We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
Should I be using hair sunscreen? All you need to know about hair SPF
Treat your hair like your skin and defend it from potential damage.
Hands up who uses SPF in their daily skincare routines? Those who are passionate about beauty and skincare will tell you that no morning routine is complete without their beloved SPF, a skincare staple in all beauty editors regimes.
Between the risk of premature ageing and the far more serious risk of skin cancer, wearing a daily SPF is a non-negotiable.
But as we apply our morning suncream to our faces, should we be going that one step further and applying it to our scalp and hairline?
WH asked expert Anabel Kingsley, trichologist at Philip Kingsley.
She said: 'UV rays can seriously dry out and weaken your strands, especially if your hair is already in bad condition. Prolonged sun exposure degrades the protein structure of hair, often resulting in low elasticity, breakage, split ends and lack of shine.'
Best hair and scalp SPF
- 1
- 2
- 3
Philip Kingsley Daily Damage Defence Leave-In Conditioner
Read more - 4
- 5
Do you need to put sunscreen on scalp?
In short, yes. Your scalp — though it may be covered by your hair — and your hair itself are both at risk for UVA/UVB damage.
Kingsley explains, 'Our scalp is skin, and it can get damaged by the sun just like the skin on our face, arms and legs. Short term, this can cause problems like redness, soreness and subsequent peeling – but repeated sun exposure and incidences of sunburn can lead to skin cancer on our scalps.'
Will sunscreen damage your hair?
No, it will not damage your hair. Some formulas may be a little heavy and greasy for your liking but it's about finding the right formula for you. You can buy hair specific SPFs in the form of mists and oils which are generally a little lighter than creams.
How to Apply Scalp SPF?
To protect yourself using an SPF on the scalp, experts recommend making sure you apply it to your hairline and parting.
You can also use regular sunscreen to do this, but you may find it feels greasy and heavy on the hair. Adam Reed, Founder ARKIVE and Adam Reed Salon said, 'Hair products with UV protection tend to come in aerosol sprays, mists, milks and creams that are applied through the lengths of wet hair. Try to find one that suits your hair type if you’re concerned about your hair feeling greasy and avoid applying to the root.'
From nourishing mists, to oils to frizz-fighting creams, we round up our favourite sun-protection products for hair.
Spritz this all over damp hair and it gets to work at protecting and smoothing. It's designed to protect from UV as well as chlorine, and works brilliantly as a frizz-tamer too.
Not only does this leave you with soft tousled , piecey beach waves, it also protects hair from UV damage and is enriched with conditioning Pro Vitamin B5 and Castor Oil for a weightless, protective finish.
Loved by beauty editors, this lightweight, leave-in conditioning spray protects hair from damage caused by UV rays and heart styling tools. Created by a trichologists, it's got your scalps and strand's best interests at heart.
Loved for it's use of fairtrade and naturally active ingredients, rahua has made a blinder of a product with this detangling formula that melts away knots and protects strands.
With over 108 5 Star Reviews, this is a 3 in 1 moisturising miracle does it all from styling, treating and providing protection against UV rays. Apply the light, oil-free, salt-free formula to give you frizz-free beach waves and natural volume.
This is essentially a scalp and hair sunscreen, its supercharged with broad spectrum SPF 30 defence to preserve your hair’s colour vibrancy. Infusing your locks with its refreshing ocean salted sage scent, the sprayable mist provides weightless water-resistant care to counteract the effects of environmental pollution and UV exposure.
A protective hair treatment that wards off sun damage.Fortified by a UV filter, the formula helps to guard both hair and colour from the negative effects of the sun. And the best bit? The filter also stays in the hair – even after bathing or showering.
Suitable for all hair types, this weightless hair mist delivers moisture, softness, shine and most importantly protection. Enriched with a nourishing mix of watermelon, edelweiss and lychee flower extracts, plant-based collagen and vitamin B the spray works to hydrate and condition hair, promoting healthier strands from root to tip while reducing dryness, unwanted frizz and colour fade.
Kerastase Invisible Defense Universal Protection Spray150ml
A leave-in moisturising cream that helps to nourish hair while protecting against the drying effects of the sun, chlorine and salt water.
Aveda Sun Care Protective Hair Veil 100ml
Lighweight, water-resistant UV defence mist that forms an invisible screen to help protect hair from sun exposure for up to sixteen hours, to minimise colour fading, damage and dryness.
Sophie Cullen is a multi-award-winning beauty journalist and brand consultant, with a special interest in all things skincare and makeup. Sophie was responsible for the running of Conde Nast BRIDES beauty department for five years, overseeing all print, online, social coverage and live events. Today she writes for Harper's Bazaar Arabia, Vogue Japan, Conde Nast Glamour, Pop Sugar, Victoria Health and Bustle as well as working with brands such as: Pixi Skincare and Elemis.
Watch Next
This fragrance hack will save you some serious £££
This is how often you should wash your hair
Demi with short hair is a majorrrr transformation
John Frieda Amazon Prime Day sale
