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Hair Sunscreen: Protect Your Hair and Scalp from Sun Damage
Updated on August 5, 2025 | 4 min read
Jaclyn LaBadia, Davines Writer
If your sunscreen application stops at your forehead you’re missing an important sun step. Using SPF on your scalp and strands might feel like going overboard, but it's actually a must for keeping your hair damage-free.
Just like your face, shielding your hair and scalp from the sun’s harmful UV rays is essential. And that’s where we come in. We’re diving deep into all things SPF, including the best hair sunscreen for every hair type and why you need it—plus sun-safety tips for your hair and scalp. Keep reading for everything you need to keep your sun-kissed hair healthy and beautiful this summer.
Key Takeaways
How to Keep Your Hair and Scalp Healthy in the Sun
- UV rays damage hair by breaking down proteins, causing dryness, frizz, brittleness, and color fading—especially in fine, light, or color-treated hair.
- The scalp is vulnerable to sunburn and long-term sun exposure can increase the risk of skin cancer.
- Hair sunscreens create a UV-shielding barrier using either mineral (reflecting UV) or chemical (absorbing UV) protection.
- Choose the right formula for your needs: sprays for reapplication, powders for oily scalps, sticks for targeted protection, and mousse for lightweight coverage.
- Davines' SU Milk offers leave-in SPF protection with UV filters and conditioning benefits—ideal for daily sun exposure.
- Use hydrating, antioxidant-rich products like the MOMO Hair Potion and SU Hair Mask to restore moisture and repair sun-exposed strands.
- Healthy, well-nourished hair is more resilient to UV damage—maintain hydration and avoid harsh ingredients year-round.
- Combine hair SPF with physical protection like hats or scarves and avoid peak sun hours for best results.
In This Article
The Importance of Sun Protection for Hair and Scalp
How UV Rays Impact Different Hair Types and Textures
Role and Benefits of SPF for Hair
Recommended Hair Sunscreens for Different Situations
Davines Solutions for Sun-Protection and Post-Sun Hair Repair
Safeguarding Your Hair from Sun Damage
FAQs
The Importance of Sun Protection for Hair and Scalp
Just like with your skin, protecting your hair and scalp from the sun is essential to prevent damage from UV rays, including dryness, brittleness, color fading, sunburn and skin cancer. UV rays break down the proteins in your hair, making it dry, frizzy and susceptible to breakage. They also strip the pigment from your strands leading to color fade and premature graying.
The scalp is a common area for sunburn, causing issues like redness, pain, and peeling, worsening conditions like dandruff or psoriasis. Prolonged sun exposure can also lead to skin cancer on the scalp. So hair sun protection is essential to avoid damage and keep your hair and scalp healthy, especially during the summer.
How UV Rays Impact Different Hair Types and Textures
UV rays are damaging to all hair types, but the extent of that damage varies based on the type and color.
- Fine hair has fewer cuticle layers, making it less resilient to UV damage than thicker hair. Sun damage like dryness and frizziness generally shows up more quickly in fine hair.
- Thick hair has more melanin, which provides some inherent protection against UV rays. While it can take longer to show up, prolonged UV exposure can still lead to dryness, brittleness, and breakage in thick or coarse hair.
- Dark hair is also less prone to damage than lighter hair because of the melanin.
- Colored-treated hair is also vulnerable to sun damage because the color process makes hair more porous and susceptible to UV damage.
Role and Benefits of SPF for Hair
So how exactly does spf for hair work? A sunscreen for hair and scalp works by creating a protective barrier over the scalp and strands, to shield damaging UV rays. The way this barrier is formed depends on the sunscreen formula, and whether its chemical and mineral. Some hair products with SPF even include additional benefits like heat protection, deep conditioning and styling.
Mineral vs. Chemical Sunscreen
Hair sunscreens come in two main types: mineral and chemical. They protect against UV damage in very different ways.
Mineral (Physical) Sunscreens
- Use naturally occurring minerals like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.
- Form a physical barrier on the hair and scalp that reflects and scatters UV rays.
- Tend to start working immediately but may feel heavier or leave a slight residue.
Chemical Sunscreens
- Use ingredients such as avobenzone, octinoxate, or oxybenzone.
- Absorb UV rays and convert them into heat or less harmful energy, reducing damage.
- Usually lightweight and invisible but can be irritating for sensitive skin or scalps.
In short, mineral sunscreens deflect UV rays at the surface, while chemical sunscreens neutralize them after absorption. The best choice depends on your preference for texture, sensitivity, and how much sun protection you need.
Recommended Hair Sunscreens for Different Situations
Hair sunscreen comes in four different forms:
- Sprays, which are lightweight and designed to be easily sprayed onto the scalp and hair.
- Mineral-based powder formulas that come in a brush-on format, ideal for targeted areas or a greasy scalp.
- Sunscreen sticks that can be conveniently applied directly to the scalp and hairline.
