5 Brilliant Ways to Avoid Hat Hair

Fall means it’s officially time for some of our favorite things: hot chocolate, fuzzy sweaters, matte lipstick and hats galore. But for every good, there’s a corresponding bad—and hat hair is definitely the worst of the bunch. The good news is that you don’t have to suffer through a cycle of never-ending bad hair days as soon as the temperature dips if we have anything to say about it. Here are five genius ways to avoid hat hair this fall.

1. Make sure your have your hat game right

Whether you’re into beanies, fedoras or deerstalkers, you need to make sure your hat fits correctly if you want any hope of a good hair day. Too tight, you’ll end up with an unfortunate hair dent circumnavigating your head—too loose, it will rub around on your head and encourage frizz. Close-fitting hats like beanies and toques should fit snugly on your head so that they don’t slide down, but still heave enough room to slide at two fingers underneath without stretching it out. Stiffer hats like the classic cloche should be able to sit pushed to the back of your head (where your nog is widest) and still have enough room for one finger to slide underneath the band.

2. The ultimate no-no.

We know you’re not exactly dying to go outside in the cold with a wet head, but on those days when every minute counts and you find yourself wondering if you really have the time to blow-dry your hair, do it. Wet hair underneath a hat is a recipe for unfortunate angles, cowlicks and dents—so make sure that your lovely locks are totally dry before heading out into the frozen wilderness, hat in hand!

3. Style bangs properly for maximum cuteness.

Hats and bangs are a match made in hair heaven, but style them incorrectly and you can end up with the worst case of hat hair you’ve ever seen. Sweep your bangs loosely over to one side and keep them in place with some dry shampoo, rather than hairspray—this will help fight frizz and static, and won’t dry out your lovely locks any further than the winter air already has.

4. Avoid product overload!

If you’re the type who layers nine kinds of gels, mousses and serums on your hair every morning, you might want to take a powder on that—the more products you use in your hair every day, the more likely you are to end up with that unfortunately smooshed, squished look. Limit yourself to one or two products on those mornings when you’re going to be wearing a hat and thank us later.

Embrace hat-friendly hairstyles.5

Sometimes it feels like a low pony is the only way to style your hair when you’re rocking a chapeau—but there are a multitude of hat-friendly hairstyles out there. Try a loose side-braid, a sleek bun at the nape of your neck, a pinned-up faux bob, loose curls or even a low-slung half-up style instead!