8 Products to Protect Hair From Sun Damage (And Other Summer Stress)
Make room on your towel for these summer hair heroes.
In this article
The best hair sun protection is always a hat. Well, that’s if your haven’t yet mastered your summer haircare routine. We don't have to sit here and tell you how far hair products have come (you’ve seen dry shampoo, no?), but I think we can all agree that when it comes to finding how to protect your hair from sun damage, we've only recently seen sun care meet haircare.
From super high end to cult-fave dupes, or the battle between an all-natural route vs. brands that boast the best in science, it can be hard to find your beach bag's staples. Lucky for you, we've tried a ton! So make some room on your towel, ‘cause we're coming in to share the 8 best products to protect hair from sun damage. Plus, some honourable mentions in the UV game.
For Water Lovers: IGK BLOCKED Water-Resistant Hair Shield
For swimmers, floaters, or even just water signs, this creamy, breakthrough formula is a swimmer's hair hero. It blocks out everything: UV rays, chlorine, salt, sweat, wind, and other dye-fading elements too. With a mix of natural waxes and balm mint, this hair shield seals the hair cuticle and keeps hair protected throughout pool play.
What it's made without:
- Cruelty
- Gluten
- Parabens or sulfates
- Mineral oil
Honourable Mention: Philip Kingsley Swimcap Water Resistant Mask
Originally designed for Olympic swimmers, this will not only protect your hair from sun damage, but it's a nourishing blend of olive oil, vitamin E, and essential fatty acids. Plus! Hydrolyzed elastin adds strength and reduces breakage when hair may get hit the hardest: at the pool.
Read Next: 10 Healthy Hair Tips To Apply To Bring Your Hair Back To Life
For Easy AF Application: Rita Hazan Lock + Block Protective Spray
Part of being a Cool Chill Girl™ is having products that are equally as nonchalant as you. Or as chill as we all pretend to look in the summer. Celeb-stylist Rita Hazan's dry, weightless mist is for that.
Apply when hair is damp or dry, it's one of the best hair sun protection products for how easy you can throw it on throughout the day–like, after a swim or when the UV scaries really settle in again. It's high on nourishing vitamins and antioxidants like Vitamin B5, A, and E, giving you easy application, added shine, and frizz-fighting smoothness.
For Vacations: Supergoop! Poof 100% Mineral Part Powder SPF 35
Lazy girls rejoice! One of the best ways to protect hair from sun damage naturally is to wash it less! Because the sun can be pretty harsh on your scalp, it needs extra oil to protect that sensitive skin. Not to mention, if you're on vacation, timing a hair wash between the beach and dinner is pretty annoying.
Enter: Supergoop! Poof 100% Mineral Part Powder. One of the higher SPFs on this list, it protects where things matter most: the scalp. Similar to a dry shampoo, this non-greasy, super-fine powder uses SPF 45 for a mega dose of UV protection so you can keep scalp damage and the when-am-I-gonna-wash-my-hair thoughts at bay. Just focus on the sunset, ok?
Honorable Mention: COOLA Organic Scalp & Hair Mist SPF 30
Small, but mighty, we had to include this small spray for 4 big reasons:
- With organic, plant-derived extracts it acts as a lightweight leave-in conditioner.
- It also has Avobenzone—a strong UV blocker great for direct-to-the-scalp use.
- It's water-resistant and OcEaN ScEnTeD.
- At 60mL, you can throw it in your bag and spritz any time!
Read Next: 10 Hairstyles For Oily Hair So You Can Skip Wash Day
For Hair Styling: Sachajuan Hair In The Sun
Safe sun is important, but it definitely rivals the joy of having blown out and beautiful hair. Powerful UV filter meets Kim K 40th birthday island getaway, this is one Instagram-approved styling tool. We love this product for its unique UV-resistant properties and piece-y, beach-y hold.
And that's not all: even after a swim, hardcore outdoor workout, and even a full wash, you'll get sun-shielding benefits. Although, we suggest a re-apply of any products that protect from sun damage whenever you're gonna be out.
Honorable Mention: Bumble & Bumble Dry Oil Finishing Spray
Less of an honourable mention, more of an amazing final step to your summer styling routine. And this super fine-mist does it all in just a few spritzes. We're giving gold stars out for:
- smoothing without weighing down hair
- lightweight hydration
- non-greasy formula (and still an oil!)
- broad spectrum UV protective shield
Read Next: How To Get Softer Hair: A Simple Guide To Softer, Healthier Hair
For Fine Hair: Wella Professionals Sun Protection Spray For Fine To Normal Hair
We'd never forget you fellow fine-haired babes! Piling on haircare products (especially in the heat of summer) can be an issue for finer hair types. So, we take special consideration for how much harder the sun can hit your scalp and how heavy haircare products can be.
Wella Professionals' Sun Protection Spray for Fine to Normal Hair is that special consideration. Um, it's right in the name! With an SPF 30 formula, it boasts a double phase technology for consistent strength in the sun and its hearty vitamin complex hydrates throughout the day, leaving hair swaying softly.
For Natural Protection: Briogeo Farewell Frizz Rosehip, Argan & Coconut Oil Blend
Finding natural-based solutions for sun care is difficult and luckily, we've come a long way from thick, white, goopy sunscreen. So, how to protect hair from sun damage naturally? Find high-quality, natural ingredients like those in Briogeo's Farewell Frizz Oil Blend. 99% of its ingredients are derived from natural, vegan oils!
And it leaves out:
- artificial dyes
- phthalates
- sulphates
- silicones
As for its crave-worthy ingredients, you get an antioxidant rich blend of coconut oil, rosehip, and argan oil that are designed to protect you from more than just UV rays! You'll also block out frizz, flyaways, free radicals, heat, and that scary what-is-this-actually-made-of feeling.
Read Next: All The Benefits of Jojoba Oil on Hair (And Why it's The Best Fine Hair Oil)
For Moisture: Rahua Hydration Detangler + UV Barrier
Gotta get this off my chest: a huge reason why this (already incredible) product made the list is the SMELL ALONE. Like tropical candy, it uses Amazonian fruit oils from buriti (sometimes called moriche palm), mango, and passionfruit. The brand is known for its "rainforest grown beauty" making these ingredients rich in:
- vitamins A + C + E
- antioxidants
- tocopherols and carotenoids like beta-carotene
- essential fatty acids
- proteins
Mist this in damp hair straight out of the shower or post-swim and gain soft, glossy strands that look like you undid weeks of prior sun-use. While this product protects hair from sun damage at a much higher price point, we wholeheartedly swear by the star power of this one!
Honorable Mention: René Furterer Solaire Protective Summer Oil
At SPF 50, it's surprising this oil is able to do anything else! But, what it also has is an intensely nourishing mix of castor oil and sesame oil, a light, summery fragrance, and water-resistant, long lasting wear. Plus! Those oils not only function as hyper-moisturizing, but sesame extract gives this product its UV-protectant properties; making it one of the more natural products to protect hair from sun damage.
Read Next: DIY Deep Conditioning Treatment At Home For Dry Hair
For Color Protection: Joico Blonde Life Brightening Veil
For blondes and change-obsessed dye lovers, summer is… a brave time. It’s too much sun, too much chlorine, and not enough moisture. Ever. With all that added UV exposure, you need the best hair sun protection to maintain your summer look.
A bit of an over-achiever this one, we couldn't settle for anything less: Joico's Blonde Life Brightening Veil provides a broad spectrum formula that is designed to banish fading and brassy tones. You'll get a boost of shine, reduced frizz, and heat protection up to 230°C all in a few veiled sprays.
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