How do you keep your hair from going flat under a hat? Hat manufacturers share their expert solutions.
Wearing a hat makes my hair go flat…
Have you ever had concerns like these?
No matter how carefully you style your hair, taking off your hat strips all volume from the top and leaves your hair completely flat. Many people have likely had the awkward experience of being out in public and unable to take off their hat because of this issue, you're definitely not alone.
While it is difficult to completely prevent your hairstyle from being disrupted by wearing a hat, you can minimize this issue by making careful adjustments to the hat's size, shape, material, and how you wear it.
From a hat manufacturer's perspective, this article explains the causes of flat hair from wearing hats, shares effective countermeasures, and covers how to choose hats that won't easily ruin your hairstyle.
3 Reasons Why Hats Make Your Hair Go Flat
There are three main reasons why your hair becomes flat after wearing a hat.
1. Pressure from the hat
If your hat is too small, or you tighten the adjuster too tightly, your hair will be pressed firmly between your head and the hat.
Hats with little extra room at the crown are especially prone to pressing directly against your hair, and wearing them for long periods will easily cause your hair to lose volume.
2. Stuffy, clammy buildup caused by sweat and moisture
When heat and moisture get trapped inside a hat, sweat dampens the roots of your hair, making it harder for your hair to hold its lift and stay voluminous.
It is important to choose a highly breathable material, as items can easily become clammy and stuffy not only during warm seasons, but also in heated indoor environments or when worn for extended periods of time.
3. Friction between hats and hair
Friction between your hair and the inner lining of a hat caused by putting it on, taking it off, or wearing it for extended periods will pull your hair into a consistent direction, leading to ruined styling.
Repeatedly readjusting your hat, or forcefully putting on and taking off tight hats, is also one of the common causes that make your hairstyle prone to losing its shape easily.
Quick, easy fixes for flat, limp hair
1. Choose a size with a little extra room for a comfortable, relaxed fit
To avoid pressing your hair down too tightly, choose a hat that has a little extra room relative to your head circumference.
Overly tight-fitting hats may feel stable and secure, but they also tend to put increased pressure on your hair.
For hats with an adjuster, we recommend adjusting them to a slightly loose fit as long as they stay securely in place without slipping. However, hats that are too large are far more prone to shifting out of position, so you should always select a size that matches your head circumference as your baseline choice.
2. Also pay attention to the depth of the hat
When choosing a hat, head circumference is not the only important consideration — the "crown depth", which is the section of the hat that covers your head, is also a key factor to evaluate.
Tightening a shallow cap very firmly to prevent it from slipping will easily put pressure on your hair. Deeper caps that fit snugly around your entire head stay stable and secure without needing to be overtightened unnecessarily.
Please note that a deeper fit does not guarantee your hairstyle will stay perfectly intact. Choose an option with a depth that does not press down on your hair, and that has a reasonable amount of extra space around the sides for a comfortable, proper fit.
3. Choose a breathable material
A breathable hat is ideal for keeping your hair from going flat due to sweat and humidity.
Thermal fabrics, mesh materials, and caps with ventilation holes resist heat buildup, making them especially recommended for preventing uncomfortable stuffiness during spring and summer.
Additionally, lightweight hats put minimal strain on your head when worn, making them ideal for extended periods of wear.
4. Choose a hairstyle that suits your hat
On days you will be wearing a hat, we recommend choosing a natural hairstyle that is easy to touch up with your fingers after taking the hat off, rather than a style with a tall, elevated top section.
If you apply too much styling product, your hair will be more prone to clumping from sweat and humidity, so work a small amount of lightweight wax or hair balm into your roots.
It is also important to dry your hair thoroughly before putting on a hat. If you wear a hat while your hair is still damp, it will easily set and hold the shape left by the hat.
5. Do not wear continuously for long periods of time
Wearing a hat for extended periods leads to increased pressure on your hair and rising humidity inside the hat.
Whenever you are able to remove your hat, such as during breaks or when indoors, take it off briefly to let air circulate through your hair and the inside of the hat. If you sweat, regularly wiping the area with a towel or handkerchief is also highly effective.
How to fix your hairstyle after taking off your hat
Even when you take preventive measures, your hair can lose volume if you wear a hat for an extended period. Having the following items on hand while you are out and about is very convenient.
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Use your fingers or a travel comb to smooth and set your hair into the desired flow.
