For the health conscious Texas man, staying on top of the latest in scalp and hair protection is key to maintaining a radiant and healthy scalp and mane. Sweaty summer days or cloudless blue sky days, strong UV rays are always around. It’s essential to start with the foundation and principle of sun protection: wearing SPF 40 sunscreen - for your scalp and hair specifically. This type of sunscreen is designed specifically to protect, style, and volumize hair and to protect from hair thinning due to sun overexposure - crucial for those living in the scorching sunshine of Texas.
When looking for SPF 40 protection, the list of ingredients should be lengthy,pronounced and high quality. Active sunscreen ingredients like homosalate, octocrylene, octisalate and avobenzone should all be present. Furthermore, it should be fortified with powerful, natural antioxidants like niacinamide, green tea extract, coffee extract, licorice root extract and microalgae extract that strengthen and nourish your hair with every use. Plus, it should always be infused with non-greasy, healing oils such as safflower seed oil and green tea oil.
Secondly, you’ll want to make sure your elbows and back of neck are covered when applying sunscreen. Most people forget these areas when applying sunscreen, and they’re particularly susceptible to sunburns in hot, sunny climates like Texas. Plus, make sure you’re curbing scalp sun exposure during peak hours of 10am - 4pm, and dab on regularly. Sunscreen needs to be applied liberally and often, and throughout the day if sweating or in water.
Third on the list comes hat hair. Hats are an undeniably stylish accessory and important sun protector for your scalp and hair. With some of the trendiest hats in the country, Texas has no shortage of chic and protective headgear that offer maximum coverage so you can look great and stay safe. Look for wide brims and UPF 50+ rated hats for maximum UPF protection (UPF stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor).
Fourth, incorporate simple lifestyle checks into your day. This includes avoiding direct sun exposure when possible, such as doing outdoor activities or exercising in the shade or under an umbrella. Additionally, it can be helpful to dse sun-protective clothing like light, breathable fabrics, and to style it with floor-length maxi dresses or skirts if needed.
The fifth and final tip is to consider a mineral powder or crystalline sunscreen. This type of sunscreen is mineral based and it acts like a physical barrier that bounces the sun's rays away before they can damage your skin. It’s much more reliable and longer lasting because it won’t rub or wash off when you’re sweating, swimming, or wiping your face down. This type of sun protection is shaped like tiny platelets that sit on your skin's surface and refract the harmful UV rays.
Whether you’re a beach bum spending the day in Padre Island or out in the open city exploring Texas’s numerous art galleries, remember these five tips to keep your hair looking great and your scalp protected from the strong Texas sunshine!
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