10 Simple Homemade Sunscreens To Protect Your Hair

We all know how important a sunscreen is for your skin. But what about your scalp and hair? Constant sun exposure can burn your scalp and make your hair brittle and dry. The solution? Hair care products with SPF that protect your hair from the harmful ultraviolet rays. But most commercially available products are expensive and may contain harsh chemicals that cause long-term damage. An ideal alternative would be diy homemade sunscreens for hair.

Ingredients with natural SPF and antioxidants can shield your hair from the damaging effects of the sun. These sunscreens are economical, and you can also tweak them to suit your individual needs.

Here, we have listed the top 10 hair sunscreens that you can make at home. Keep reading.

Is A Hair Sunscreen Really Necessary?

Prolonged sun exposure can make your hair dull, lifeless, and prone to breakage. Sun rays can dry your hair and leave it discolored, brittle, and rough at the ends. Hair sunscreens can protect your hair against damaging UV rays. They also can strengthen your hair by adding hydration and nourishment. Their antioxidants fight free radicals too, making them an absolute necessity. In the following section, we have listed the 10 best DIY hair sunscreens.

DIY Sunscreen Recipes To Protect Your Hair

Here you will explore some simple DIY homemade sunscreens for hair, and provide recipes for making. Check out now.

1. Grapeseed And Rosewater Hair Sunscreen 

You will need

• 10-20 drops of pure grapeseed essential oil
• 200 ml of rose water

Process

2. Mix the ingredients thoroughly.
3. Spritz the hair sunscreen mixture 20 minutes before you go outside.
4. Store the hairspray in the refrigerator for a longer life.

2. White Tea And Lavender Hair Sunscreen

You will need

• 2 white tea bags
• 5 drops of lavender oil

Process

1. Use 2 white tea bags to brew tea.
2. Let this concoction cool down. Add the 5 drops of lavender oil to it and store the mixture in a hair spray bottle.
3. Shake before use. Apply to hair every day.

3. Zinc Hair Sunscreen Recipe 

You will need

• 1 teaspoon of non-nano zinc oxide
• 1 teaspoon of argan oil
• 177 ml of water

Process

1. Mix the ingredients and apply directly to your hair. 

4. Aloe Vera And Honey Hair Sunscreen

You will need

• 1 tablespoon of aloe vera
• 1 teaspoon of sea salt
• 1 teaspoon of coconut oil
• 1 tablespoon of honey
• 236 ml of water

Process

1. Mix the aloe vera, sea salt, coconut oil, and honey.
2. Add water to this mixture to achieve the consistency of a hair spray. Shake before use.
3. Spray on your hair before heading out.

5. Raspberry Seed Oil And Avocado Oil Sunscreen

You will need

• 2 tablespoons of raspberry seed oil
• 2 tablespoons of avocado oil
• 1 rosemary tea bag

Process

6. Brew the rosemary tea and let it cool.
7. Add the remaining ingredients and mix thoroughly.
8. Store the mixture in a spray bottle and spray regularly. Shake the bottle before use.

6. Coconut Oil, Avocado, And Aloe Vera

You will need

• 2 tablespoons of coconut oil
• 1 tablespoon of avocado oil
• 1 tablespoon of almond oil
• 3 teaspoons of aloe vera gel
• 40 ml of water

Process

1. Add coconut oil, almond oil, avocado oil, and aloe vera gel into the water and mix well.
2. Store in a hair spray bottle.
3. Shake the hair sunscreen and apply it to the hair before heading out.

7. Sunscreen With Jojoba Oil, Egg Yolk, Honey, And Cognac

You will need

• 1 tablespoon of wheat germ oil
• 1 teaspoon of jojoba oil
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 teaspoon of honey
• 1 teaspoon of cognac

Process

8. Mix the ingredients to form a thick paste.
9. Apply the mask to your hair and leave it on for 20 minutes. Shampoo as usual.

8. Sunscreen With Yogurt, Honey, And Apple Cider Vinegar

You will need

• 6 tablespoons of whole white yogurt
• 2 tablespoons of honey
• 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar
• 40 ml of lukewarm water
• 20 drops of lavender essential oil
• 10 drops of peppermint essential oil

Process

1. Make a smooth mask with the ingredients. Add the lukewarm water to get the ideal consistency.
2. Apply this mixture to your hair and leave it on for 30 minutes.
3. Wash your hair as usual with shampoo and conditioner.

