Natural Vegan Sunburn Remedies and Sunburn Prevention Tips to Avoid a Burnt Scalp.
By Romina Manenti
With Summer in full swing, how can one resist spending time in the glorious sunshine with friends and family? It's all fun and games, having fun under the sun–until someone gets a sunburn–that is. Of course, proper skin protection is of utmost importance to avoid skin damage, but many overlook that the scalp needs constant tender love and care to prevent sun damage, too. We understand that it's rarely top of mind for someone to put sunscreen or sun protection on their scalp, and slip-ups can happen to the best of us. If you don't want you or your kids to suffer from painful and itchy sunburns, planning ahead and purchasing proper sun protection and after-sun care are essential.
If you've sunbathed all day long and have no after-sun lotion, don't worry… We have solutions! If your hairline is feeling particularly pink or painful, we've compiled 5 all-natural vegan remedies and a guide on how to fix itchy scalp due to sun overexposure. Say goodbye to dry scalp pain, irritation, and itchy peeling skin.
5 All-Natural, Vegan Sunburn Remedies:
Because the skin on the hairline and scalp is susceptible, a scalp sunburn can be incredibly uncomfortable for you and your kids. To soothe the skin and minimize how long a sunburn lasts, we've created our favorite supportive remedies using natural ingredients that can be used on the whole family.
Soy milk cold compress: Soy milk cold compress: Soy milk is a staple you may already have at the ready for coffee, but it also has natural anti-inflammatory properties for the skin. To make a compress that can be applied to a sunburned scalp, soak a washcloth in soy milk and leave it in the fridge to chill. Wring it out and apply it to the hairline and scalp whenever you need some extra relief - kids love this one!
Aloe, aloe: Aloe vera gel is probably the most well-known sunburn remedy on the market. The gel from the aloe vera plant is a natural humectant, meaning that it will draw lightweight moisture into the sunburned skin and is the perfect natural sunburned and dry scalp treatment. This encourages skin healing, and the cooling sensation can provide temporary relief. Aloe vera also contains the natural compound aloin, which tests show has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits. Try to use aloe directly from the plant, or find a 100% aloe vera gel at your local pharmacy.
MAY11 Purifying Scalp Oil: Once a sunburn has subsided, your scalp and hairline will be left feeling dry and maybe even flakey or peeled. The MAY11 Scalp Oil contains all-natural, vegan ingredients such as evening primrose oil, castor oil, rosemary, and chamomile essential oils to deeply nourish, re-balance and regenerate this delicate skin. This is among the most relieving scalp healing oils that your scalp, skin, and hairline will thank you for. Simply massage the restoring hair oil into the scalp and leave it overnight for deeply supportive treatment. Alongside SPF, scalp healing oils are a surefire way to help restore and nourish your and your family's burnt scalp after too much exposure to the sun's intense UV rays.
Iced green tea bags: Once a sunburn has subsided, your scalp and hairline will be left feeling dry and maybe even flakey or peeled. The MAY11 Scalp Oil contains all-natural, vegan ingredients such as evening primrose oil, castor oil, rosemary, and chamomile essential oils to deeply nourish, re-balance and regenerate this delicate skin. This is among the most relieving scalp healing oils that your scalp, skin, and hairline will thank you for. Simply massage the restoring hair oil into the scalp and leave it overnight for deeply supportive treatment. Alongside SPF, scalp healing oils are a surefire way to help restore and nourish your and your family's burnt scalp after too much exposure to the sun's intense UV rays.
Take a cool shower: If you hold your hand near a sunburn, you will feel that it radiates heat. A prolonged, cool shower can help to draw some of this heat out, reducing the severity and discomfort of a sunburn. It also can get into those hard-to-reach areas on the scalp.
Some days, it might be inevitable to avoid sunburn and heat damage, no matter how hard you try to stay out of the sun and protect your scalp and skin. If you or your family are left with a red, hot, irritated scalp or hairline after being in the sun, we promise that these all-natural, vegan remedies will help soothe and restore the skin.
Summer Scalp Protection Pro -Tips:
We hope you never have to experience the uncomfortable irritation and nuances that result from a burnt scalp, and that's exactly why we wanted to include some pro-tips to help you stop a sunburn dead in its tracks.
Here are our go-to sunburn prevention tips to help you avoid a sunburn altogether:
Pay attention to UV Rays. What time of day you plan to be in the sun is a huge factor in how much protection you'll need, as well as how long you'll want to be in direct contact with the sun. The sun emits UV Rays that tend to be the strongest from 10am-4pm, so extra care should be taken during these hours to eliminate the possibility of sunburn. A glance at the weather app on most smartphones will indicate what level the UV rays are at any given time of day. If there is no shade in sight, limit your sun time or plan to be outside later in the afternoon.
Wear a hat: There are several reasons why wearing a hat is beneficial. Not only are you protecting your skin from sun damage, as your face is very delicate and needs more protection than other areas of the body, but you are also protecting your scalp and hair from damage. This tip is an obvious Summer necessity and your chance to be fabulous. A hat that provides proper UV protection is the best way to stop the sun from reaching your hairline or scalp when you are outdoors. Opt for one with a wide enough brim to cover you and your kids' face and neck, too. Pick your poison: a bucket hat, visor with scalp coverage, or a sun hat.
BlenProperly Apply and Blend SPF: Wearing SPF is a non-negotiable, but applying sunscreen to the hairline or scalp can be difficult. Properly blending sunscreen means massaging the SPF up into the hairline, especially where the strands are less dense. If you can see the scalp, so can the sun! It won't hurt to also blend in a restoring hair oil at this time to moisturize your hair strands and nourish the scalp.
Rinse your hair off in fresh water. Even with all of your protective measures, time outside with your family can still lead to an accidental sunburn. The skin on the hairline and scalp is particularly sensitive, so a sunburn can be especially uncomfortable for you and your kids. To soothe the skin and minimize how long a sunburn lasts, we’ve created our favorite supportive remedies using natural ingredients that can be used on the whole family.
Reapply! The best dry scalp treatment is taking measures to prevent it via moisturizing, reapplying protective sunscreens, and scalp healing oils throughout the day. Sun protection is not a one-and-done deal–you'll have to consciously think about the frequency you apply for your protection. Save your skin and scalp and use it as often as possible, but don't overdo it.
Summer is all about liberation and embracing the free spirit within you. Don't let a sunburn restrict your fun, remember that prevention is key to straying away from the possibility of damaged hair, so consider this a gentle nudge to wear your sunscreen and utilize restoring hair oil. Even with all of your protective measures, time outside with your family can still lead to an accidental sunburn, so if you have to remedy a burn, opt for one of the natural and vegan dry scalp treatment options to help soothe your sorrows and irritations.