With colder weather on the way, should we be worried about our head coverings putting pressure on our locks?
As the temperature outside begins to drop and toques make their seasonal way out of the closet, we often get the question about whether the hats that are protecting our heads from heat loss could be damaging our delicate hair follicles.
Does wearing a hat pose a risk if you’re concerned about hair loss and thinning?
The quick answer is that there’s absolutely no reason to avoid your hat wardrobe this fall. However, there’s some important nuance to consider with hat wear in general.
The Hat Myth
Hats are a great, hair-safe way to introduce style into the season. Photo by umar muazu for Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/stylish-man-in-vintage-fashion-and-hat-32601586/
Wearing a hat regularly will not cause hair loss or accelerate hair thinning.
Hair loss is driven by genetics, hormones (specifically DHT), age, and susceptibility to immune specific hair conditions. Fabric sitting on your head won’t meaningfully impact any of these. The gradual thinning caused by androgenetic alopecia can’t be accelerated by daily hat wear and a snug fitting baseball cap won’t starve your hair follicles or ‘suffocate your scalp’.
So where do these superstitions arise from?
Mostly they’re from correlation (not causation). Many men (and women) find that hats can be a great way to add confidence and style to their look, particularly in the early stages of thinning when old styling tricks no longer give the results you want.
When Hats Can Be Problematic
Having a few extra caps to rotate is a great way to keep your scalp clean. Photo by Jonathan Cooper for Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-photo-of-caps-on-shelves-12284599/
Extremely tight hats worn constantly, day after day, could contribute to traction alopecia, a hair loss caused consistent pulling tension, most commonly seen with tight ponytails or braids. A comfortable well-fitting hat won’t do this; however, a hat that leaves a visible demarcation on your scalp could become an issue.
Hats can also trap sweat and oil and breed bacteria against your scalp, especially if you're wearing the same one daily without washing it or one made from tightly woven, synthetic material (like those used in many high UPF designs). Though buildup alone won't affect hair loss, it can irritate your scalp and aggravate inflammatory conditions like dandruff and folliculitis. Over time, inflammation can make your scalp a much less hospitable place for healthy growth.
A couple of easy habits go a long way if you're a daily hat-wearer.
- Rotate between two or three hats so each one gets time to air out between wears
- Wash hat liners and washable caps as often as you'd wash a pillowcase.
They’re small changes, but they’ll keep sweat and product buildup from sitting against your scalp day after day.
How to Help Your Scalp Feel and Look it’s Best
While forgoing a hat won’t make a meaningful impact on your hair, there are things you can do at home to optimize your scalp environment.
Keeping your scalp clean, soothed, and hydrated over the winter months will help your scalp and hair feel and look their best.
Hat on or off, our Feel Confident® Hair System supports your scalp. Our sulfate-free Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner are both formulated with ROOTDefense™ — our proprietary blend of saw palmetto, caffeine, pumpkin seed oil, and curcumin, all backed by science to make a meaningful impact on the state of your hair. An independent 12-week clinical study showed an increase in scalp hydration by 30% and decreased hair shedding by 40%. If your scalp needs extra support? Our Thickening Scalp Serum's niacinamide and peptides boost saturates your follicles with some leave-in attention between washes.
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