people don’t necessarily think about wearing a hat or sunscreen [on their head] all the time, so there is a lot of cumulative UV exposure that’s happening on the scalp.” Over time, those rays can lead to skin damage and even cancer.
A hat with a two- to three-inch brim is a great way to protect your scalp (along with your ears, eyes, forehead, and nose), according to the American Cancer Society. But you’re probably not going to wear one while, say, learning how to water ski. And let’s face it, we’re not all hat people! In those instances, a scalp sunscreen should be your new BFF.
FYI, there’s nothing wrong with applying your go-to sunscreen to your scalp, says Dr. Garshick. But traditional SPFs may leave your hair feeling greasy or speckled with white residue. Scalp sunscreens, on the other hand, are often formulated to be quick-absorbing, so they don’t weigh down your strands—some even boast moisture-boosting ingredients, like panthenol.
Our top picks
- Supergoop! Poof Part Powder With SPF 35
- Sun Bum Original Sunscreen Scalp and Hair Mist With SPF 30
- Coola Organic Scalp Spray & Hair Sunscreen Mist With SPF 30
- Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Brush On Shield With SPF 50
- Isdin Mineral Brush Powder With SPF 50
- Not Your Mother’s Sunscreen Beach Babe Scalp and Hair Mist With SPF 30
- Oars + Alps Face and Scalp Mist Sunscreen With SPF 35
In this article
- What should you look for while shopping for a scalp sunscreen?
- Shop the best sunscreens for your scalp
What should you look for while shopping for a scalp sunscreen?
“The main thing to look out for is an SPF 30 or greater—the higher, the better,” Regine Mathieu, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist at Behr Laser and Skin Care Center in Fresno, California, tells SELF. Also, make sure the label says “broad-spectrum coverage,” which means the sunscreen protects your skin from both types of UV rays: UVA, which causes long-term damage to the skin (like wrinkles), and UVB, which damages skin cells’ DNA and can cause sunburns. (Both types can lead to skin cancer.)
Ultimately, says Dr. Mathieu, properly shielding your skin comes down to finding a product you’ll apply consistently. “The most important thing when searching for a sunscreen is finding one that you know you’ll use every day,” she says.
Shop the best scalp sunscreens
Below, we’ve rounded up the top scalp sunscreens from brands like Supergoop, Coola, and Sun Bum. Our top picks are easy to use and protective, whether you’re headed to the beach or kicking back by the pool.
For a day at the beach or on the trails, think of Supergoop’s Poof Part Powder as a dry shampoo with a boost of sun protection. In addition to its SPF 35 rating, “it’s a nice option for somebody who’s active because the powder formula is going to help to absorb some of that excess sweat,” Dr. Garshick says. One SELF editor agrees, saying she regularly turns to this product to help tamp down second-day hair greasiness. “Its beige color works especially well with my wavy, bronde-ish hair,” she says. And while “part” is in the name, don’t forget to cover the hairline around your face during application too.
Not all scalp sunscreens are formulated with your hair in mind, but Dr. Mathieu says it’s important to protect your strands as well as your part. “Prolonged sun exposure can damage hair, leaving it dry and brittle,” she says. While hats provide the most sun protection for your head and hair, she recommends using this nongreasy formula from Sun Bum to coat your roots when headwear isn’t an option.
One user tells SELF that the light formula is what keeps her reaching for this bottle to use on her active twins. “I have fair-haired kids who don’t keep hats on, and it’s been great having an option for sunscreen that doesn’t make their hair super greasy and tangled,” she says. To avoid any sliminess, Dr. Mathieu recommends starting light and building from there.
Jenny Liu, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and assistant professor at the University of Minnesota, recommends this sunscreen “mist” from Coola to prevent the dreaded scalp sunburn and keep your hair shiny through Labor Day. In addition to having SPF 30, it’s fortified with moisturizing ingredients like panthenol and monoi oil to leave your hair looking smooth and shiny. “Having tried both the Sun Bum and Coola scalp sprays, I prefer this one thanks to its better scent and less greasy formulation,” one user with medium-thick, wavy hair tells SELF.
Despite not being designed specifically for your hairline, this Colorescience powder was a unanimous pick from all of the dermatologists we spoke to, thanks to its high SPF rating (50) and its multiple uses (face and scalp). With a handful of shade offerings, there’s less of a risk of a skin-tone mismatch. For easy application, Dr. Mathieu recommends dabbing the powder on with a thin makeup brush instead of the product’s wide, built-in puff.
Mineral (or physical) sunscreens, like this one from Isdin, rely on ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to block UV rays and are often gentler on sensitive skin than chemical sunscreens, where the combination of ingredients may irritate skin, according to Dr. Mathieu. Isdin’s mineral formulation, with its “elegant finish” that doesn’t leave hair feeling greasy, is a top choice for Dr. Liu.
A delicious vanilla coconut scent and easy-to-use bottle (the nozzle focuses spray directly onto the scalp) earned this option from Not Your Mother’s raves from reviewers. And as one of the most affordable options on our list, your budget won’t feel the burn either.
A nice two-in-one option to stow in your purse or beach bag, this formula from Oars + Alps is designed for your face and scalp, unlike some of our other picks. In addition to offering broad-spectrum SPF 35 protection, this mist comes packed with aloe vera and cucumber to help hydrate the skin.
Related:
