Hat Hair? Not this winter Saturday, 02 January 2010 02:59 Written by Elena

If you wear a hat to keep warm this winter, you're most likely going to suffer from hat hair. What exactly is hat hair? It's kindly defined as hair that takes on the shape of a hat. But to us it's more like a flat, matted, staticky mess, which makes us question why we even bother styling it in the first place.

Well, don't hang up your hat just yet. There are a few steps you can take to make it through the winter with great-looking hair (post hat removal, of course). From a dryer sheet to a spray bottle of water, read on for some hair (un) raising tips.

• Wool hats are the enemy. They stick to the hair like wool sweaters cling to shirts, pants and anything in between. Opt for cotton or cashmere, or if you want to avoid hat hair all together, go with earmuffs.

• Does you hair stand on end when you whip off your hat? The friction created between the material and your hair (particularly clean, product-free hair) makes static unavoidable. To ease the electrical charge add a finishing product to your styling.

• While a finishing product may help minimize static, it's not a guarantee. If you have fine hair, wave a fabric softener sheet over the hair. Just like it does to laundry, it controls static cling. As for wavy, curly or course hair, lightly spray the hair with water spray (for example Evian Water Spray).

• If your hair looks flat or dented when you take off your hat, just add volume. Keep a volumizing spray in your handbag for instant lift: spray directly to the roots (if your hair is long, flip over and apply the product) and massage with your fingertips to reshape and re-boost body.

• If your hair is long or you have bangs, Durif offers a few tricks to keep the hair looking polished when it's time to take the hat off. Before putting on your hat, tie long hair into a loose bun at the nape of the neck. It can be easily removed, says Durif, and hair still looks pretty. If you have bangs, pull them to the side and secure with a hairpin to keep them from denting or matting.  

• As it turns out, the finer and straighter the hair, the more likely you are to experience hat hair. Shorter styles are at risk, too, because the hat covers every last strand. Adding volume to the hair before putting on your hat should help minimize the damage.