I am often asked about the sun protection my kids and I wear, because we are always wearing hats and rash guards. My favorite accessories combine fashion with UV protection. If you would like to skip your own trial and error, the results of my personal research are below. Please note that I am not paid for any of this and I do not have any conflicts of interest.
Hats for young kids
For small children, hats should be the norm. Just like they learn to associate shoes with an outing, they can also associate hats (and sunscreen!) with outings. If you start your kids early with hats, as they get older, they’ll want to wear them and avoid the sun’s glare. My favorite hats for this age group are the Hanna Andersson swim hats. They are gender neutral and often come in a variety of colors. I recommend them for daily use, year round even though they are billed as swim hats.
Hats for teens and adults– feminine
Personally, my go to hat is the Eric Javits visor. I like it because it is adjustable, durable and I swear it is 10 degrees cooler in the shade of its brim. Some people, like me, get headaches with the pressure of hats. These visors are lightweight and can be fitted to rest lower on the neck, under hair. This keeps my hair bouncy and avoids hitting sensitive areas on my head. It comes in various colors, and, since this is an investment, I recommend waiting for the occasional sale.
Hats for teens and adults– masculine
Baseball caps. Not my favorite because they do not cover ears or the backs of necks, but at least they cover the face. If my husband would wear it, the hat I would recommend would look something like this. In the end, the best hat is the hat you will wear.
Rash guards
I really just love basic rash guards, named so to protect surfers from scraping themselves against their boards. Tightly woven, they provide built-in, wicking protection from UV rays. Always choose long sleeve, high neck options for the best protection. My go-to hoodie this summer is a teen brand: Roxy. It is sold out on their website but may still be available on amazon.
For kids, Kanu brand is great. It is relatively inexpensive and it lasts more than one season (if your kids don’t outgrow it!).
For older male teens and men, O’Neill is stylish, sleek, and timeless.
In my family, rash guards are worn not just in pools or at the beach. Any long day outdoors calls for a rash guard – a hike, the zoo, Disneyland. In fact, my son is there today, wearing a Kanu brand rash guard.
Sunglasses
Wear them. Your future self will thank you for protecting your eyes from UV rays. Larger sunglasses will shield more area. Hats further protect your eyes from the sun because sunglasses alone are far from perfect.
Takeaways
- Don’t forget your sunscreen rules and my favorite sunscreen picks.
- Physical protection, like rash guards, broad-brimmed hats and shade are better than sunscreen.
- The best sun protection is that which you will use.
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References:
Backes, Claudine et al. “Facial exposure to ultraviolet radiation: Predicted sun protection effectiveness of various hat styles.” Photodermatology, photoimmunology & photomedicine vol. 34,5 (2018): 330-337. doi:10.1111/phpp.12388
Gies, Peter et al. “Measurements of the UVR protection provided by hats used at school.” Photochemistry and photobiology vol. 82,3 (2006): 750-4. doi:10.1562/2005-10-27-RA-727
Backes, C et al. “Sun exposure to the eyes: predicted UV protection effectiveness of various sunglasses.” Journal of exposure science & environmental epidemiology vol. 29,6 (2019): 753-764. doi:10.1038/s41370-018-0087-0
