Pushing your sunglasses into your hair, leaving them on the dashboard, wiping them on your T-shirt: it happens quickly, and it does your sunglasses no good. Here is why it is better not to wear sunglasses on your head or in your hair, and which nine other mistakes with use and care are easy to avoid.
Key points at a glance
- On your head or in your hair the frame can stretch and hair gets caught in the hinges. Better to take them off and put them in a case.
- Heat in the car, dry wiping and sand wear down frame and lenses. Rinse in lukewarm water and dry with a microfibre cloth.
- On the road, category 4 lenses do not belong on your nose, and neither do tinted lenses at dusk or at night.
- Look for the CE or UKCA mark and UV400. The tint alone says nothing about the UV filter.
1. Wearing your sunglasses on your head or in your hair
Wearing sunglasses in your hair, as a hairband or on the back of your head looks casual, but it is not good for the glasses. The arms are pushed apart and can stretch over time, and then the glasses slip down your nose. Long hair also gets caught in the hinges and the ends of the arms, and taking them off tugs at your hair. Hair products and skin oils also build up on the lenses and nose pads.
The same goes for reading glasses and ordinary glasses on your head. It is better to hold your sunglasses in your hand or put them in their case.
2. Throwing your sunglasses loose into a bag
In a rucksack or handbag, keys, coins and sand rub against the lenses. That can cause scratches, and the arms can bend. A sturdy case keeps lenses and frame together. Also never put the glasses down with the lenses facing the surface.
3. Leaving your sunglasses in a hot car or in the sun
A parked car can get very hot, and the dashboard even more so. Heat can warp plastic frames and damage coatings on the lenses. Put the glasses in their case in the glovebox or take them with you, and do not leave them in full sun on a beach towel. You will find more about summer heat in our article How to Keep Your Head Cool in Hot Weather.
4. Wiping your sunglasses dry or cleaning them with your T-shirt
Grains of dust and sand scratch the lenses when you wipe them dry. It is better to rinse the glasses briefly in lukewarm water, clean them with a drop of mild washing-up liquid if needed and dry them with a clean microfibre cloth. Glass cleaner, white spirit and kitchen roll do not belong near your glasses, because they can damage coatings and plastic. Do not use hot water either.
5. Taking your sunglasses off with one hand and chewing the arms
If you take your sunglasses off with one hand, you gradually pull the arm out of line. Take them off by both arms and put them on the same way. The same goes for nervously flicking them open and shut or chewing the ends of the arms: hinges and plastic will not thank you, and it does not make you look more thoughtful either.
6. Using your sunglasses as a bottle opener or tool
A frame is not a bottle opener, even when you are in a hurry. Plastic can splinter, metal bends and lenses can get scratched. A bottle opener is the better choice. Children should not be given sunglasses as a toy or a sand shovel either.
7. Driving at dusk or at night in sunglasses
At dusk, in a tunnel and at night little light reaches your eye anyway, and every tint takes a little more away. Tinted lenses are then not suitable, including lightly tinted, yellow or polarised ones, because a polarising filter only lets part of the light through. You will find more in our guide to driving glasses and in the article on polarised lenses. Take your sunglasses off in good time, and if you wear glasses, keep your normal pair within reach in the car.
8. Wearing category 4 lenses on the road
Sunglass lenses are divided into filter categories from 0 to 4, and the category is often printed as “Cat. 4” on the arm. Category 4 is very dark and meant for glaciers and high mountains. It is not suitable for road traffic. For sunny drives, category 2 or 3 in grey, brown or green is the usual choice.
9. Buying on price and tint alone and not checking the UV filter
A dark tint says nothing about UV protection, because even very dark lenses can let UV radiation through. Look for the CE or UKCA mark, usually printed with the filter category on the inside of an arm, and for the label UV400. It means the lenses filter UV radiation up to 400 nanometres. If the UV protection is unclear, for example with a possible fake, do not wear the glasses in the sun. Many opticians can measure how much UV radiation lenses let through.
10. Bending your sunglasses tighter or looser yourself
If your sunglasses slip or press on your temples, bending them by feel rarely helps. First compare the size on the arm (lens width, bridge width and arm length in millimetres) with your measurements. If it is only about fit, an optician can adjust the arms and nose pads. Do not bend metal or titanium frames or rimless glasses yourself. If you have a rather small head, look for models with a smaller lens width. For sport, a retainer strap can add extra grip.
When your sunglasses are beyond saving: current models in the shop
If your old sunglasses are scratched or bent, it is worth a look at new models. In the shop you will find timeless classics such as the Ray-Ban Wayfarer and the Oakley Holbrook, sporty models such as the Oakley Radar EV Path and fashionable shapes from Prada, Miu Miu and Gucci. You can see which colours are currently available on each model page.
Miu Miu MU A51S 5AK20P£247.36
Oakley EYEJACKET REDUX (OO9438 943805)£117.88 P
Prada PR 65ZS ZVN09T£152.61
Ray-Ban BILL (RB2198 129251)£95.65
Prada PR B15S 17N70R£196.81
Miu Miu MU B07S 16K04O£202.64
Prada PR 15WS 01R0A6£145.94
Ray-Ban CATS 5000 (RB4125 710/51)£95.65Frequently asked questions
How should I store my sunglasses in summer?
In a case, somewhere out of full sun, for example in a bag or the glovebox. Not loose on the dashboard, the car seat or a beach towel.
When should I take off my sunglasses?
Indoors, in tunnels and at dusk and in the dark, above all behind the wheel. In conversation many people take them off so that eye contact is possible.
How can I tell whether my sunglasses have a UV filter?
Look for the CE or UKCA mark and the label UV400, usually on the inside of an arm or in the product description. The tint says nothing about it. If in doubt, your optician can measure how much UV radiation the lenses let through.
