The Best Scalp Sunscreens for the Entire Family

The Best Scalp Sunscreens for the Entire Family

These days, most understand the importance of protecting your face and body from harmful UV rays. However, there are always sneaky areas that we often forget about. Let us be the first to admit we've been the victim of a less-than-ideal scalp burn in the past.

And, while UPF hats are a great first line of defense, they're not for every scenario, especially in-water activities like swimming. Thankfully, there are many great scalp sunscreens out there to protect your skin and prevent damaged hair, breakage, and color fading. Let's explore the top-rated products that can help keep your entire family protected. 

Our Top-Rated Scalp Sunscreens for the Entire Family

Without further adieu, let's dive into our top-rated scalp sunscreens for the entire family, why we love them, and where to purchase them.

 

Most Instagram-able: Supergoop! Poof 100% Mineral Powder SPF 35, $34 

If you're looking for a super Instagram-able scalp sunscreen that also doubles as a dry shampoo, look no further than the Supergoop! Poof 100% Mineral Powder SPF 35. This 100% mineral powder is non-greasy and features silica to absorb excess oils.  

Available on Supergoop! and Amazon

Picture via Supergoop!

Why We Love It:

  • SPF 35: This scalp sunscreen provides optimal sun protection with a broad-spectrum, SPF 35 rating. 
  • 100% mineral: The only active ingredient in this 100% mineral formula is zinc oxide, a cult favorite ingredient for sun safety. 
  • Powder: If you're not a fan of the oiliness of spray sunscreens, then this powdered product may be your new best friend. The powder formula also doubles as a dry shampoo. 

Cons: 

  • Applicator: The applicator is a tad messy and doesn't apply evenly. For an even distribution, we recommend applying with a powder makeup brush or working thoroughly through your hair with your fingertips. 
  • Slight Tint: This product does have a slight tint that is noticeable on darker hair. This is the same issue many run into when it comes to dry shampoo powders and products as a whole. 

 

Best Mist: Coola Scalp & Hair Mist Organic Sunscreen SPF 30, $28

If a powered SPF isn't for you, look no further than the Coola Scalp & Hair Mist with broad-spectrum, SPF 30 protection. This organic mist is lightweight, water-resistant for 80 minutes, and Hawaii Reef Compliant (Act 104). 

Available on ULTA or Amazon

Picture via Coola

Why We Like It:

  • Dries quickly: There is nothing worse than a sticky SPF that rubs off on everything. The Coola Scalp & Hair Mist dries quickly and should be applied 15 minutes before sun exposure. 
  • Broad-spectrum 30 SPF: Broad-spectrum 30 SPF protects your scalp against harmful UVA and UVB rays. 
  • Water-resistant: This mist is water-resistant for up to 80 minutes. Just as with traditional sunscreen, the product should be reapplied sooner if you're swimming or sweating. 
  • Lightweight: This mist is lightweight, more so than powered products, making it great for thin hair that you don't want to weigh down. 

Cons: 

  • Bottle size: While the perfect travel size (2.0 fl oz), the Coola Scalp & Hair Mist price tag is definitely a bit steep for the amount of product you receive. 
  • Slightly oily: Many reviews noted that this product can leave your hair slightly oily. We found that it is best to spray it onto your fingers and pat the product on your scalp versus spraying it directly to the scalp. 

 

Best for Kids: Baby Bum Mineral SPF Sunscreen Spray, $16.49

While technically not a scalp sunscreen, the Baby Bum Mineral SPF Sunscreen Spray is SPF 50 and our top choice for our little ones. This 100% mineral, broad-spectrum sunscreen is formulated specifically for kids, toddlers, and babies. 

Reminder: Infants under 6 months old should not wear sunscreen. It is best for infants to completely avoid sun exposure and stay covered with UPF clothing and accessories. 

Available on Target and Amazon

Picture via Sun Bum

Why We Like It:

  • 100% Mineral: This product boasts 100% mineral, broad-spectrum sun protection. It is non-greasy, making it the perfect scalp sunscreen to protect your mini-mes. 
  • SPF 50: When it comes to protecting our little ones' delicate skin, using products with an SPF of at least 30 is mandatory, but SPF 50 is even better!  
  • Water-resistant: This product is water-resistant for up to 80 minutes. Just as with traditional sunscreen, the product should be reapplied sooner if you're swimming or sweating. 
  • Fragrance-free: Baby Bum products are formulated with sensitive skin in mind. This means they say no to synthetic fragrances, dyes, or parabens. 

Cons: 

  • White cast: The biggest complaint is that this 100% mineral product leaves a white cast and is too thick to rub in. We didn't find that to be the case but understand that some are more sensitive to mineral products than others.

Looking for a more adult-friendly version? Check out the Sun Bum SPF 30 Sunscreen Scalp and Hair Mist.

 

Best for Him: HeadBlade HeadLube SPF 50 Men's Sunscreen, see price on Amazon

Men don't always have the benefit of thick hair to protect against harmful UV damage. Enter the HeadBlade HeadLube SPF 50 Men's Sunscreen, a multi-use sunscreen for the scalp, face, and body. 

Available on Amazon

Picture via HeadBlade

Pros:

  • SPF 50: Broad-spectrum SPF 50 protects your scalp against harmful UVA and UVB rays. 
  • Water-resistant: The HeadBlade HeadLube SPF 50 is water-resistant for 80 minutes and boasts a sweat-resistant formula to spare your eyes from a sunscreen burn.
  • Hydrates and moisturizes: This product doubles as a moisturizer and hydrates with a non-comedogenic formula that is also greaseless. 
  • Reef-safe: The reef-safe formula is free of oxybenzone and octinoxate, two ingredients that are proven to cause coral bleaching.

Cons: 

  • White cast: Some note that this product leaves the dreaded white cast. However, this is not a mineral formulation so it is more likely too much product was applied. It is important to apply a small amount of product evenly to your scalp and rub it in until the product is fully absorbed. 

 

How We Test Scalp Sunscreens: 

Our criteria for testing all sun-protective items is pretty extensive. Here are the metrics we took into consideration when testing scalp sunscreens for the entire family. These metrics included water resistance, SPF rating, broad-spectrum protection, and reef safety.  

  • Water resistance: While no sunscreen is fully water or sweatproof, some are more water and sweat-resistant than others. We look at products that boast the gold standard of 80 minutes of water resistance. 
  • SPF rating: When evaluating sunscreens, we look for an SPF rating of at least 30. An SPF 30 sunscreen blocks 97% of UVB rays.
  • Broad-spectrum protection: Broad-spectrum protection means the sunscreen protects against UVA and UVB rays. This means it is not only protecting against skin aging but also against sunburn and the adverse effects of unprotected sun exposure.
  • Reef Safe: Reef-safe sunscreen is formulated without oxybenzone and octinoxate, two ingredients that are proven to cause coral bleaching. 


Up Next: 5 Signs Your Sunscreen is Expired

 

All products in this post are independently reviewed and purchased. If you purchase through our links, we may earn a small commission to help support our business. 

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