How To Fix Your Hair After Wearing A Hat

Too often we're forced to choose between hats and the resulting hat hair. Sure, they can elevate an outfit, but the aftermath can be too much to handle. So, what are some of the best ways to fix your hair after wearing a hat?

Of course, sometimes you choose to wear a hat to hide a bad hair day — and that's a different story altogether. But what about those days when your hair is actually looking great, but you just feel like adding an extra accessory? Well, luckily, there are quite a few things you can do — so don't despair, not all hope is lost!

It's somewhat comforting to know that you don't have to rule out hats completely — after all, they're increasingly great as weather turns colder, and they're also having quite the fashion moment. And with so many styles to choose from — from cool-girl olive green beanies, to retro felt bowler hats, to deliciously cozy fur-lined earflap hats — there's really something for everyone.

Luckily, all good hat hair avoidance takes are a few strategic extra steps — from a few well-deployed spritzes of texturizing spray, to choosing hats made from natural fibers to help keep your 'do from developing too much frizz. First step is, prevention, and next comes reversal — so let's walk through this:

1. Dry Your Hair

Wet hair + a hat = REALLY stubborn hat hair. Don't make things any harder for yourself than they already are.

2. Prep Your Hair

R + Co Foil Frizz + Static Control Spray, $27, Amazon

Anti-static spray can really be your friend right now.

3. Make Sure Your Hat Fits

Certain hats are going to aggravate your hairstyle more than others. To minimize hat hair, go with a looser fit, according to Real Simple.

4. Choose Your Hat With Care

Soft, smooth fibers tend to be the best when it comes to the whole frizz situation. Kattia Solano of Butterfly Studio Salon in New York told Yahoo Style, "Wool is so rough and conflicts with the texture of curly and/or natural hair ... Be sure to look for hats in a softer fabric, like cashmere, silk, or angora.”

5. Keep A Dryer Sheet in Your Hat

Bounce Outdoor Fresh Dryer Sheets & Fabric Softener, $9, Amazon

No, really. As Toronto's Good Day Hairshop stylist Jaymi Van Horne explained to Bustle, "Keeping a dryer sheet in your hat will help fight static AND keep your hair smelling laundry fresh."

6. Try a Hat Hair-Proof Hairstyle

Pulling your hair into a ponytail, or into pigtail braids is actually a failsafe way to avoid hat hair. Heck, even a simple updo can look amazing under the right hat.

7. Come Prepared

Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk, $20, Sephora

If you can, try to bring along either a texturizing spray or dry shampoo to add volume, or some shine serum to smooth flyaways (or, you know, all three).

8. Reverse Your Part

Reversing your part is a fool-proof way to add volume back into your 'do, and it'll likely hide any kinks your hair might have developed from your hat.

9. Hot Tools Are Your Friend

MHD Professional Mini Tourmaline Ceramic Hair Straightener, $13, Amazon

If you have access to them, a quick touch-up with your blow dryer, straightener, or curling iron can really make a world of difference. And if you're really in a pinch? Well, a couple blasts from the hand dryer in your closest public bathroom can actually help more than you'd think.

10. Try the "Wet Towel Method"

GQ has an interesting answer to the whole hat hair problem: The wet towel method. This involves taking a really hot damp towel, and wrapping it around your head, so the steam can work its magic on any weird shapes your hair has taken on. This is probably best for more drastic cases, as it's basically only one degree of separation from just washing and re-doing your hair.

11. Wash Your Hair

Finally, you have, as GQ jokingly referred to it, "the nuclear option." If all else fails, for really severe cases of hat hair, you might just have to wash the whole thing again, and re-style.

Images: Ezra Jeffrey (2), Alex Blăjan, Chad Madden, Johan Mouchet, Clem Onojeghuo, Jason Briscoe, Emi De Fazio, Naomi August/Unsplash; Courtesy Brands