How To Prevent Hat Hair: The Ultimate Guide To Styling Hair Under A Hat

By Erin Celletti & Powered By L’Oreal Professional Products Division

As much as I adore wearing hats (sometimes to conceal my oily roots, and other times as a stylish accessory), I can’t deny that my strands always look flat, frizzy, and lifeless by the time I’m ready to take it off. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be this way.

While hat hair is definitely a real issue, there are ways to keep your mane looking its best while still getting the most out of your accessory. Below, we’re breaking down six tips for preventing hat hair, plus showing off our favorite ways to style your strands under a hat.

If you’re searching for a hat to add to your styling routine, you’re in luck! From September 8 to October 8, you can snag our exclusive Hair.com Still Good Denim Cap for free with any $50 purchase.

Tips For Preventing Hat Hair

Brushable Hairspray 12

A fast-drying hairspray that offers 24-hour control and humidity resistance for color-treated hair.

Don’t skimp on drying

If you throw in the towel on drying your hair before heading out the door, you’re pretty much asking for a bad case of hat hair. Your strands will need to be completely dry before wearing a hat, or you’ll be dealing with creases, frizz, and flyaways once it's time to take it off. Allow your mane to air dry completely or use a blow dryer. Once your hair is dry, apply a light-hold hairspray like Redken Fashion Work 12 Hairspray to your roots to keep flyaways at bay and help maintain volume under your hat.

Ensure a proper fit

A hat that fits too snugly can trap excess, frizz-inducing heat, and also cause creases or dents. When hat shopping, be sure to find styles that fit well, but aren’t too tight.

Materials matter

Knowing what your hat is made can be key in helping you prevent hat hair. If keeping your hair fresh underneath is important, you may want to skip the wool beanie and opt for a cotton version instead. Look for hats made from cashmere, silk, or other non-abrasive knits, as these will allow your hair to breathe. Pro tip:Try wearing a silk hair scarf beneath your hat to protect your mane from frizz and flyaways.

Color Fanatic Multi-Tasking Leave-In Spray for Color-Treated Hair

A multi-tasking leave-in treatment with 21 essential benefits for color-treated hair.

Keep your mane moisturized

Being diligent with a leave in conditioner is an excellent idea not only for hair health but also to combat hat hair! Properly hydrated hair is more elastic than dry strands, which makes it less prone to breakage when exposed to friction, thus more likely to retain its shape and style underneath a hat. We recommend Pureology Colour Fanatic Multi-Tasking Hair Beautifier Spray. This lightweight mist primes, protects, and perfects while delivering 21 essential benefits for color-treated hair.

Be prepared with styling products

As much as you try to prevent hat hair, dealing with it at some point is inevitable—which is why you should be prepared with a few key products to help to fix your hairstyle on-the-go. Be sure to toss your favorite travel-size hair spray or smoothing hair oil into your purse so you have it at all times.

Choose the right hairstyle

If you’ve just styled bombshell curls or an intricate updo, covering it with a hat will likely always mess it up. That’s why we recommend finding a few fool-proof hairstyles that work well under a hat. See six of our favorite hat hairstyles below.

The Best Ways To Style Your Hair Under A Hat

Double Braids

Double braids are the perfect gym hairstyle for keeping your strands off your face while also helping to show off your gorgeous length while wearing a baseball cap. Try crafting double fishtail braids for added flair.

Soft Waves

Wearing a hat can give your tousled waves an extra touch of glam.

Accent Braids

Plaited hairstyles don’t need to be complicated to make a statement: You can achieve this simple accent braid in five minutes and looks stunning when paired with a French girl beret.

Blowout

A hat can help conceal greasy roots that come with second-day hair while allowing the rest of your mane to shine. Apply a few spritzes of dry shampoo like Redken Invisible Dry Shampoo to give your hairstyle a quick refresh.

Straight And Subtle

Keep your hairstyle as simple as possible with straight hair neatly tucked under a fitted beanie.

On-The-Go Ponytail

A low ponytail paired with a hat offers a laid-back, everyday look. You may even want to leave out some wavy face-framing strands. For an intentionally disheveled hair texture, use a texturizing spray like L’Oréal Professionnel Tecni.Art Next Day Hair Dry Finishing Spray.