Spring break is just around the corner, which means it’s time to pack your open-toe sandals, maxi dresses, and skimpier outfits. The right sunscreen, a shaded beach umbrella, and sun-protective clothing can help in many situations, but one of the best (and easiest) ways to protect your face from the unbearable heat during outdoor activities is a sun hat.
To avoid hyperpigmentation and other long-term skin problems, Shop TODAY spoke to a few experts to find out why sun protection is essential year-round. We also found some of the best sun hats on the market to help protect your face from harmful UVA and UVB rays.
The Skin Cancer Foundation (SCF) recommends choosing clothing with a UPF of at least 30 to protect yourself from skin cancer.
“All fabrics can block some UV radiation, but the clothing (and hats) that are designed to provide the most benefit are those items that have a UPF rating. Ratings range from UPF 15 to 50+. The higher the number, the better,” says Dr. Melissa Levine, a dermatologist in New York City.
When you expose your skin to the sun, it’s important to protect your neck, ears, and face. One factor that New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Dr. Jeremy A. Brower recommends paying attention to is color, specifically “bright colors that reflect light and dark colors that absorb those rays and keep them from getting through.”
Buying tip: When buying sunscreen, look for the UPF rating, as this indicates how much of the sun’s rays the product can block. The SCF also issues a seal of recommendation for UPF-certified clothing.
While there are many stylish sun hats on the market, it’s important to choose one that actually protects your skin.
“The best sun hats have a brim that is at least three inches high and provide shade for your face, scalp, neck, shoulders, and upper back, as well as the tops of your ears and the back of your neck, which are often overlooked,” notes the SCF. “Choose a tightly woven hat over a loosely woven straw hat that allows UV rays to pass through.”
“Wearing a wide-brimmed hat is one of the most important steps to staying safe in the sun,” Levine said. “Excessive sweating, bathing, and not fully applying sunscreen can cause sunscreen to flake and lose its effectiveness, resulting in incomplete sun protection.”
In addition to protective headwear, the best safety tools for summer are sunglasses and sunscreen.
This Amazon sun hat has UPF 50+ sun protection and is made from breathable, high-quality woven straw material, so it’s no wonder it’s rated so highly on Amazon. It also won a Shop TODAY Travel Award for Best Packable Hat, so you can wear this fedora on vacation this summer with confidence.
“Sorry to swear, but this hat fits me perfectly,” one Shop TODAY writer wrote about it. “It doesn’t have the awkward chin strap of my mom’s sunhat, but it does have a band inside the brim that lets you adjust the size. I haven’t worn this hat in a convertible (yet), but I wear it often when I’m working in the yard in 15 mph Montana winds.”
Shop TODAY Deputy Editor Ellie Wise is a sunhat lover in the summer, and her favorite is a wide-brimmed fedora. “I don’t like having my hair in my face, so I always opt for headwear like headbands and hats. This stylish bucket hat is just the sunhat you need. It’s lightweight, stylish, and provides sun protection. Need I say more?” says Wise.
Winner of a Shop TODAY Travel Gear Award and an Amazon bestseller, this bucket hat is perfect for lounging by the pool or a day at the beach. Available in more than twenty colors, the nylon cap features mesh ventilation panels to help combat summer heat and blocks UVA and UVB rays to help prevent skin damage.
Hats off to business writer Janneli Espinal, who discovered this chic felt hat with an adjustable headband and SPF sun protection.
“This hat is perfect for traveling because it folds up and can easily be placed in your carry-on or checked luggage. I like its simplicity and the wide brim that helps protect your face from the sun. Plus, I find it very breathable and comfortable on my head,” Espinal said.
If you want a more personalized option, consider this customizable wide-brimmed beach hat from Etsy. For under $10, you can have your name printed in pretty cursive. The hat is available in beige, white, or pink.
Add a pop of color to your favorite sundress with this ultra-protective hat. In addition to protecting your face from the sun, this hat is made from UPF 50+ material and features a feminine flower bow at the back. You can wear it while gardening or take it on a hike. As the name suggests, this hat protects from the sun and is a must-have for your everyday summer wardrobe.
In addition to the added protection, this hat is adjustable, easy to pack, and wicks away sweat. This hat is made from 65% cotton and has a zipper that lets you remove the top when you need to cool your head. More than 6,700 verified buyers have given the hat five stars, with one noting that “the brim is stiff enough to allow you to look around without losing coverage.”
