Does Wearing a Hat Cause Hair Loss in Women?

Do you love wearing hats, especially in the summer when they become a mandatory accessory to elevate your style and protect you from the sun’s rays? But did you also notice that your hair started thinning since you were wearing hats?

And do you think hats are the culprit to your hair loss? Well, many women do that because of a myth saying hats cause hair fall. However, is it true, or are these just myths? 

Let us find out “Does wearing a hat cause hair loss in women” along with tips to reduce and prevent hair loss so that you do not have to give up on your go-to accessory. 

Table of Contents:

• Part 1: Effects of Wearing A Hat in Women
• Part 2: What is the Association Between Wearing Hats and Hair Loss?
• Part 3: Does Wearing a Hat Cause Hair Loss in Women?
• Part 4: Can Women Suffer from Baldness?
• Part 5: Which Factors Determine Hair Loss in Women?
• Part 6: How to Prevent and Reduce Hair Loss in Women?
• Part 7: The Final Verdict

Effects of Wearing A Hat in Women

Hair loss or not, here are 4 things that wearing a hat consistently can do to your scalp and hair.

Reduced Hygiene

Wearing a hat every day and going out in the current weather can make your scalp prone to the accumulation of microbes. We come across dirt, impurities, and other environmental pathogens in our routine lives.

If you wear a hat and do not wash it often, you confine your scalp in a way that harmful substances collect in your hair leading to poor hygiene. 

Traction Alopecia

Wearing tight hats that pull on your hair can cause traction alopecia. It is defined as the hair loss caused by a constant force on the hair. Traction alopecia can result from anything too tight on the scalp. For example, tight ponytails as explained in a study [1].

So, ill-fitted hats can cause it as well.

Hypersensitivity 

Hats themselves do not trigger an allergic reaction in your scalp. However, if you have an underlying allergy to the materials used in the making of a hat, its constant touch with your scalp skin can lead to a hypersensitivity reaction.

The allergy presents in the form of scalp redness and irresistible itching every time you wear a hat.

Overheating of the Scalp

Always get a hat with an ergonomic design and breathable material. It is because hats made of synthetic materials with no ventilation holes can cause excessive sweating and thus overheating of the head.

What is the Association Between Wearing Hats and Hair Loss?

Based on the effects of wearing hats on scalp health and hair, there seems to be an association between hats and hair loss. 

First, poor hygiene of the scalp can reduce hair growth and make the scalp prone to infections and diseases leading to hair loss. Traction alopecia can prove to be a major cause of hair thinning caused by wearing tight caps. 

Moreover, itching your scalp because of hypersensitivity can loosen the hair follicles and result in hair fall. Lastly, overheating and sweating on the scalp can adversely affect the scalp health and thus condition of the hair.

Here is a simplified table to help you understand the association of hats with hair loss in women.

Also, if your hair is already thin, you can increase its volume by following the tips mentioned in How to increase hair density? 7 easy & effective ways. 

Does Wearing a Hat Cause Hair Loss in Women?

Until now, you will be sure that wearing hats can cause hair loss in women. But, let us surprise you with the fact that it is not wearing the hats that cause hair loss, but weaning the wrong hats in the wrong way. 

Additionally, such hair loss is never long-lasting and can be reversed once you start wearing clean, ergonomic, and breathable hats. 

Furthermore, wearing hats alone with no other risk factors cannot cause hair loss and there are no studies to justify the association of hair loss with hats in females. You can read more about it in an article by Cleveland Clinic [2]. 

Also, you can find out How to Get Healthy Hair. | Dr. Davin Lim here. 

Can Women Suffer from Baldness?

While men can go bald with little to no hair on their scalp, women cannot have complete baldness. They only suffer from female pattern baldness. It means that the density of hair on their scalps is greatly reduced with visible areas of the scalp skin.

But, they have hair even if it is thin and scarce. Such baldness is mainly caused by genetics and hormonal factors [3]. Moreover, wearing hats has no association with female pattern baldness. 

Which Factors Determine Hair Loss in Women?

If you are suffering from hair loss, here are the major causes of hair thinning. Also, remember that these factors along with tight and overheating hats might exacerbate your condition.

Genes and Hereditary

The number and function of our hair follicle is determined at birth. The genes from your maternal and paternal side of the family determine if you are going to have female or male pattern baldness later in your life. 

Also, this is a factor that cannot be counteracted with simple remedies and you need professional treatment for this.

