Do you really need SPF for your hair? Turns out, you do

Telegraph

07-05-2025

I have spoken to enough dermatologists in my time to know that the golden rule of good skincare is protecting your skin from UV rays year-round, not just over the summer months and on holiday. Sun cream helps to safeguard against potential cancers, as well as future-proof the complexion where lines, wrinkles and pigmentation are concerned. While I'm committed to using SPF50 every single day – even in my hand creams – the one thing I don't usually protect from the sun is my hair.
But a recent conversation with my colourist made me rethink my summer haircare routine. I see Anita Rice from the Buller and Rice salon, which has three branches in London, every four months or so for gentle highlights; my appointment was the day before I flew to Greece for a week. 'You need to take some sunscreen for your hair,' she insisted, handing me a travel-sized bottle of SU Milk by the Italian haircare brand Davines.
SU Milk, £11.50, Davines
'If your hair has been colour-treated, any sun exposure will continue the lifting of the hair-colour process,' she explained. 'If you think of young kids with untreated hair, it often goes lighter in the summer – that's because the sun lifts and lightens pigment.' In colour-treated hair, the sun can make it look brassier – whether you're a blonde, a redhead or a brunette. Brassier highlights? No, thank you.
I dutifully packed the SU Milk in my suitcase and, while the weather wasn't blindingly hot on my trip, it was indeed very sunny. Super-easy to use, you just spritz the product into wet or dry hair in the morning and then brush through. Did it protect my highlights? Yes, as promised, it did the trick, but it also added in lots of hydration and made my hair feel very soft. (It smells divine, too.) Of course it's not just for holidays; I'm planning to use it most mornings.
Just as you would use an after-sun for the skin in hot weather, Anita also suggested an after-sun for the hair. 'The hair is a natural fibre, so any exposure to salt water and strong sun rays will dry it out,' she told me. A thick-ish hydrating mask or hair cream can really help to revive dry hair, ideally used a couple of times a week. I rate the famous Elasticizer Deep-Conditioning Treatment by Philip Kingsley; it contains hydrolysed elastin, which adds strength and elasticity back into the hair.
Don't neglect your scalp, either. Anita told me she often notices tan marks in her clients' partings when they return from some time in the sun, as the parting often has the strongest sun exposure. The consultant trichologist Anabel Kingsley, president of the Philip Kingsley brand, agrees. 'Our scalps are skin, just like everywhere else on the body, but we often forget to treat them as such,' she explains. 'Protecting the scalp from sunburn is important, and the best way to do that is to wear a hat if you're going to be out in direct sun for prolonged periods.'
Sam McKnight's Sundaze Sea Spray, from £14, Space NK
Elasticizer Deep-Conditioning Treatment, from £21, Philip Kingsley
So you've protected and rehydrated – what about styling your hair in the sun? I'm sure we're all familiar with salt sprays, which mimic the tousled, beachy effect you can get from being out in the water. They've come a long way: the newer versions don't leave your hair crunchy and often have added UV protection. You can apply most of these products to wet or dry hair to bring out any texture. I'm a huge fan of Hair by Sam McKnight's Sundaze Sea Spray, which gives me my dream beachy hair while protecting it, too.
Three more favourites
Color Protection Hair Mask by Oway
£14, Oway
This is among Anita Rice's favourite masks, and one that she recommends to her clients with thick, curly or very dehydrated hair. It offers lots of nourishment, leaving the hair looking healthier and feeling much softer.
Shine Hair Mask by Fable & Mane
£32, Fable & Mane
I am a huge fan of Fable & Mane's haircare, and this new launch is one of the brand's best yet. After shampoo, leave on the chai-scented mask for three minutes; you'll be left with shiny, bouncy results.
Daily Damage Defence by Philip Kingsley
From £21, Philip Kingsley
This leave-in conditioner provides UV protection and fantastic hydration via a fine spray that won't leave the hair feeling tacky. It's an excellent option for fine hair that would benefit from a lightweight protectant.