Hat Head

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Hat head is not a type of headwear, although a hat is certainly involved. A person has hat head when the hat they have been wearing has flattened the appearance of their hair — the hair mats down on the head from the compression of the hat. Wearing a hat for a long period of time affects the condition of the hair after the hat is removed, leaving it looking disheveled and untidy. The result is not permanent, and the risk of hat head increases when headwear is too small for the head.

First of all, the term "hat head" is not a type of headwear.  However, a hat is most certainly involved.

In summary if a person has hat head it simply means that the hat that they have been wearing (or had been wearing) has flattened the appearance of their hair.  The hair sort of mats down on the head from the compression of the hat.  When wearing a hat for a long period of time it effects the condition of ones hair after the hat is removed.  Fortunately, it is not a permanent result.

When you have hat head, your hair will look a bit disheveled & untidy.

You will have an increased risk of hat-head if you wear headwear that is too small for your head.

Here are a few terms you may have heard from time to time:

If you have hat head, don't panic.  You probably don't need to consult a hair stylish immediately.  Either put your hat back on or work on combing your hair.  If you have concern, you are welcome to consult a hair stylist.

You may want to also learn about bed head which is actually a very similar concept.

Thank you for taking the time to learn about this beauty relevant terminology.

If someone asks you, "what is hat head?", now you can hopefully help them out with an answer.

Don't freak out if you are having a bad hair day.  The good news is that a bad hair day will pass.

A Compression Effect, Not a Hair Type

Hat head is purely mechanical: the band and crown of a hat press the hair against the head, and warmth and moisture under the hat help the hair keep that flattened shape once the hat comes off. That is why fit matters — a hat that is too small compresses more of the hair, more firmly, than a correctly sized hat — and why the effect is temporary. Once the hair is combed, brushed or washed, the compression is released and the hair returns to its normal appearance, so hat head belongs with bed head in the family of short-lived, easily reversed bad-hair effects.

Common Questions

What is hat head?

Hair that has been flattened and matted down by the compression of a hat, so that it looks disheveled and untidy when the hat is removed. It is an effect on the hair, not a style of headwear.

How can hat head be fixed?

Put the hat back on, or work on combing or brushing the hair; a shower also resets it. A hair stylist does not need to be consulted — hat head is temporary and passes.

What makes hat head worse?

Wearing a hat for a long period of time, and wearing headwear that is too small for the head. Hat head is a similar concept to bed head, in which sleep flattens the hair instead of a hat.

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