When we’re out in the sun, we normally think about protecting our skin and not our hair, which is a major issue considering how much damage the rays can inflict on your locks.

While your tresses don’t burn like your skin does, the UV rays do break down the cuticle, resulting in dry, brittle and frizzy hair. Sun damage can even exacerbate hair loss, so proper sun protection is a head-to-toe experience.

To make sure that you aren’t damaging your beautiful locks when you’re enjoying your day out on the beach, here are a few things to consider:

Add a hat to your OOTD

Just like with your skin, the easiest way to protect your hair is by keeping it out of the sun, and you can do that with a hat. If you aren’t a huge fan of hats, you can always experiment with silk scarves and other accessories. Think of this as an opportunity to change up your style.

Don’t forget your scalp!

You probably know that there are sunscreens specifically made for your hair, but one thing that you should remember is that it’s not just the locks you have to protect ⁠— it’s also your scalp. If you don’t have any hair sunblock, you can still finger comb a bit of regular skin sunscreen with zinc oxide through your strands and massage your scalp, although some people find that makes their head quite oily. If that’s the case, the alternative to protect your scalp is with translucent powder that’s packed with SPF protection, such as the Pond’s BB Magic Powder.

Treating it like dry shampoo, this powder protects against UVA and UVB rays, so it’s almost as if it was meant to be used for your face and scalp.

And the great thing about this powder is that it’s a tinted translucent powder, so there won’t be traces of white flakes in your scalp, making it seem like you have dandruff.

Make a natural sunscreen for your hair

Don’t feel like purchasing a specific sunscreen just for your hair? You can use the methods previously mentioned, or make your own using natural ingredients.

There are a few oils that offer natural sun protection, all the while smoothing the cuticle and adding shine into your tresses. These are coconut oil, olive oil, shea butter, avocado, argan oil and others. The ones with the highest SPF that range from 20-50 are raspberry seed oil, carrot seed oil and wheat germ oil.

Although some of these oils are not totally accessible for everyone, there are recipes of natural sunscreen that combine the lower SPF oils so they can increase sun protection.

Use leave-in conditioner

Finishing your shower routine with a leave-in conditioner is another way to protect your hair. Just like the natural oils in your hair, leave-in conditioner works as a protective barrier against dryness from the sun, pool water and seawater. If you don’t have leave-in conditioner, you can also use coconut oil, or any of the other oils mentioned with higher SPF.

Don’t wash your hair too often

Last time, we highlighted all the reasons why you shouldn’t wash your hair too much. The natural oil is good for your hair, acting as a protective barrier for your strands. It even acts as a sunscreen for your hair, so extend the time between your washes. If you want to avoid the “unclean hair” look, use dry shampoo in between washes.

Do a weekly hair mask

If you’re looking to restore moisture back into your sun damaged hair, a nourishing hair mask will hydrate your locks and even reverse some of the damage. You can either use store bought hair masks, or make your own using natural oils. Just apply your chosen oil on your damp hair, and let your strands fully absorb the moisture and repair your tresses.

Have any other tips you want to share? Feel free to comment down below!

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