This soft hat features a wide brim, moisture-wicking headband, and UPF 50 protection to help you stay cool. This hat is very comfortable and is perfect for any summer hike without fear of strong winds. This hat is available in colors such as white, hunter, and more.
If you’re going for a run and need something a little more portable, these swimming goggles are a must-have for eye protection. They’re saltwater resistant and have UPF 50+ protection, which will keep you from getting sunburned during the summer months (most of the time)!
No matter how bright the sun is, this hat will keep you protected from the sun. This cap offers UPF 50+ protection and has a tie to keep it in place on windy boating days. One customer said the hat “stands up to the elements, changes shape as you please, keeps the sun out, and is comfortable to wear in hot Florida weather.”
The wide brim gives this sun hat extra appeal, but its protective functionality doesn’t come at the expense of its style. Its compressible material makes it ideal for packing in luggage and beach bags.
Whether you’re exploring the countryside or heading out on safari, this unisex hat is the perfect choice to protect your face. The chin strap will keep the hat in place while you’re hiking. You’ll also be able to enjoy the sun, as the hat has a UPF 50+ sun protection factor and a 4-inch peak.
For those who love to roam freely in the great outdoors, this hat has a wide brim and is made of quick-drying fabric. Thanks to the exceptionally breathable material, your head will be reliably protected from the sun and will remain cool.
Feel like an invisible celebrity in this oversized sun hat with an extra wide brim. This hat will add elegance to your poolside look while also protecting your face from the sun. The cap has UPF 50+ protection, blocking the sun without blocking your vision.
This lightweight UV-protective cap is highly rated for its innovative sweat-wicking technology. Essentially, when you sweat, your skin stays cool, and the UPF 50+ protection prevents unnecessary sunburn.
“Amazing, first time wearing this in 100 degree desert heat and my head stayed cool and shaded!” said one verified buyer.
“Hats are great for protecting your face and neck from harmful UV rays. Babies have especially sensitive skin, so hats are a must when they’re outdoors, at the beach, etc.,” says Dr. Shari Sperling, a New Jersey dermatologist.
Brower recommends giving children hats with hoods to protect their ears and neck. He also recommends paying attention to the sun’s reflection and making sure children are wearing plenty of sunscreen.
This UPF 50+ bucket hat from Connectyle is a top pick for kids’ sun hats on Amazon, with a nearly perfect five-star average rating from more than 9,000 shoppers. The jacket features mesh side vents for air circulation and an internal sweat-wicking band for hot weather.
Say goodbye to sunburn with this wide-brimmed hat featuring built-in UPF 50+ sun protection that blocks 98% of UVA and UVB rays. The hat features an adjustable headband and chin strap, quick-dry fabric, and side vents to keep your little one cool all day long.
Whether your little one is at the beach, lake, or in the yard, this compact bucket hat will provide excellent sun protection during your child’s summer adventures. It provides UPF 50+ sun protection and features a fun butterfly design.
Based on SCF, UPF measures the amount of UV radiation that can penetrate fabric and reach the skin, while sun protection factor (SPF) is the time it takes for skin exposed to UV radiation to turn red.
While UPF-rated clothing and accessories provide sun protection, UV rays can still penetrate those items. Brauer noted that while you won’t get sunburned if you use sunscreen and UPF-rated clothing correctly, there are always exceptions.
“Nothing can guarantee 100 percent, but UPF 50+ is expected to allow a minimal amount of sun rays through and you won’t get sunburned,” he said.
“Basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas account for about 90 percent of all skin cancers and typically appear on the head and neck,” an SCF spokesperson told us. “Hats help protect the face, scalp and neck.”
For better sun protection, experts recommend purchasing clothing and accessories with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF).
“When you talk about UPF, you’re talking about protection against UVB and UVA rays. If you look at the number, UPF 50… blocks 98 percent of the sun’s rays. In terms of protection, the Skin Cancer Foundation considers anything above 50 to be very good,” Brauer said.
We’ve rounded up the best sun hats for kids and adults that will protect them from harmful UVA and UVB rays. We asked board-certified dermatologists for advice, combed through top-rated user reviews, and picked a few Shop TODAY editor-approved picks.
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