The scalp was once regarded as a niche, unsexy corner of the haircare discussion—but in 2026, it is the conversation. As we know, each strand comes from a living follicle on the scalp, meaning that its condition can affect everything from growth, shedding and lustre. So, in tandem with the “skinitification” trend of hair, a booming market around scalp health has emerged. There have never been so many products addressing everything from thinning to density—two key issues that take root at the scalp.
But one area that is crucially neglected is the sun, the effect it has on our scalps, and hence everything that grows from it. “People often forget that the scalp is skin, and because it's covered by hair it's very much ‘out of sight, out of mind’,” Dr Sharon Wong, consultant dermatologist and hair specialist, explains. “However, the scalp is one of the most sun-exposed areas of the body and often doesn't receive the same attention as the face when it comes to sun protection.”