Hormones 

The second most common cause of hair loss in women is their hormonal status. The hormonal imbalance in PCOS is a cause of hirsutism in the body while hair loss on the scalp. You can treat hirsutism with Ulike Air 3 IPL Hair Removal for Face, Pubic & Body Hair, and for hair loss, you need to control the level of hormones. 

Additionally, puberty, pregnancy, menopause, hypothyroidism, and delivery can also cause hair loss.

Medications and Diseases

Some medications, especially drugs used in chemotherapy cause alopecia. In this case, a woman might lose all of her scalp hair. Some hormonal drugs can also contribute to hair loss in females.

Additionally, autoimmune diseases like Lupus Erythematosus, thyroid disorders, lifestyle diseases like diabetes, and scalp infections can also cause hair loss. This type of hair loss is called alopecia areata [4]. 

Smoking and Alcohol

In addition to the predetermined conditions, some lifestyle habits can also cause hair loss in women. It is mainly bad diet, smoking, and alcohol that increase hair fall and reduce hair growth. 

Stress

Hair loss often increases when you are going through a stressful period. It does so by interfering with the level of steroid hormones in the body and making the hair follicles dormant. 

Hair loss caused by stress is classified as Telogen Effluvium which puts hair in the resting phase, alopecia areata in which the body reacts against hair follicles and trichotillomania where women pull the hair out [5]. 

How to Prevent and Reduce Hair Loss in Women?

The effects of wearing congested hats on the scalp can be reversed, genetics can be slowed down, and the effects of lifestyle on hair can be counteracted by following ways. 

So, here is how you can reduce and prevent hair loss in women.

Hair Care Supplements

The best thing you can do for your hair is to supply it with all the nutrients it needs for healthy growth, shine, and a smooth texture. Thus, start taking hair supplements that contain biotin, collagen, zinc, peptides, and vitamins. 

Also, you can find  The 12 Best Hair Growth Products for Women in 2024 here. 

Hair Masks

Hair masks are often used to manage the frizziness and improve the texture of the hair. This makes hair smooth and free of tangles. Therefore, you won’t have to pull the hair while styling it. Consequently, hair loss is reduced. 

Also, wash your hair often to prevent the build-up of products and impurities. 

Oil the Hair Regularly 

Start oiling your scalp from today and oil your hair at least once or twice every week. You can use castor oil, coconut oil, olive oil, and other hair oils to nourish the hair and enhance its growth and density.

Home Remedies 

Some home remedies that incorporate rosemary leaves, yogurt, egg, onions, yoga, hair massage, and essential oils are also known to boost hair growth. Therefore, you can reduce your hair loss by simple and easy measures at home.

Treatment of Underlying Conditions

Whether it is hormonal changes, diseases, scalp infections, or side effects of medications, your hair loss will be greatly reduced once such conditions are dealt with. 

So, consult your doctor and try treating the underlying conditions of your hair loss.

Lifestyle Changes

Lastly, we would suggest you stop smoking and reduce alcohol intake if you want healthy hair in the long run. Also, you can supplement your hair with healthy meals like vegetables and fruits. 

The Final Verdict

The association of hair loss with wearing hats in women arises from the fact that tight and unbreathable hats can make hair prone to loss. However, no evidence suggests that wearing high-quality hats can cause hair loss.

Rather, it is caused by several genetic, personal, and environmental factors as discussed earlier in this article. Also, many of such factors can be reversed. 

References

1. 1. The “Fringe Sign” – A useful clinical finding in traction alopecia of the marginal hairline. Samrao, Aman; Price, Vera H; Zedek, Daniel; Mirmirani, Paradi. 2011. Dermatology Online Journal 17 (11): 1. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/25m840mz
   2. Can Wearing a Hat Make You Go Bald? Dermatologist John Anthony, MD. February 24, 2020. Cleveland Clinic: Health Essentials. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/can-wearing-a-hat-make-you-go-bald
   3. Female pattern baldness: Treatment and genetics. Medically reviewed by Cynthia Cobb, DNP, APRN, WHNP-BC, FAANP — By MaryAnn De Pietro. October 18, 2023. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321527#_noHeaderPrefixedContent
   4. Alopecia Areata. April 2021. National Institute of Arthritis, and Musculoskeletal, and Skin Disease. https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/alopecia-areata
   5. Can stress cause hair loss? Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D. Healthy Lifestyle: Stress management. May 10, 2023. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/expert-answers/stress-and-hair-loss/faq-20057820