10 purchases to protect your hair from the sun

Receive free beauty updates

we will send you a myFT Daily Recap email rounding up the latest Beauty news every morning.

Applying SPF to the face is a given, but the scalp and hair are often overlooked. UV exposure can cause a sore, flaky, sunburned scalp, and lead to dry, coarse, and brittle hair. “Over time, the sun can eventually denature the keratin in your hair, making it more prone to breakage,” says Anabel Kingsley, consultant trichologist at Philip Kingsley. It can also bleach colored strands, making “lightened hair in particular appear more brassy.”

But the lightweight, targeted formulas offer protection against UV rays, chlorine and sea salt, and nourish hair. Coola’s SPF30 Scalp and Hair Mist (£29, feelunique.com) is water resistant and contains plant-derived extracts that condition, hydrate and strengthen. And for SPF50, try Ultrasun’s Quick Dry Clear Spray (£32, lookfantastic.com) that promises to inhibit light-induced skin aging with an antioxidant complex. If an oily scalp is the problem, try an absorbent powder like SuperGoop!’s Translucent Mineral Setting Powder! with SPF30 (£26, net-a-porter.com).

Over time, the sun can denature the keratin in your hair.

philip kingsleyThe conditioning swim cap (£20) is an industry leader: originally developed for the US Olympic synchronized swimming team, it protects hair from bleaching caused by chlorine and the drying effects of the sun. French Pharmacy Favorite Nuxe‘s Milky Oil Scented with Sweet Orange, Tiare Flower and Vanilla (£14.40) is excellent for hydration, while the sustainable brand davinesSmoothing Leave-In Milk from (£22) is rich in nourishing Vitamin C.

Doubling up as a styling product, sisleyThe UVA/UVB Protecting Fluid (£80) is a texturizing spray scented with citrus and woody notes that helps rebuild the hair’s protein structure. The Sundaze Sea Spray (£26) from the stylist sam mcknight encourages waves and curls without the crunch, and SachajuanHair In The Sun’s lightweight serum (£31) controls flyaways and uses cold-water algae extracts to promote cell regeneration and improve elasticity. And Bumble and Bumble’s Invisible Oil Foundation (£25, libertadlondon.com) promises to reduce frizz by 50% (even in extremely humid conditions) and is packed with grapeseed, almond and safflower oil to help detangle and boost shine.