Sun protection is vital for your entire body, including your scalp and hair. Fortunately, we’ve got some great tips for using sunscreen on your hair and scalp without weighing your hair down with greasy lotions.

Let’s first take a look at how the sun burns your scalp and damages your hair. Of course, you know your hair isn’t living and can’t actually burn, but it can be seriously damaged.

How the sun hurts your hair and scalp

Maybe, you’ve never thought about this problem before and never really noticed any damage, but the key could simply be that you never noticed. The damage was there, but you may have either not noticed it or attributed it to something else. Here is what to look out for:

Sunburned scalp: Just like the rest of your skin, you can get sunburn on your scalp like any other bit of skin. Red, painful, itchy, and flaky—it’s all a part of a sunburned scalp. 

The part in your hair is often the most susceptible, as it is totally exposed. Your hair offers some protection to the rest of your head but it’s not a sunblock.

Dried out hair: The sun sucks the moisture out of your hair, potentially leaving it dry, dull and broken. 

Changes your dye-job: Bleached hair has open follicles, which makes it more vulnerable to the sun. The sun can get into the hair shaft and leach all of your expensive colors out, leaving it looking faded.

Sun protection for your scalp

To avoid the flaking dryness of a burned scalp, here are some simple tips:

Daily SPF: While you can buy mass-marketed sunscreens, it’s so much better to make your own. Yes, that’s right. You can make your own sunscreen for your hair, and it’s wonderfully healthy and effective.

Change part: Your part is very exposed to the sun, so try switching it around a bit. This way you’re not constantly exposing that same little strip of scalp. You can even try no part with a slicked-back ponytail or a bun.

Cover it up: One of the easiest ways to protect your head and hair from the sun is to cover it with a hat or a scarf. Play with a fresh, new look and cover-up.

How to protect hair from the sun

You’re a pro at protecting your skin from the sun at this point, but what about your hair. That’s an entirely different thing and you can’t just smear it with sunscreen—can you?

Products: Look for products with both UVA and UVB protection. Each type of ray can do different types of damage, so you’ll want protection from both. 

This is essentially sunscreen designed for your hair. It doesn’t have the weighed down, a greasy effect that actual sunscreen has, but it still gives your hair the protection it needs.

Hide it: Just like above, covering up is the best protection, but it’s not always practical or possible to get all of your hair into a hat.

Moisturize: Sun drains your body of moisture. Keep your hair and scalp moisturized, even when you’re protecting it with a hat, for the best results. Try HLV serum, it has a good dose of argan oil, which nourishes your hair without leaving it weighed down.

Final thoughts

Good ol’ sunshine might be doing more damage to your scalp and hair than you thought, which is why protecting yourself is key to both great-looking locks and preventing sun-related damage.

Both hair and scalp get added protection when you throw on a hat or a scarf. And hey, why not try a new look while you’re at it? The problem is that not everyone’s hair fits neatly into a hat, and hat hair can ruin your look. In these situations, stock up on shampoo, conditioner and other products that have both UVA and UVB protection.