- Mousse sunscreen formulas, for a lightweight and airy application.
Let’s take a look at the best hair and scalp sunscreens for a few different situations.
Best Hair Sunscreen for Intense Sun Exposure
For intense sun exposure, choose hair sunscreens in spray form for easy application and re-application, with SPF 30 or higher. Check the label for ingredients like antioxidants and nourishing oils to protect and repair the scalp and hair.
Best Hair Sunscreen for Greasy Hair
The best sunscreen for greasy hair or an oily scalp is one that comes in powder form to help absorb excess oil without leaving a greasy residue. A brush-on powder sunscreen can even act as a dry shampoo, and be used on the face and other areas prone to shine.
Best Hair Sunscreen for Dry/Colored Hair
For dry or colored hair, the best hair sunscreen is one that provides moisture and prevents color fade, while offering UV protection. Choose formulas with hydrating ingredients like coconut oil or jojoba oil for their moisturizing, color-protecting properties.
Davines Solutions for Sun-Protection and Post-Sun Hair Repair
Davines is committed to your hair’s sun-protection and post-sun repair All of our hair products for sun exposure are formulated with the highest quality natural ingredients. Our SU hair line, specifically, is a complete routine to protect your hair and skin before and after sun exposure.
SU is formulated with antioxidants to protect hair and skin cells from free radicals caused by the sun. Our damage correcting and anti-breakage products, including shampoos, conditioners, hair masks, stylers and leave-in treatments possess high grade, all-natural ingredients to restore your hair's true texture. These are some of our favorite Davines products for restoring and repairing your sun-ravaged strands.
Davines SU Hair Mask Replenishing Treatment Post-Sun Adventure
If you're really feeling sun-kissed, restore and hydrate your hair with SU Hair Mask. It’s a restorative after-sun mask to restore life to hair damaged by the sun, chlorine and salt. SU Hair Mask is filled with strand-loving antioxidants to restore softness and light to dull, dry hair.
Davines Sheer Glaze: For Ultimate Shine and UV-Security
Sheer Glaze is a leave-in serum for blonde hair that provides hydration, shine, and heat protection. With a patented Fortifying Botanical Shield, Sheer Glaze hydrates and restores elasticity to sun-stripped hair, while even extending the duration of a blow-dry. This heat protectant protects strands from temperatures up to 450 degrees.
Davines Momo Hair Potion: Intensive Hydration After Sun Exposure
Another fave for adding much-needed moisture back into your sunny strands is MOMO Hair Potion. Momo is a lightweight, leave-on hair lotion to boost hydration in all hair types. It makes hair soft and shiny without weighing it down.
Davines SU Milk: A Daily Sun-Protection Complex
An absolute must-have for the season is SU Milk, a leave-in spray with spf, great for use both before and after sun exposure. SU Milk protects the hair thanks to anti-UV-A and UV-B filters, preventing it from drying out and becoming damaged by the sun’s rays. Use it after sun exposure too, as an additional conditioning treatment.
Safeguarding Your Hair from Sun Damage
Besides hair sunscreen, the best way to avoid summer damage is to keep your hair as healthy as possible. Maintaining the health of your hair is essential for preventing issues like breakage and split ends from the sun. Healthy hair holds up better to styling and environmental factors, while damaged hair becomes more and more prone to further damage. Follow our sun-safety tips and use only the highest quality hair sunscreen formulas on your summer strands.
FAQs
Is there sunscreen for your hair?
Yes there is sunscreen for your hair to protect your hair and scalp from the sun, and it’s essential to prevent damage from UV rays, including dryness, brittleness, color fading, sunburn and skin cancer.
What is the best sun protection for hair?
The best sun protection for hair is a combination of a physical barrier like a hat or scarf, a hair sunscreen and minimizing sun exposure during peak hours.
What is the best sunscreen for the head?
The best sunscreen for the head is a leave-in spf spray with anti UV-A and UV-B filters, to prevent the scalp and strands from drying out and becoming damaged by the sun’s rays, like SU Milk.
How can I protect my hair from UV rays?
The most effective ways to protect your hair from UV rays are physical barriers like hats or scarves, using hair products with spf, keeping your hair healthy, hydrated and minimizing sun exposure during peak hours.
Does UV hair protection work?
UV hair protection works by creating a protective barrier over the scalp and strands, to shield damaging UV rays. The way this barrier is formed depends on the sunscreen formula, and whether its chemical and mineral. Chemical sunscreens absorb UV and convert it into less damaging forms of energy, and mineral formulas reflect and scatter UV rays.
How can I protect my head from UV rays?
Protect your head from UV rays by wearing a hat, using sunscreen on your strands and scalp, avoiding peak sun hours and keeping your hair healthy and hydrated.
Professional Treatments
Visit your local Davines salon to nourish, repair, and summer-proof your strands.
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