The Power of the Sun
The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays are powerful and—given the right conditions—can cause a spectrum of skin damage and ailments, from sunburns to increased risk of skin cancer. With proper precautions, including applying sunscreen to your skin and scalp, you can significantly reduce your risk of sunburn, skin damage, and even hair thinning.
The Benefits of Specially-Formulated Hair Sunscreen
It’s important to note that traditional skin sunscreens are not designed for use on your hair. Regular body sunscreen was not created with the intention of keeping your scalp and hair healthy in mind. This is why hair-specific sunscreens exist.
Hair sunscreens are specially formulated to contain antioxidant-rich ingredients such as niacinamide, green tea extract, coffee extract, and licorice root extract, in addition to avocado oil and safflower seed oil for nourishing your hair from root to tip. These ingredients help strengthen and protect your hair from sun damage, as well as improve the volume, lift, and shine of your locks.
What to Look For in Hair Sunscreen
When evaluating the best hair sunscreen for your Florida lifestyle (especially if you have a fair complexion or suffer from thinning hair), the most important considerations are a broad spectrum of protection and a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 30. Look for sunscreen products that include the UV actives homosalate, octocrylene, octisalate, and avobenzone.
Test Before You Commit
As with any product, it’s important to understand how the sunscreen works with your specific hair type to find the right formula for you. Do a test by applying the sunscreen to a small section of your hair at the nape of your neck or near your ears to understand how it works with your hair before fully committing.
Cap Off Your Hair Care Routine
It may seem tedious, but adding a quality sunscreen to the end of your hair care regimen is absolutely essential for any Floridian. If you’re worried about the stickiness of certain formulas, look for sunscreens that are formulated with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as opposed to chemical-based sunscreens. Both of these UV actives have far fewer side effects and can easily be matched with any styling product.
A Final Word
Protecting your scalp and hair from the sometimes perilous Florida sun doesn’t have to be a difficult process. With a little understanding and a good hair sunscreen, you can safeguard your health while achieving the style and volume you desire. Plus, you’ll enjoy the added bonus of knowing you’re doing your part to protect your skin and scalp from dangerous UV rays.
Topics: