I wouldn’t spend an afternoon at the beach or the pool without putting SPF 50 on my face, but for a long time, I completely ignored my hair and scalp. Following my posts on lip balms and hand creams, this is the final piece of the holiday puzzle: hair sun protection.
Sun, sea salt, and chlorine don’t just mess up your styling; they physically damage your hair structure. Here is what actually happens when you are by the water – and for me living in Sotogrande, Spain now it isn’t optional – and the five products worth buying.
What the Sun, Salt, and Chlorine Actually Do
Skipping protection causes three main problems:
- Fried Strands: UV rays break down keratin (the protein that keeps your hair strong). This leads to brittle texture, split ends, and ruins expensive salon colour.
- The Salt and Chlorine Trap: Dried salt and pool chlorine strip away your hair’s natural oils. Salt crystals also act like tiny magnifying glasses on your strands, intensifying sun damage.
- Burnt Partings: The skin on your parting burns easily. Regular sun cream makes your roots greasy and flat, so you need something designed specifically for hair.
You will notice that premium hair products don’t show an official SPF rating (like SPF 30 or 50). Legally, “SPF” is only used for live skin. Because hair is dead tissue, it doesn’t burn—it just degrades. Instead, these products use invisible UV Filters. Think of it as a protective shield that stops the sun from frying your hair proteins and stripping your colour.
My 5 Product Recommendations
These are the five cleanest, most effective options I’ve found. No messy powders or chalky residue—just liquids, oils, and creams that work.
1. COOLA Organic Scalp & Hair Mist SPF 30
If you just want to protect your parting without your hair looking greasy and flat, buy this. It is a completely weightless organic mist that handles the scalp skin with actual SPF 30, while using UV filters to protect your lengths. It has a fresh mint scent and doesn’t leave any sticky residue.
2. Sun Bum Scalp & Hair Mist SPF 30
This does a very similar job to the COOLA mist but at a much lower price point. It’s lightweight, vegan, protects your scalp parting from burning, and uses sunflower seed extract to shield your colour. It also smells exactly like summer (coconut and banana).
3. Nuxe Sun Moisturising Protective Milky Oil
If you want something that feels a bit more luxurious, Nuxe is excellent. It is a multi-protection “milky oil” that shields your hair and scalp from UV rays, salt, and chlorine. It leaves a nice, glossy shine and keeps thick or dry hair deeply moisturised.
4. Kérastase Soleil Crème UV Sublime
If you spend a lot of money on highlights or balayage, get this. It’s a lightweight leave-in cream with Vitamin E and Coconut Water that blocks colour-fading rays. It is easily the best option for thick, curly, or frizzy hair because it gives you 24-hour humidity control in sticky weather. Smooth a small amount through your mid-lengths to ends before you head out.
5. PHYTO PLAGE The Protective Oil
Phyto recently updated this classic French pharmacy formula. It blends calendula extract and karanja oil to create a heavy-duty shield against dehydration. It is specifically built for hair that gets completely parched and straw-like from dry winds and sun exposure.
How to Apply It
Timing matters here. Always apply your mist or cream before you leave the house while your hair is completely dry. If you wait until you are already sitting by the water, your hair has already started absorbing salt or morning humidity, which stops the UV filters from binding properly.
Treat it like your regular sun cream: if you go for a swim in the sea or the pool, reapply it as soon as you’ve towel-dried.
Stay safe by the water, and let me know which one you end up trying!
If you are currently packing your holiday bags, you can also check out my full list of My Summer Beauty Essentials for the rest of my holiday must-haves.
Mrs. O
