The Best Non-Staining Sunscreen for Hair Extensions

By now, pretty much everyone is aware of the importance of sunscreen on our skin. Not only does it offer protection from dangerous conditions such as skin cancer, but it also helps combat the effects of sun exposure – including fine lines, skin marks, and nasty sunburns. But what about our precious hair and hair extensions? You may not know it, but your favourite sunscreen could be an enemy to your fresh new hair extensions – and this is why it's crucial to find the best non-staining sunscreen that provides effective protection without weighing down your tresses, and without affecting their colour. In today’s blog, I’ll show you my personal recommendations, explain more in detail the importance of sunscreen on hair and scalp, and provide you with solutions to protect your hair extensions all summer long.

How Does Sunscreen Affect Hair Extensions?

Remy hair extensions, just like your natural hair, are vulnerable to the damage caused by UV rays. Exposing your tresses to the sun a little too long can permanently damage them – nullifying your precious investment. Dryness, colour fading, breakage and brittleness are a few of the catastrophic effects that pesky UV radiation can have on both  natural hair and hair extensions. And whilst some might love that sunkissed glow that you get during summer, there are other ways to get glamorous highlights in your mane without damaging your hair! Balayage hair extensions, for example, are capable of adding a touch of light to your natural hair without any bleach or sun damage involved. 

Sunscreen acts like a barrier for UV rays, sheltering your hair and extensions by filtering them out. Some sunscreens, however,may contain ingredients that could unfortunately stain light-coloured hair extensions: Avobenzone and Octocrylene. So, where can you find the best non staining sunscreen for hair, and how to avoid these two ingredients?

Our Top Picks for Non-Staining Sunscreen:

Mineral based formulas are a top-tier choice for those looking to avoid orange/yellow staining in their fair-coloured hair extensions. Just to be extra safe, make sure you always wash your hands after applying sunscreen before they get any close to your tresses. Also, look for trendy updos to keep your hair away from your back, so that it doesn’t come in contact with the sunscreen on your skin.

1. Blue Lizard Sensitive Suncream

Excellent protection, drying quickly, and popular in Australia – do I need to add anything else? Blue Lizard offers all the good stuff of a proper sunscreen whilst staying stain-free. Ideal for those looking for an all-round product with a thick texture, offering a moisturising effect that is gentle on the skin – perfect for the sensitive type.

2. Hawaiian Tropic Mineral Sun Milk

Hawaiian is a top contender for a non-staining sunscreen that provides optimal sun protection with an itty-bitty price Hawaiian takes a holistic approach that involves all the senses, mixing a delicious fragrance with an ultra-spreadable lotion with 100% mineral filters for UVA and UVB protection.

3. Hello Sunday, The Mineral One

What if I told you that there’s a sunscreen that thought of it all? For those that need some extra protection, Hello Sunday offers a face sun cream designed to work against not only sun damage, but also blue light and pollution. It may be a little on the pricey side of things, but it works wonders on your pores too – promoting balance in your skin with a gentle, fragrance-free formula.

Best Sunscreen For Hair

When it comes to protecting your tresses, here's the best options on the market.

Nuxe Sun Moisturising Protective Milky Oil for Hair

Nuxe's hair sunscreen oil is a luxury option for those who want to keep their hair feeling soft and nourished without worrying about the effects of direct sunlight on their tresses. Its rich and indulgent formula leaves your hair feeling like never before: say bye-bye to dryness and straw-like texture!

Philip Kingsley Swimcap

Created with Olympic swimmers in mind, this miracle in a bottle knows no rivals when it comes to sheltering your tresses from elements such as chlorine, salt water, and damaging UV rays. Its soft and creamy formula is gentle on the hair and washes out with one round of shampoo once you're done having fun in the pool.

Coola Scalp and Hair Mist

This product is the proof that heavy duty protection doesn't need to always mean rich and thick texture - quite the opposite, really. Coola's scalp and strand sunscreen means serious business when it comes to protecting your tresses from the sun! And guess what? You can apply it multiple times as needed, without worrying about weighing down your hair.

What To Do If Your Hair Extensions Discolor:

If you’re coming to this blog because it’s too late and your platinum hair extensions are going through a slight yellowing process, there still might be some hope. Here’s what to do in case your hair extensions’ colour gets affected:

Rinse Immediately: As soon as you notice any colour alterations, rinse your hair extensions thoroughly with clean water to remove any sunscreen residues. Although you might be panicking, it’s essential that you keep a gentle touch not to ruin your hair extensions.

Use Clarifying Shampoo: Proceed to wash your hair extensions with a clarifying shampoo to get rid of any product residues or build-up. Clarifying shampoos act in depth, and may be helpful to fully cleanse your strands from the sunscreen.

Seek Professional Help: If after using a clarifying shampoo and giving a good rinse your hair extensions are still stained, go and pay a visit to your trusted hairdresser. They may be able to provide you with a specialised treatment or recommend a professional product that might be more effective than drugstore options. 

Look After Your Hair Extensions This Summer:

In addition to using a non-staining sunscreen on your skin to avoid colour accidents, there are a few more things that you can do to ensure your hair extensions stay healthy, manageable and shiny throughout the summer. Here’s a few tips and tricks:

Wear a Hat: Whenever possible, wear a wide-brimmed hat or a trendy headscarf to provide extra protection to your hair and extensions from direct sunlight. Looking for some more hair inspo? Find out more in our dedicated blog: 10 Summer Hairstyle Ideas To Look Fab In The Sun.

Avoid Chlorine and Saltwater: Both chlorine and saltwater can be detrimental to hair extensions. Before swimming, apply leave-in conditioner, a sunscreen mist, or a protective serum to protect your tresses from the water. Here’s everything you need to know to enjoy your holiday swim with confidence: Swimming With Hair Extensions: A Guide To Protecting Your Extensions.

Moisturise Regularly: Keep your hair extensions moisturised at all times. This means focus on hydration-packed products with no sulfates or other drying agents in their formulas! Last but not least, seal your cuticles with a spritz of Moisture Lock Shine Spray to give your hair extensions the ultimate protection.

Conclusion:

Summer can take a heavy toll on your hair and hair extensions if you don’t protect your tresses properly, and this goes beyond your hair itself! Choosing the right sunscreen will make sure your hair colour doesn’t get affected, whilst a balanced diet and drinking plenty of water will make sure your scalp keeps on doing its job properly – guaranteeing the overall health and beauty of your natural hair.