You’re definitely familiar with sunscreen for skin care. But hair sunscreen? Probably not.
Did you know that just as our skin needs protection from the effects of long exposure to the sun, our hair and scalp do too. However, store-bought hair sunscreens, though effective are not easy to find in local beauty shops and can be relatively pricey.
So, DIYs come in handy. But do you really need to get hair sunscreen? And how can you make it? We go over those in this article.
Why You Need Hair Sunscreen
Essentially, you need hair sunscreen for the same reason you need sunscreen for your skin. For protection.
Hair sunscreens protect your hair and scalp from the dangerous effects of UV (UVA and UVB) ray exposure. These effects include dryness, dullness, protein loss, and change in your hair colour.
How to Make Hair Sunscreen
Most sunscreens available for purchase contain unsafe ingredients found in hair products such as retinyl palmitate, oxybenzone, and parabens. So, DIYs are a great way to get the protection your hair needs while ensuring you only use organic and safe ingredients. Here are some DIY recipes to try –
- Aloe & Honey
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- Grapeseed & Rosewater
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- Shea & Argan
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- Jojoba & Aloe
How Often Should You Apply Hair Sunscreen?
Like body sunscreen, you should apply your hair sunscreen daily, especially if you’d be outdoors. The best time to apply sunscreen is at least 15 minutes before you head out. To ensure maximum protection, you should reapply every three hours.
Other Ways to Protect Your Hair from the Sun
Besides using sunscreen, you can shield your hair from direct exposure to the sun in the following ways –
- wearing a hat
- using a scarf
- carrying an umbrella
- combining methods (for example, wearing sunscreen and a hat or wearing a scarf and using an umbrella)
Final Thoughts
Hair sunscreens are an essential in hair care. If you can’t afford one, aren’t comfortable with some ingredients in branded products, or simply love DIYs, then the homemade hair sunscreen in this recipe are sure to help.
Using your sunscreen may look like inconsequential but, in the long run, it adds up to everything else in your hair routine that’ll help you maintain healthy hair.