How to Help Prevent Hat Hair

Whether you want to shade your face when it’s hot outside or you simply don’t have the time or patience to deal with an unruly mane, there’s no better time to add a hat to your wardrobe. But while hats are a super-useful accessory given that they make hairstyling unnecessary, hat hair is a real thing. The good news is, you can help prevent the dreaded hat hair from happening with the right know-how. Want to know exactly how to do it? Follow our five hair tips to help prevent hat hair below—as well as tips on how to fix hat hair—so you can rock a hat without sacrificing your hairstyle.

TIP #1: TUCK YOUR HAIR BEHIND YOUR EARS

One of the best ways to help prevent any sort of hat hair is to start off by tucking your hair behind your ears. When you do this, it can help you avoid unsightly creases that might occur if you let your hair freefall. Now, we totally understand that part of the chic beachy vibe is to let your hair be free beneath your hat—but that’s not the way to go if you plan on taking it off your head at any point. If, on the other hand, you don’t see yourself going hat-free at any point during the day, feel free to let your strands hang loose because hat hair really doesn't need to be a big concern for you.

TIP #2: DON’T BRUSH YOUR HAIR AFTER TAKING OFF YOUR HAT

After you take off your hat, you might be inclined to reach for a brush to smooth everything out. Don’t! When your hair has been kept under a hat, running a brush through it can result in the look of frizz. No thank you! Instead, use your fingers to comb through your hair and lightly spritz on a texturizing spray or a dry shampoo, such as the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Clay Dry Shampoo, for a bit of a refresh.

TIP #3: SAVE HATS FOR DAY TWO HAIR

If you’ve just blow-dried your hair to sleek perfection, by all means, don’t hide it under a hat! But if your hair is looking far from its best, go ahead and reach for this summer-appropriate accessory. No one will have to know you’re having a bad hair day!

TIP #4: WEAR A SILK SCARF UNDER YOUR HAT

You’ve probably heard that sleeping on a silk pillowcase can help keep your style in place and undisrupted overnight. Well, you can use a similar tactic to protect your strands and steer clear of hat hair. Fold a silk scarf in half and wear it like a bandana beneath your hat. If you decide to try this summer hair tip, just be sure to tuck the ends of your scarf under your hat so that they don’t offset your look. You can also forego the hat completely and rock a silk scarf to accessorize a beachy outfit or even disguise your roots in a pinch!

TIP #5: TILT YOUR HAT ON THE BACK OF YOUR HEAD TO AVOID FOREHEAD MARKS

Last but not least, it’s important to remember that hats have the ability to not only mess with your hair but your makeup, too. If you want to avoid any red marks on your forehead, go for a laidback boho vibe and tilt your hat to the back of your head. This particular style works especially well with beach hats, floppy wide-brimmed hats, fedoras, and pork pie hats—baseball caps, not so much, though.

HOW TO FIX HAT HAIR

Of course, there will be times where you weren’t proactive (or successful) in your attempt to avoid hat hair, and that’s totally OK! For those occasions, be prepared with a few tricks to fix hat hair.

TIP #1: PUT YOUR HAIR UP

When in doubt, disguise your hat hair by throwing your mane into a bun or ponytail. A slicked-back hairstyle is ideal for this as it easily camouflages any unruly strands. Apply a hair gel, like the L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle LOCK IT Clean Style Gel, to your mane before slicking your ends back into a quick updo.

TIP #2: GRAB YOUR HEAT TOOLS

Hat hair can’t be tamed? Think again! If the occasion permits, keep a mini flat iron or curling iron on hand to touch up your mane post-hat. Just be sure to spritz on a heat protectant beforehand!

TIP #3: REACH FOR BOBBY PINS

Bobby pins are your new best friend! Pin down any creases as needed to fix up your mane.

Alas, you finally know how to get in on one of the most fashionable (not to mention practical) trends without succumbing to hat hair. If you ever find yourself dealing with another hair misfortune, like a bad haircut, remember this: We’ve got you covered! Here’s How to Fix a Bad Haircut.