Product Highlight: COOLA Hair & Scalp SPF

Does your hair really need sunscreen? Or your scalp?

Just like heat from your blow dryer or heat from your styling tools, the sun can be just as damaging to your strands! The cuticle of your hair can easily be damaged by the UV rays. 

Prolonged exposure to UV rays can cause the hair to become brittle and prone to breakage. If you already have compromised hair strands that are dry, heat damaged, or damaged from coloring and bleaching, you are going to want to protect your locks at all costs. Even the salt water and chlorine can cause severe damage to the hair strands. These elements can disrupt the natural pH balance of the hair. If left unwashed or rinsed, this can be very damaging. 

Now, your scalp is still made up of living cells. It is still part of your skin and is still susceptible to UV rays and damage. Just because you have hair on your head, does not mean that your scalp is protected by the sun. 

3.6 Million cases of Basal Cell Carcinoma are diagnosed in the US each year. The most common places this type of cancer is found are face, ears, neck and scalp. With this being the most mild form of skin cancer, this is still damage that you’re going to want to avoid. 

We recommend using the COOLA Ocean Salted Sage Scalp & Hair Mist on your locks and scalp when you go out for the day in the sunshine. If you’re an avid hair colorer or if you love your blonde strands, this is a great way to protect your hair and scalp from the UV rays. 

This product contains Monoi oil and Gotu Kola extract. 

Monoi Oil is made from soaking Tahitian Gardenias in coconut oil. It’s used widely among french polynesians as a hair and skin softener. This oil is used on hair to help restore and retain moisture. It is also used to help fight bacteria and promote healing of the strands. 
Gotu Kola extract comes from an herb used mainly in Traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine. This extract can be found in many sun care products because it aids in the production of collagen and increases the levels of antioxidants in the skin.

Continual checks of your neck and scalp can be so beneficial for your health and early detection of a suspicious spot. Get your hairdresser involved! There’s no one else that’s looking at your head that closely! A 2015 study showed that melanomas on the head and neck have a faster growth rate of anywhere else on your body. Early detection is KEY. So be diligent, take precautions, and stay sun safe!

Check out the Skin Cancer Foundation’s Self examination guide on their website. It walks you through what to look for when you’re scanning your body for suspicious activities!

SunScreen 101

Let’s talk about sun protection.

Did you know there were two types of sunscreens? Before becoming a skin therapist, I had no idea of the science behind the screens (see what I did there? 😅).

Chemical and physical sunscreens make up most lotions, sprays, sticks, and gels that you see saturating the markets. There are so many to choose from!

It’s easy to gravitate towards the brand and packaging that you recognize. My family bought one kind of sunscreen growing up, and that’s what I grabbed off of the shelves every time I headed to the beach. Knowing what I know now as a skin therapist, I’ve branched out to different formulas, brands and even tried sunscreen for my hair! YES! There is “hair and scalp” sunscreen to protect your locks and scalp from the damage of UV rays. 

The two types of sunscreen are Chemical and Physical. The difference between a chemical and physical sunscreen can make or break a person’s will to wear it. As an esthetician working on clients, one phrase I hear a lot is, “It breaks me out.” I understand that. No one wants to be on vacation and dealing with a breakout in all their pictures. But, you may have just been wearing the wrong type of sunscreen! CHECK YOUR INGREDIENTS! 

Chemical Sunscreen’s active ingredients are Oxybenzone, Octinoxate, Octisalate, and Avobenzone (This form will look thinner in texture and sink into the skin like a lotion would. These chemicals absorb the UV light and emit it out of your body as heat.)

Physical Sunscreen’s active ingredients are Zinc oxide and Titanium oxide (This form sits on top of your skin and reflects the UV rays. The texture usually is thicker and more opaque.)

If you’ve used a chemical sunscreen before and you’ve had a reaction or sensitivity to that sunscreen, it will make you hesitant to try a different one. My recommendation is that people with sensitive skin look for a physical sunscreen. Physical sunscreens are usually better for sensitive skin or those who have reactive skin. 

Sun protection is vital for decreasing your risk of skin cancers as well as a great anti-aging tool. The UV rays that hit our skin can cause so much damage without us knowing or even giving it a second thought. It can take up to ten years for damage that you’ve done to your skin to make it to the surface. Make sunscreen part of your skincare and makeup routine! 

Below I’ve listed a few of my favorite sunscreens that we carry, both physical AND chemical! 

COOLA - Classic Body Sunscreen (Pina Colada scented) This is a chemical sunscreen.

COOLA - Mineral Body Sunscreen (Tropical Coconut scented) This is a physical sunscreen that also comes in “Unscented.”

COOLA - Scalp & Hair Mist - This is a chemical sunscreen for your hair! If you have color-treated hair, protecting it can help your color last longer and aid in strengthening your hair and conditioning it.

Sorella Apothecary - Tropical Topical Matte SPF - a physical sunscreen for those with oily/acne-prone skin.

Sorella Apothecary - Quench and Protect Hydrating SPF - Hydrates and protects dry/dehydrated skin. Also great as a makeup base or primer!

Skin Cancer Awareness Month

Spray Tanning. What is the first thought that comes to mind? Let me guess… “Doesn’t that turn you orange?”

Let’s be honest, a lot of us, when we think about spray tanning, think of the scene in Friends where Ross goes to the spray tan booth. Your whole front will be orange, and your back won’t get anything at all! I was always worried about this myself until I started diving in and doing some research.

There is more to spray tanning than you think. Different undertones of spray tan solution can give you a great outcome! 

Now you’re probably thinking, “Emily, what do you mean undertones? And how do I know which one to pick?” Great question! Your spray tan artist will most likely determine which undertone fits your skin tone the best. For example, If you believe you are more of a cool undertone (you wear silver jewelry, your veins on the inside of your wrist appear blue in hue, or your skin appears pinkish or red), we choose a tanning solution suited to help give you a more natural-looking tan. 

There are typically 3 types of undertones for tanning solutions: Green, Red, and Violet. A green-based tanning solution is commonly used across manufacturing companies. More skin tones can utilize the subtle green tint to help give them a more natural look. Red-based tanning solutions are better suited for paler skin types that don’t tan well in the sun and tend to freckle. Violet solutions counter any yellow or orange tint in the skin, neutralizing the skin. This results in a more natural, for your skin, tan. 

Now, I will tell you; each person is different. So much of what we do is what is preferred by the client. Spray tan artists will recommend what we think is best for you to get the best results as a client. We want YOU to shine and feel comfortable and confident in your skin. Work with your spray tan artist to find a tan that best suits you and compliments your beautiful skin! 

AT HOME EXAMPLES 

Green-based solution - Brown Rapid Mousse - Perfect Glow Sunless

Red based solution - Loving Tan Mousse

Violet based solution - Dark Chocolate Rapid Mousse - Perfect Glow Sunless