Quick answer
Your part can leave a narrow strip of scalp exposed, even when your hair looks full. Protect exposed scalp and hairline with a suitable hat or sunscreen, and check the product label for how to apply and reapply it.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. If sunscreen leaves your roots looking coated, a hat may be easier to wear. Skimping on sunscreen to preserve your hairstyle is not a good tradeoff.
Check the part and hairline
Look for visible skin along your usual part, at the hairline, and anywhere your hair is thinning. Use a mirror or ask someone to check the top of your head; a quick glance from the front may miss an exposed strip.
In the Skin Cancer Foundation’s scalp-protection advice, dermatologist Dendy Engelman notes that hair offers some UV shielding, but a part or thinly covered area still needs protection. The advice includes applying sunscreen to exposed scalp and around the hairline when hair is dry.
Treat the skin, not just the strands. A hair product’s “UV protection” wording does not by itself make it sunscreen for your scalp. Look for a sunscreen label and follow its directions.
Use a hat that covers the scalp
The AAD recommends sunscreen on the scalp or a wide-brimmed hat for thinning hair. The Skin Cancer Foundation’s advice also favors hats, particularly those labeled UPF 50+.
Choose headwear you can comfortably keep on during your activity, and check whether it covers the crown as you move. A visor leaves the top of the head exposed, and a brim does not necessarily cover every visible part. Shade can help, but remember to protect exposed skin when you leave it.
A hat photo can show what its coverage looks like; it cannot verify a tested UPF rating. Check the product information for that.
Apply sunscreen to exposed skin
Use your sunscreen on the exposed part and hairline according to its label. If you use your face sunscreen, check that its directions are suitable for the area. A different texture may be easier to spread around hair, but no format guarantees an invisible or nongreasy finish for everyone.
For one product-specific example, Sun Bum’s U.S. Scalp & Hair Mist SPF 30 directs users to hold the container four to six inches from the scalp, spray liberally on the part or other exposed areas, and spread it evenly with fingertips. The directions say to apply 15 minutes before sun exposure and not to spray directly onto the face.
Those directions apply to that mist, not every spray sunscreen. Check the label on your own product, including its current ingredients and warnings. The brand’s lightweight or nongreasy claims do not guarantee how it will feel or look in your hair.
Use spray carefully
Spray sunscreen still needs to be spread for even coverage. The AAD’s spray guidance says to avoid inhaling it and never to spray around the face or mouth; apply facial sunscreen from your hands instead.
Wind can carry spray away from the intended area and toward your breathing zone. Keep it away from heat, flames, and smoking. If you cannot apply it in a controlled way, use a suitable lotion or wear protective headwear.
Reapply after water, sweat, and towel drying
Reapplication depends on the sunscreen’s label. Sun Bum says to reapply its scalp mist after 80 minutes of swimming or sweating, immediately after towel drying, and at least every two hours. Water resistance is time-limited; it does not mean waterproof or all-day protection.
Check your own product’s directions, since its water-resistance period may differ. After swimming or sweating, check whether your part and hairline are still covered, and keep suitable headwear handy when you leave the water.
If an area of scalp looks new, changing, or unusual, seek a dermatologist’s assessment. For everyday sun protection, make the visible scalp and hairline part of your check alongside other exposed skin.
Read next
- What Does Broad Spectrum Mean on Sunscreen?
- When to Reapply Sunscreen: Swimming, Sweating and Towel Drying
Sources
- Skin Cancer Foundation: How Can I Protect My Scalp Better?
- AAD: How to Apply Sunscreen
- Sun Bum U.S.: Scalp & Hair Mist SPF 30
- AAD: How to Use Stick and Spray Sunscreens
Image credits
- Featured image: ELIZAVETA CHAYKO / pexels.com (original image page)
- Body image 1: Angela Roma / pexels.com (original image page)