May 25th, 2023 by Shauna Hammond

Parasols have been around for thousands of years. They were originally used by women to provide shade and block the sun's rays during extended periods outside. Parasols can still be found in many different shapes, sizes and colours and are these days more often found in gardens. Parasols are designed to shade you from the sun's rays as well as protect against windy conditions that might make you feel uncomfortable when you're outside enjoying a warm day or just relaxing in your yard with friends or family members.

Parasols Have Been Around for Centuries

The concept of parasols has been around for hundreds of years. The first civilisations thought to have used parasols date back as far as the ancient Egyptians, Romans and Greeks and these earlier forms where were often made from Papyrus or Palm leaves. They were also very popular in East Asian countries such as Japan and China where they were used by women as a way to protect from the sun these intricately designed parasols were also used as fashionable accessories too. They were also very popular across Europe during the Victorian era and were used by women with high social status and were often made with lace and fabric. Nowadays particularly in Western countries, these are no longer common, instead, parasols are more often found in gardens and outdoor seating areas.

What Are Parasols Made Of

These days parasols are usually made from fabric, wood and sometimes metal. Fabric is the most common material used for parasols because it's lightweight, easy to carry around and comes in many colours and patterns. Wood is also used in parasols because it's durable, but metal can be an option if you're looking for something sturdier than fabric or wood.

Do They Offer Sun Protection?

So, the question is, can parasols actually provide sun protection? Simply put, yes parasols are an excellent way to provide shade to keep you cool and to block some of the harmful UV rays that can lead to sunburn.

How Do Parasols Work?

Parasols are designed to shade you from the sun's rays they do this by blocking or reducing the amount of direct sunlight that reaches your skin. The larger the parasol the more coverage they can off. Light or neutral-coloured umbrellas tend to offer better protection since they are able to reflect light, they will also keep the area under the parasol much cooler too which will also keep you more comfortable.

Modern parasols also come will tilt functions which make it easier to position them with the changing direction of the sun this means they can offer better protection throughout the whole day making them a great choice for those who like to spend a long time out in their garden.

What Are the Restrictions of Parasols

When approaching sun protection, it is always best to use at least two different methods to ensure that you are fully protected, the same applies to parasols, while they can offer excellent protection they also have their limits, for example, they can not always be positioned to adequately protect from the simply because the position of the sun changes throughout the day.

What Should I Look for When Purchasing Parasol?

There are a few features you should look for when purchasing your parasol to make sure you are getting the best possible performance and sun protection. One of the most important factors to consider is the material that your parasol’s canopy is made of, some of the best materials to choose are polyester, acrylic and vinyl as they are robust and offer sun protection as well as being waterproof making them ideal. Take the GLAMHAUS Parasol for example, the thick polyester canopy offers UV40 protection making it an excellent choice for the height of summer.

Size is also important to consider, if you are looking to provide shade for a large table then you would need a much large canopy preferably one that covers the whole area of the table. Finally, it is important to consider your colour choice – while dark-coloured parasols will still offer a cool place to sit and the same level of sun protection they will also absorb some heat energy which means that they will not stay as cool whereas lighter and neutral colours will not absorb as much heat energy creating a cooler atmosphere.

Some other features to consider to get the most out of your parasol are tilt functions and crank openings that allow you to alter how to open the canopy is – this will give you better control over how much shade you would like, while the tilt function will help you to adjust the position of your parasol to match the moving sun meaning you do not lose protection throughout the day. If you are also concerned with choosing a parasol that is not only functional but also looks nice, there are many more modern models that include things such as built-in LED lights that look incredibly attractive and can be used all day and night!

Glamhaus Solar LED Parasol - Khaki

Price: £115.00

Buy Now

It is not difficult to see why parasols have been a popular choice of sun protection for hundreds of years, and although their designs and choice of material have come a long way with the advancement of technology and new materials they still offer a solution that is both effective and attractive making them a great choice to not only keep you and your family protected but to make a stunning addition to your outdoor décor too.  However, it is important to understand that while unlike other sun protection options, these offer added cooling benefits they are not capable of blocking all UV rays and it is important especially if you plan to spend long periods of time outdoors to consistently use SPF lotions to provide further protection.