What is hat hair?

Hat hair refers to the flattened, matted, or messed up hair that occurs when wearing a hat for an extended period of time. The pressure and friction between the head and the hat can cause the hair to stick in awkward positions, losing its volume and natural shape. The issue is more prevalent with tight-fitting hats such as beanies, baseball caps, and helmets.

Hat hair emerges due to a combination of factors like sweat, hat material, humidity, and individual hair types and lengths. People with thin and straight hair are more susceptible to hat hair than those with thicker and curly hair. Similarly, wearing a wool or synthetic material hat triggers more static and friction, resulting in worse hat hair.

To avoid hat hair, some people try to wear looser-fitting hats that do not compress their hair. Others use special hair styling products like texturizing sprays, dry shampoo, or hairspray to create more volume and hold their hair's shape. Additionally, taking the hat off and fluffing the hair can restore some of its original look.