Yahoo Lifestyle Wait, WTF Is Scalp Sunscreen, and Do I Really Need One?
- 1/8
Wait, WTF Is Scalp Sunscreen, and Do I Really Need One?
You probably own a sunscreen tailored for your skin type and know to reapply at least every two hours or after sweating and swimming. But did you know that your scalp is also at risk for sunburns and potentially skin cancer?
While hats and even our own hair provide some sun protection, doctors say using a scalp sunscreen will guard your head against ultraviolet rays that speed up aging and cause long-term UV damage. Whether you have a bald head or just need to brush some SPF along your part, these doctor-approved scalp sunscreens will protect your skin 365 days a year.Best Scalp Sunscreens
What Kind of Sunscreen Is Best for the Scalp?
You could get away with using your regular face sunscreen on your scalp, but unless you're bald, the application can get messy. To help you discover the best scalp SPF for your needs, our beauty editor, Nicole Saunders, connected with a few doctors for their skincare guidance. Our experts also include board-certified dermatologists Dr. Hadley King, M.D., Dr. Neda Mehr, M.D., and Dr. Christina Lee Chung, M.D. FAAD.
SPF Level
The most important aspect of any sunscreen is the SPF level, which indicates how long it'll take for your skin to turn red if you apply sunscreen as directed by the brand. Our experts agree that you need at least SPF 30 coverage for your scalp, face, and body. Anything less than 30 is doable if you're in a pinch, but it's not ideal because your skin is exposed to more ultraviolet B (UVB) rays associated with burning and skin cancer.
Broad-spectrum
Our experts highly recommend using a broad-spectrum sunscreen to protect you from UVB and ultraviolet A (UVA) rays associated with aging. Mineral sunscreens are naturally broad-spectrum, but not all chemical sunblocks guard you against UVA and UVB rays. Luckily for you, all of the scalp sunscreens on our list are broad-spectrum to help prevent sunburns.
Formulation
Although what matters most is that you actually wear and reapply your scalp sunscreen at least every 2 hours, there are some benefits and limitations to different scalp sunscreen formulas.
- Spray sunscreens are user-friendly for defined areas like the part and hairline and are generally easier to apply to the scalp compared to creams and powders.
- Powder sunscreens are also fantastic for protecting your part and bald heads because they are non-sticky and absorb quickly. The only downside is they take a little longer to dust over a completely bald head.
- Creams and lotions are great for bald heads because you can slather them across your head without creating a mess — but if you have a lot of hair, you'll probably want to skip these formulations.
- Stick sunscreens are similar to powders — they're great for protecting your part, hairline, or a bald head, and given their compact size, they're also great for travel and touchups.
Now that you have a clear understanding of why you need to rock scalp sunscreen and what to consider when shopping for one, here are the best doctor-approved options available right now.
Best Products; Courtesy - 2/8
1) Sheer Zinc Oxide Mineral Sunscreen Stick
Neutrogena
amazon.com
$15.49
Key Specs
- SPF: 50
- Active ingredients: Zinc oxide
We chose this stick sunscreen as our best-overall scalp sunscreen because it’s cheap, effective, and well-loved by reviewers and Chung. While you won’t get the skin-healing benefits or multipurpose perks of more expensive sunblocks on our list, this scalp sunscreen has you covered with your most essential need: broadspectrum sun protection!
Chung highly recommends this scalp sunscreen for bald or shaved heads because it easily glides across skin, and it’s great for reapplication. Reviewers agree it has a beautiful balm-like texture and absorbs quickly. “I don’t have to worry about getting a greasy look from it accidentally getting caught in my hair,” says one 5-star review.
Other reviewers note it's also the perfect size for tossing in their purse, and because it's a solid, they don't have to worry about it leaking into their bag and creating an unnecessary mess.
amazon.com - 3/8
2) Poof 100% Mineral Part Powder
Supergoop!
amazon.com
$34.00
Key Specs
- SPF: 35
- Active ingredient: Zinc oxide
For Chung and hundreds of reviewers across Supergoop! and Sephora, this powder scalp sunscreen is one of the best ways to prevent a sunburned part. Made with clean ingredients that are safe and gentle for even the most sensitive of scalps, reviewers describe this yellow powder sunscreen as “a dream product,” “brilliant,” and “a lifesaver.”
“My part and scalp no longer get burned, and it’s super lightweight and blends in really well,” says one reviewer living in the Caribbean. Another reviewer that’s always had a problem with getting bad sunburns on their middle part badly burnt all summer says this sunscreen has totally fixed that and goes on the scalp super easily.
It's so impressive that Chung and several online reviewers agree it also pumps up flat hair, similar to a volumizing hair powder. Most powder sunscreens are made with a built-in brush, but Supergoop! equipped Poof with a non-aerosol nozzle, allowing you to spritz your part without messing up your hairstyle.amazon.com - 4/8
3) Eryfotona Actinica Mineral Sunscreen
ISDIN
amazon.com
$60.00
Key Specs
- SPF: 50
- Active ingredient: Zinc oxide
King says this lightweight scalp sunscreen is fantastic for bald heads that are heavily exposed to solar rays. The New York-based doctor argues Eryfotona is 100% worth the splurge because it contains patented DNA Repairsomes, which she describes as enzymes that repair and protect sun-damaged skin.