9. Sunscreen With Rice Oil, Castor Oil, Coconut Oil, And Jojoba Oil

You will need

• 2 tablespoons of rice bran oil
• 1 teaspoon of castor oil
• 2 tablespoons of coconut oil
• 1 tablespoon of jojoba oil
• 1 tablespoon of sesame oil
• 1 capsule of Vitamin E
• 10 drops of the essential oil of sweet orange

Process

10. Mix the ingredients and apply this mixture to damp hair.
11. Leave it on for 30 minutes.
12. Shampoo as usual.

10. Sunscreen With Coconut Oil, Jojoba Oil, And Aloe Vera

You will need

• 40 ml of water
• 1 tablespoon of coconut oil
• 1 tablespoon of jojoba oil
• 1 tablespoon of aloe vera gel

Process

1. Add coconut oil, jojoba oil, and aloe vera into the water.
2. Mix well and store in a hair spray bottle.
3. Apply this mixture to your hair before going out in the sun.
4. You can refrigerate the sunscreen for up to 3 days.

These are the simple hair sunscreens you can make at your home. They are made of beneficial ingredients. But what does the research say about them? 

How Do The Ingredients In These Homemade Sunscreens Work? 

• Grapeseed oil: Grapeseed oil has anti-dandruff, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties. It also is used as a sunscreen (1). It is rich in flavonoids and antioxidants, including proanthocyanidin and alpha-tocopherol, which protect your hair from sun damage and ultraviolet radiation (1).
• White tea: White tea is an established photoprotective agent (2). It is rich in polyphenols with potent antioxidant properties that protect the scalp (skin) against sun damage (2).
• Non-nano zinc oxide: Non-nano zinc oxide is among the safest forms of zinc oxides. It does not enter the bloodstream (3). It offers a natural and non-toxic way to protect your hair from UVA and UVB rays.
• Raspberry seed oil: It is rich in antioxidants that help block the UV rays and fight free radicals (4).
• Rice bran oil: Rice bran oil’s antioxidant and photoprotective properties offer protection against the harmful sun rays (4).
• Argan oil: Argan oil is rich in natural phenols such as caffeic acid, oleuropein, vanillic acid, tyrosol, and catechol (5). These act as UV filters and help with sun protection.
• Aloe vera: Aloe vera is a natural hair conditioner. It has strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that fight free radicals and protect against UV damage (5).
• Vegetable- and fruit-based oils are rich in tocopherols, carotenoids, and essential fatty acids. They are popularly used in sunscreen lotions. They absorb UV rays and protect against sun damage. The SPF values of a few commonly used oils are given in the table below. You can use these to tweak hair sunscreens to your needs (6).

Conclusion

DIY hair sunscreens offer you the first line of defense from the sun. They can be incorporated into your hair care routine as hair sprays or hair masks. Their antioxidants protect your hair from the harmful UV rays without making it dry, dull, or brittle. However, these homemade sunscreens may have comparatively lower SPF values due to the use of natural ingredients. They are far less likely to cause any adverse effects. But should you experience any reaction, consult a doctor immediately.

Expert’s Answers for Readers Questions

How can I protect my hair from the sun naturally?

Cover your hair with a hat or a scarf to minimize sun exposure. Use products with sun protection, including DIY hair masks and natural hair sunscreens.

How to get sunscreen out of hair?

Use a clarifying shampoo to remove sunscreen and product build-up from hair and scalp.

What oils protect hair from the sun?

Grapeseed oil, sesame oil, and coconut oil are known to offer partial sun protection to hair.

Can sunscreen damage your hair?

No, sunscreen protects your hair from damage. However, ensure you rinse the sunscreen out of your hair after use.

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Annie Jangam

Annie Jangam is a Molecular Biologist with 7 years of research experience in Rice Functional Genomics and Nutrient Signalling with International Publications in Abiotic stress, Nitrogen, and G-protein signaling. She specializes in writing on Health and Wellness. She has been an avid reader since childhood and is passionate about stories that help decipher life and its meaning. She believes in Human Rights for all and that one should "love others like we love ourselves."