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Lightly dampen the roots with Reset Mist
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Work a small amount of light wax or hair balm evenly through your hair
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Control sweat and moisture with dry shampoo
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After taking off your hat, adjust your hair to work air into the roots and refresh your style.
You don't need to wet your entire head of hair. Even just gently lifting flat roots slightly and fluffing them with your fingertips to work in air will completely change how your hairstyle looks.
How to choose hats that won't flatten your hair
If you are worried about your hairstyle getting messy, try choosing a hat while keeping the following points in mind.
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Size that won't feel uncomfortably tight around your head
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Designed with just the right amount of comfortable extra room at the crown
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Hat that stays securely in place without needing to be tightened excessively
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Highly breathable material that resists stuffiness and trapped moisture
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Lightweight and comfortable to wear for long hours
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Item with a fit you can adjust to your own liking
Choosing a larger hat is not always the right solution. If the hat's head circumference is too large, you will actually end up tightening it much more firmly to prevent it from slipping out of place.
It is important to confirm three key details: head circumference, crown depth, and material, to select a hat that matches your head shape and hairstyle.
Recommended hats for anyone concerned about their hairstyle
Deep-fit cap
For those who are concerned about shallow caps slipping or riding up out of place, we recommend deeper-cut caps that fit comfortably by wrapping snugly around your head.
Thanks to its ample depth, this product stays reliably stable without requiring you to over-tighten the adjuster.
ReqHatter's "NYLON DEEP FIT CAP" has been upgraded from the previous model, with the crown depth increased from 16cm to 17cm.
While the difference is only 1cm, this piece is crafted to fully wrap around your head, delivering a secure, stable, and comfortable fit when worn.
Additionally, the brim features a wide-brim design approximately 2cm wider than standard caps. It balances the proportions around your face, creating a natural, streamlined, clean silhouette.
While the extent to which a cap disrupts your hairstyle varies from person to person, this is recommended for anyone who fastens shallow-fitting caps very tightly, as well as those looking for a cap with extra interior space.
☞[Shop the NYLON DEEP FIT CAP designed for a comfortable deep fit here]
We also provide a detailed introduction to the features of deep-fit caps and how to choose the right one in this article.
Bowler hat
For anyone concerned about their hair going flat at the top, bowler hats with a tall crown are also highly recommended.
This design creates natural space at the crown of your head, so the inner lining of the hat does not sit tightly against the top of your hair, reducing the strong downward pressure that would flatten your hair from above.
Additionally, the firm, structured crown maintains the hat's original shape, so it does not conform too closely to your head, and one of its key features is that it creates a neat, polished silhouette when worn.
Note that an overly small size will feel tight and constricting around your head. If you are concerned about your hairstyle getting messed up, choose a size that offers a little extra room relative to your head circumference.
☞[ReqHatter's bowler hats are available here]
Casquette
This casquette with a soft, voluminous silhouette easily creates extra space at the crown, naturally covering your hairstyle seamlessly.
This is recommended not only for those concerned about their hairstyle after taking off their hat, but also for anyone who wants their hair to have a neat, full voluminous appearance while wearing a hat.
☞ [ReqHatter's casquette is available here]https://reqhatter.com/products/linen-casket)
Paper hat
Lightweight, breathable paper hats are perfectly suited for spring and summer, when sweat and stuffiness are a concern.
Choosing a style with height at the crown prevents the top of your head from being pressed flat, and also creates a clean, streamlined look around your face.
☞ [ReqHatter's Paper Hats are available here](https://reqhatter.com/products/paper-blade-hat)
Summary | Choose hats while keeping size, depth, and material in mind.
The main causes of hair getting flattened when wearing a hat are pressure from the hat, sweat and moisture, and friction between the hat and your hair.
To keep your hairstyle from losing its shape and falling out of place, keep the following key points in mind.
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Choose a size with a little extra room
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Choose a style with ample room at the crown
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Do not over-tighten the deep-style cap any more than necessary.
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Choose a highly breathable material
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Dry your hair before putting on a hat
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Do not wear it continuously for extended periods, and regularly let air circulate through it
Wearing a hat will not completely prevent your hairstyle from getting messy. However, simply choosing a hat with the right size, shape, and material will make it much easier to reduce pressure on your hair and minimize trapped, humid stuffiness against your scalp.
Don't overstress about your hair going flat — choose a hat that fits your head shape and hairstyle, and enjoy putting together your daily outfits.