6 Best Scalp Sunscreens to Protect Your Part

02.07.2025, 02:08 allure.com

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Despite diligently applying sunscreen to our faces every day, it's still easy to miss one very sun-exposed area: the scalp. The best scalp sunscreens solve exactly that problem, shielding one of the most overlooked (and overexposed) areas on your body. If you’ve ever ended a sunny day with a tender, pink part line or a flaky post-burn scalp, you already know how easy it is to neglect this spot—and how much it can hurt later. “I see firsthand how common skin cancer on the scalp is. Even with a full head of hair, the scalp remains vulnerable to harmful UV rays,” says Whitney Hovenic, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Reno, Nevada. “What’s more, skin cancers in this area can often go unnoticed for a long time, hidden beneath the hair.”

But the thing is, no one wants to (or should have to) rub goopy body SPF into their roots. Dedicated scalp sunscreens are specially formulated to blend seamlessly into the skin without leaving your hair greasy or flat. Many feature targeted nozzles, sprays, or even powders that make application quick and mess-free. A quick spritz onto your strands also helps protect hair from UV-related damage. “UV rays can make hair brittle and appear frayed,” says New York City board-certified dermatologist Kavita Mariwalla, MD. “Sunlight is drying and can lighten hair simply from exposure,” she says. So, protecting your part is smart, and showing the rest of your hair a little love while you’re at it is a good idea, too.

Ahead, we rounded up the best scalp SPFs that derms say deserve a spot in your hair-care routine.

COOLA

Amazon

Revolve

Ulta Beauty

Why it’s worth it: Coola’s Organic Scalp & Hair Sunscreen Mist SPF 30 delivers powerful sun protection in an ultra-lightweight, fast-drying formula for all hair types that won’t leave your roots greasy or sticky. The precision nozzle makes it easy to mist your part or hairline without disrupting your style, while nourishing ingredients like monoi oil and Centella asiatica (a.k.a. cica) hydrate, soothe, and protect both scalp and strands. It’s also a go-to for pool and beach days. “It’s especially convenient for post-swim touch-ups when your hair is damp, offering easy, mess-free protection,” says Dr. Hovenic. And the juicy scent is basically summer in a spritz, thanks to naturally derived fragrances, not synthetics (making it a great pick for sensitive skin).

Editor's tip

Cica helps calm irritation and support your skin barrier, so if you’ve already been burned (it happens), it can help your scalp recover.

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Sun Bum

Amazon

Ulta Beauty

Why it’s worth it: Sun Bum’s Scalp & Hair Mist SPF 30 goes beyond basic sun protection—it’s a sheer, fast-drying formula packed with moisturizing ingredients like sea kelp extract, sunflower seed extract, and glycerin to help nourish your scalp while defending it from UV rays. One of its standout features is the ultra-precise nozzle of this sunscreen spray. It delivers a fine, controlled mist that lets you zero in on your part or hairline without drenching the rest of your strands, making it one of the most targeted, easy-to-use sprays on our list. “It’s so lightweight and cooling, plus, it doesn’t weigh down hair,” says Martha Viera, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Coral Gables, FL, who recommends this scalp mist for anyone with dry skin needing hydrated protection.

Editor's tip

It’s water-resistant for up to 80 minutes, but if you’re a heavy sweater, it’s a good idea to reapply more frequently—and luckily, the travel-size bottle makes it easy to toss in your bag.

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Colorescience

Amazon

Nordstrom

Why it’s worth it: If your scalp leans oily, the Colorescience Total Protection Sheer Matte SPF 30 Sunscreen Brush offers a smart, mess-free way to stay protected with a brush-on format. “It’s a lightweight, mineral-based powder sunscreen with a built-in applicator that makes it easy to prevent the part line and other exposed areas from getting scalp sunburn,” says Hovenic. “Plus, it helps absorb excess oil, leaving your hair fresh and touchable.” The mineral sunscreen disappears into the scalp without a trace, and it’s also a convenient face sunscreen that minimizes shine and blurs the look of pores with zero white cast.

Editor's tip

Antioxidants (including grape seed, green tea, oak wood, and sunflower sprout extracts) help defend against free radicals and environmental stressors.

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Shiseido

Nordstrom

Ulta Beauty

Why it’s worth it: The thing about invisible sprays? They’re convenient for UV protection, but it’s way too easy to miss a spot. That’s where Shiseido’s Ultimate Sun Protector Spray SPF 40 comes in. Its innovative SuperVeil-UV 360 technology helps the formula spread evenly across your skin for seamless, no-miss coverage. The ultra-lightweight, fast-drying mist is ideal for tricky spots like the back of your head, your part line, and the nape of your neck—and it won’t leave behind a greasy film. “I like this ultra-fine spray for the hair part and hairlines,” says Morayo Adisa, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and medical director of Dermatology Physicians based in Chicago, Illinois. “Though designated for face and body, its lightweight, no-residue, high SPF, and water-resistant properties up to 80 minutes make it great for use on the scalp.”

Editor's tip

This formula also includes antioxidant-rich ingredients, such as green tea extract, that help defend against free radicals.

More to know

Phyto

Nordstrom

Dermstore

Why it’s worth it: While Phyto Plage Sun Protective Oil doesn’t contain traditional sunscreen, it’s formulated with UV filters that help shield hair from the damaging effects of sun exposure. “It’s a lightweight, hydrating, but non-greasy, fast-absorbing fine mist spray fortified with UV filters and sunflower extract that’s designed to coat the hair and scalp with a protective barrier against UV radiation,” says Dr. Adisa. The nourishing blend of calendula, sunflower, shea, and castor oils helps lock in moisture and protect color, leaving hair soft, shiny, and sun-safe. “It’s long-lasting, too—a little application goes a long way,” she adds. The finish gives strands a glossy, beachy sheen—think: a subtle, just-dipped-in-the-ocean look—but it never feels greasy, sticky, or heavy.

Editor's tip

UV filters indicate that the formula contains ingredients that help absorb or deflect UV rays, much like a shield.

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The best sunscreen for your scalp is one that delivers broad-spectrum protection without leaving your roots greasy. “Protecting your scalp doesn’t have to be complicated, but traditional face or body sunscreen lotions aren’t always ideal, as they can weigh down your hair and don’t absorb easily,” says Dr. Hovenic. “That’s why I often recommend SPF powders for the scalp for a mess-free application,” she says.

Whether you opt for a mist, powder, or spray, choose a formula made specifically for the scalp—something lightweight, fast-absorbing, and easy to apply along your part, hairline, or thinning areas.

Your scalp is just as prone to sunburn and long-term sun damage as the rest of your skin, especially if you have a wider part, experience hair loss or thinning hair, or wear styles that expose more of your scalp. But slathering on your go-to face or body sunscreen isn’t always the best move. “Scalp sunscreens are designed and specially formulated to be fast-absorbing, lightweight, without weighing the hair down or making it greasy or dirty,” says Dr. Adisa. “Regular face and body sunscreen might leave greasy and white residue on the hair or scalp, and clog the pores on the scalp, causing scalp breakouts or worsening dandruff,” she adds. Scalp-specific formulas—like mists, sprays, or powders—offer targeted protection that’s easy to apply and won’t mess with your hairstyle or scalp health.

When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that's included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.

For our list of the best scalp sunscreens, we considered each product's performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from board-certified dermatologists and cosmetic chemists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.

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