The Goth’s Guide to Pristine Sun Protection

I’m not aware of any scientific literature on the subject, but the rate of skin cancer among members of the goth subculture is probably very low. Their dedication to a nocturnal lifestyle and collective fetish for ghostly pale skin is both an ideological rebuke to shiny, happy consumerism and a great way to avoid melanoma.

With another global-warming summer ominously approaching, I chopped it up with some creatures of the night to get some tips for us normies on how to protect ourselves from the accursed sun (and look fabulously ghastly doing it).

Do not leave the house during the day

Sunblock can only take you so far. If you want full, 100% solar-protection, adopt a nocturnal lifestyle and never leave your house while the sun is out. There’s a reason goth clubs don’t get going before midnight.

“I despise the hot weather and the sunshine,” Avatara, a gothic costume designer and milliner from Los Angeles, explained. “I have reverse seasonal depression. I get really sad during the hot months, so I just want to stay inside all day.”

Most of us don’t have the option of staying inside literally all the time, but if you can, you should avoid the hours when the sun is at its strongest. According to the not-goth-at-all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the hours with the strongest UV rays are between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Pack a parasol

Carrying around a parasol when you leave your house in the summer makes a bold fashion statement, and it also can save your skin from premature wrinkles. “I have a beautiful spider web parasol that shields me and makes me feel like I can brave the heat and still look cute,” Avatara said.

Goth retailer KillStar’s Sky Spirit parasol is nice, or check out these parasols of all kinds, from traditional Eastern-style sun-umbrellas to gothed-out versions.

Clothing: Black is always in fashion

While regular people tend to wear lighter colors in the summer because they’re cooler, goths still rock all black everything, and that’s the best move for sun protection. “I’m 100% committed to black, all the time,” Avatara agreed, “If I wear any other color, it’s dark blue with black...I want to look like I’m going to a funeral every day.”

Black is obviously the best looking color, but it’s functional too: Darker colors absorb more UV rays than lighter colors, so less sunlight reaches your skin. Some studies have shown that white and yellow are the worst colors for sun protection; dark blue is the best. But black is right up there.

The material and cut matters too. “My summer clothing secret is linen. Black linen,” Los Angeles goth Frederick Faith said. Faith’s choice is on-point in fashion terms, and it’s top-notch sun protection. According to skin cancer.org, “loose-fitting apparel is preferable,” as tight clothes can stretch, and as the fibers separate, more UV light passes through. So think loose and flowey, which is more dramatic anyway.

Wear a witchy hat

Gothic hats are perfect for summer. Not only are they UV-fighting black, they tend to be wide-brimmed, offering more protection than some fool wearing a baseball cap is going to get.

“I always wear a big hat in summer,” Avatara said. “Witch hats are good because they have that big brim, so it’s gonna really act as good protection from the sun. Boleros are nice too.” Avatara’s own custom gothic hats are amazing works of art and you should buy at least three of them, or check out some entry-level offerings like this goth cowboy hat or this wide-brimmed lid.

Sunglasses: all day and every day

Huge sunglasses are both cool and functional; the more of your face they cover, the more rays are being blocked from your delicate, creamy face-skin. Cats-eye glasses are perfect, like these from Midnight Hour. If you’re not into oversized specs, even Dracula-esque shades are better than no shades at all. Just make sure the UV protection is high.

Slather on some SPF 666 sunscreen

If you want to make a strong impression at the local waterpark while avoiding sun-damage to your face, I recommend this zippered rubber hood from JT’s Stockroom, but if you’d rather not scare the children, you have to slather on the sunblock. A leathery, catcher-mitt face is not goth.

“In order to keep my vampire youthful looks, I tend to go for a nice tinted sunscreen,” Avatara said. “I really like “CōTZ Flawless Complexion sunscreen.”

Frederick Faith agreed: “Sunscreen is a must. SPF 666.”

Speaking of the sun protection factor, how high you should go is a surprising complicated issue. While sunscreens with higher SPF levels do protect you from more rays, they also can give some people a false sense of security, so they often aren’t re-applying as needed. Bottom line: Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside and reapply every two hours or after swimming or sweating, no matter what the SPF.

Swimming, it should be noted, is not very goth, unless you are swimming out to sea with no plan to return.

How to be goth at the beach

Leaving the beach to the normies during the day is the vibe for most goths, but surprisingly, some actually like the sand and sea—wandering a desolate shoreline while the waves crash against the rocks has its appeal. There are all kinds of goth inspired swimsuits you can check out with ghosts and bats or Lucifer on them, and you can even find some scary sandals, but the most important beach accoutrement for a goth (or anyone) is the cover-up. Luckily, the goth style of draping yourself in flowy, dark fabrics dovetails nicely with sun-protection best-practices.

“The cover up is essential, because I definitely want to protect my skin and not just be exposed,” Avatara said. “I have some cute cover-ups that are black mesh with fringe and have lace embroidery over the top. They feel whimsical and romantic, and still make me feel like I’m retaining my goth essence at the beach.”

Don’t worry: Summer too shall end

Summer may be the worst season for goths, but if you think of it as the lead-up to Halloween, it’s more bearable.

Remember, though, that the colder, more tempestuous autumn and winter remove some of the danger from the sun, but not all of it. You’ll be more covered up of course, but exposed skin still needs a coating of sunblock to maintain your deathly pallor.

Your buying guide to gothic sun protection

You can’t buy goth; it’s a mindset. But you can buy gothy gear that happens to both be good for protecting you from the sun.