One of the most common signs of sun damage is dark brown sunspots, and multiple reviewers say it helped shrink the size and lighten spots on their face and body.
It's also a fantastic option for anyone who needs a mineral sunscreen for their darker skin tone. While old-school mineral sunblocks get a bad rep for leaving behind a white cast, all of the options on our list boast sophisticated formulas that don't leave behind an embarrassing film.
Need more reassurance? Thousands of Amazon reviewers gave this sunblock a 5-star review because it disappears onto the skin. “Unlike other zinc-based sunscreens, Isdin is absorbed well and leaves no ‘white, ghostly’ residue as I experienced with CeraVe and other products. Even when I’m layering Isdin with moisturizer and makeup, there isn’t any heavy feeling,” says one 5-star review.amazon.com - 5/8
4) Ultimate Sun Protection Spray
Shiseido
ulta.com
$36.00
Key Specs
- SPF: 50
- Active ingredients: Avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene, and oxybenzone
Love spray sunscreen but want to stay away from an aerosol can? Chung adores this option because it’s equipped with an easy-to-use pump that disburses a light and non-sticky sunscreen onto your bald head or exposed scalp. Plus, thanks to the powerful blend of five UV filters and nourishing xylitol, your scalp will be fully guarded against solar rays and look healthy.
Sephora and Ulta reviewers are also enthusiastic about this spray sunblock. “This is my favorite sunscreen on Earth. I love how light and nongreasy it is — I can spray it on my face and hair with no issues,” says one 5-star Ulta review.
When you’re dealing with patchiness or bald spots, you want a sunscreen that provides a precise application to avoid ruining your hairdo, and this delivers. “It was great for my husband who has thinning hair and didn’t want his scalp to burn,” says one 5-star Sephora review. “Lotion makes his hair greasy, and this spray provides SPF but didn’t mess up his hair.”ulta.com - 6/8
5) UV Aero Full-Body Sunscreen Spray
EltaMD
dermstore.com
$34.50
Key Specs
- SPF: 45
- Active ingredients: Zinc oxide and octinoxate
This scalp sunscreen earned snaps from Chung and Neda, who are impressed with its refined texture and lightweight feel. Many online reviewers also sing praises of this spray sunscreen because it doesn't leave their scalp and skin feeling like an oil slick. Plus, it's unscented, making it safe for anyone allergic to fragrances.
It also boasts an elegant mineral-based formula that prevents the dreaded white cast. “I like that this sunscreen sprays on white so that I can see where I have coverage, then it disappears after I rub it into my skin,” says one 5-star review. Other reviewers note that it doesn’t clog pores like some other heavier sunscreens tend to do.
A bonus: It offers one of the highest levels of SPF coverage than most options in our guide.
dermstore.com - 7/8
6) Total Protection Sheer Matte Sunscreen Brush
Colorescience
dermstore.com
$45.00
Key Specs
- SPF: 30
- Active ingredients: Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide
King and Neda recommend this extremely mattifying scalp sunscreen because it uses silicone powder to eliminate a greasy scalp, similar to dry shampoo. Given its built-in antimicrobial bristles, Total Protection is also fantastic for applying along your part or dusting across your head, especially if you're dealing with scalp acne.
Amazon shoppers genuinely can’t get enough of this impressive sunblock, and after evaluating the ingredient label, it’s easy to understand why. Beyond broad-spectrum protection, this all-mineral and non-comedogenic powder sunscreen shields your scalp against infrared rays and environmental pollution. It also uses EnviroScreen Technology to block blue light, but TBH, that’s more useful for your face when you’re using a tablet or laptop.
Regardless of where you dust on this item, King and reviewers agree this is one essential sunscreen. “Having the product and application brush together is so handy and makes it very easy to use. It is the best product that I have ever used and is very effective,” says one 5-star review.
dermstore.com - 8/8
7) Unrivaled Sun Serum
EleVen by Venus Williams
ulta.com
$50.00
Key Specs
- SPF: 35
- Active ingredient: Zinc oxide
- Water-resistant: Yes
We love that plastic surgeon Dr. Jaimie DeRosa, M.D., suggests a product that is available at Credo, an online retailer that stocks our favorite clean beauty brands. Credo will not sell any item if it contains one of 2,700 ingredients that it considers questionable.
Created by iconic tennis star Venus Williams, this 100% mineral sunscreen boasts a serum-like texture and is loaded with a blend of hydrating ingredients like nourishing ginger lily extract and anti-inflammatory vanilla. It also contains prickly pear to help nourish your tired scalp.
Dozens of reviewers say this reef-safe sunscreen is their go-to SPF because it doesn't leave behind a white cast.
ulta.com
