Does wearing a hat cause hair loss?

There are a variety of myths about causes and cures for thinning hair. But when you’re deciding on treatment options, you deserve the truth about hair loss.

Today, we’re debunking one major myth about hair that we hear all the time: Does wearing a hat cause hair loss? Read on to find out.

Which came first: The hat or the hair loss?

By now, you’ve probably heard someone say that hats cause hair loss or make existing hair loss worse. It’s easy to believe. After all, many people with hair loss are always wearing hats.

We have good news: If you throw on a hat whenever you head outside, there’s no need to worry. As long as your hat isn’t abnormally tight, it will not cause or worsen hair loss. While traction alopecia (hair loss caused by pulling hair or irritating the area) does exist, a hat would need to be extremely tight to cause this.

In fact, hats are actually great for protecting the scalp from damaging UV rays, especially in the sunny summer months. For those with thinning hair, hats are a great option for protecting the head, not a threat to existing hair.

Why does this myth keep getting passed around?

As we mentioned, it’s common for people with hair loss to frequently wear hats. Usually this is to conceal the thinning areas. While it doesn’t cause loss, people often associate them just because they go hand in hand.

Additionally, a frequent hat-wearer experiencing loss may notice more hair on the inside of their hat when they remove it. This continued loss would have happened anyway due to the true causes of thinning and balding. The hat simply caught the hair that would’ve fallen out or blown away in the wind.

What actually causes hair loss?

For most cases of balding, the culprit is a condition called androgenetic alopecia. This is also known as genetic hair loss and will progress regardless of hat wearing.

Genetic hair loss is caused by excess DHT, a hormone that affects the follicles on the top of the head for men and follicles all over the head for women. This causes thinning in 50% of men and 35% of women. Thankfully, there are options for treating androgenetic alopecia at any stage.

How can we stop, prevent or solve hair loss?

From hair transplants to treatments to non-surgical hair replacement, we can help you find a solution to slow and stop your loss and even restore your hair permanently. Regardless of the cause, there are options for those experiencing hair loss of any kind.

Our hair restoration experts have experienced hair loss, used the leading technology to restore their own looks, and help our clients do the same every day. Schedule your free consultation to understand the root cause of your loss and discuss your options.