For more than a decade, I've been focused on sun protection and how to make it easier to apply. We've created products that keep you covered in all the daily exposed places: face, neck, arms, hands, and scalp.
The scalp is one of the most sun-exposed areas on your body, and it's also one of the most ignored. I get it, traditional sunscreens make your hair greasy, sprays are unpredictable, and who's going to work lotion into their part line and then try to style their hair? So the easiest thing to do is skip it entirely.
But here's what I've learned: skipping scalp protection isn't just about avoiding sunburn; it's about skin health. Your scalp is skin, and it deserves the same care you give your face.
Why Your Hair Isn't Enough
Here's a stat that stopped me in my tracks: approximately 13 percent of all skin cancers occur on the scalp.* That's a disproportionately high number for such a small percentage of your body's surface area. Your scalp is one of the body parts most consistently exposed to the sun, and hair alone doesn't provide adequate protection. This is especially true if you have thinning hair, a visible part line, or lighter-colored strands that let more UV through.
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The challenge is that traditional sunscreens weren't designed for this area. Nobody wants greasy roots or products weighing down their hair, so most people skip scalp protection entirely, and the skin cancer statistics reflect that gap.
I learned just how vulnerable the scalp is through my daughter Emma. When she was little, I'd be so careful about protecting her face, arms, and legs, but her scalp would still end up pink and tender after a day outside, especially along her part line. Seeing her uncomfortable like that drove home how much this area needs consistent protection. That experience stayed with me when we were developing our powder formula. Your scalp shouldn't be an afterthought.
The Scalp Care Movement - And What's Missing
If you've noticed scalp serums, scalp scrubs, and scalp treatments showing up everywhere lately, you're not imagining it. Industry data* shows scalp treatments have grown over 200% between 2022 and 2025. People are finally treating their scalp like skin and using ingredients like niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides.
SOURCE: https://www.cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/Article/2025/12/17/ingredientled-hair-care-what-formulators-must-know-for-the-future (Cosmetics Design Europe)
I love this shift. But here's what often gets left out of the conversation: sun protection. You can invest in all the scalp serums you want but if you're not protecting that skin from UV damage, you're missing a critical piece.
Why Powder Works Where Other Formats Don't
When I developed Brush On Block, I was focused on making sunscreen easy enough that people would actually use it. The format has to work with your life, not against it. Powder sunscreen solves the problems that make traditional sunscreens impractical for hair.
- No greasy residue: your hair stays styled and your hands stay clean. If it absorbs a little excess oil along the way, that's a bonus.
- Precise application: our brush lets you target your part line, hairline, and any thinning areas without affecting the rest of your hair.
- Easy to reapply: sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours, and with powder, you actually can without starting your hair day over.
- Works with your routine: apply it after styling as your final step.
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The Reapplication Problem
Another stat that has stuck with me: only about 10% of people reapply sunscreen as often as they should. I understand why - reapplying lotion means greasy hands, stinging eyes, and, if we're talking about your scalp, completely messing up your hair.
But reapplication isn't optional; all sunscreen wears off with sweat and friction throughout the day. If you applied SPF at 9 AM and head out for lunch at noon, your protection has diminished significantly.
This is one of the reasons I committed to the powder format. Keep a brush in your work bag, diaper bag, golf bag, desk drawer, anywhere - no mirror required, no mess, no starting over on your hair or makeup routine. It's the kind of protection that happens because it's easy enough to do. That's the goal: sunscreen so easy you'll actually use it.
Why Our Formula Does More Than Sun Protection
Your scalp is skin and it deals with oil, sweat, buildup, wind, and sun exposure just as intensely as your face, sometimes more. When we think about skin care for the scalp, UV protection is only the starting point.
Our SPF 30 mineral powder was designed to sit comfortably on skin and wear all day. Supporting balance, hydration, and resilience matters just as much as protection. The skincare ingredients in our formula reflect that goal:
- Niacinamide: a familiar face-care staple that helps regulate oil, support the skin barrier, and calm irritation. On the scalp, it helps keep things balanced and comfortable between washes.
- Hyaluronic Acid: known for drawing moisture into the skin, it helps counter dryness and flaking that can happen with sun, wind, and heat exposure.
- Vitamin C: an antioxidant that helps defend skin against environmental stressors, including free radicals generated by UV exposure.
These ingredients weren't added to follow a trend. They were added because sunscreen, especially one meant for daily use and reapplication, should work with your skin, not just sit on top of it.
The SPF you're applying to your scalp should feel as thoughtful and skin-supportive as the products you trust on your face.
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Making It Part of Your Routine
Here's how to make scalp protection stick:
- Keep it visible: store your mineral powder SPF brush next to your other styling products. If you see it, you'll use it.
- Make it your last step: after you've styled your hair, buff the powder along your part and around your hairline.
- Throw one in your bag: our brushes are portable and TSA-friendly. Keep one in your gym bag, golf bag, beach tote, diaper bag - wherever you'll need midday reapplication.
- Don't overthink it: you don't need to cover your entire head. Focus on exposed areas: part line, hairline, crown if you have thinning there.
And don't forget other overlooked spots - your lips and the tops of your ears are just as vulnerable. Our Sun Shine Protective Lip Oil gives you SPF 30 with a hint of color, and the Quick Stick SPF 40 is perfect for ears, cheekbones, and anywhere you need targeted coverage (ski slopes, anyone?).
The Bottom Line
Your scalp has been quietly taking UV damage while you've been protecting everything else. The good news? It doesn't have to be complicated. A powder sunscreen with the right ingredients takes seconds to apply, won't mess with your hair, and gives your scalp the protection and care it's been missing.
Our reformulated SPF 30 mineral powder sunscreens include niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin C - the same ingredients you love in your skincare.
