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Fitting it Just Right: How Tight Should a Hat be

How tight should a hat be? We bet you asked yourself this question at least once if you’re a hat buff as we are. And, even though it’s a simple one, this question baffles lots of people. The answer might not be so simple, but we will break it down for you in order to find a perfect hat for any occasion.

There are several steps you should take into consideration and each one of them is crucial in order for you not to make a mistake. Owning a hat that doesn’t fit right is like owning a pair of shoes that are the wrong size. In other words, you can’t do it. Or you can, but you will look silly. Also, keep in mind that there are different types of hats out there. Every single hat has its own philosophy and if one fits you right, that doesn’t mean another one will fit as well. So, in this article, we’ll also see how to determine the fit on various popular hats out there. But, before we start all of this, we will take a step back and start from ourselves and the most important thing. Where does the hat lay? On your head. We won’t cover that detail here, you can check other articles of ours for detailed instructions, but still, we will see how measuring your head the right way is important for the hat fitting process.

Also, one more thing to keep in mind is your face shape. We talked about it thoroughly in one of our previous articles and to be honest, it’s a great read if you want to learn more about picking the right hat for you. Face shape plays a huge role when it comes to picking and fitting the perfect hat. So, without further ado, let’s dive into one of the biggest issues any hat lover may have – how to determine the hat fits right?

Basics of Hat Fitting

There are a few things you should take into consideration no matter which hat you try to fit on your head. Those are:

  • Fabric
  • Hat size chart
  • Proportions

Fabric is extremely important even though you may think it isn’t. Why? It’s simple. Different materials behave differently. For example, Leather and straw hats are very static and aren’t stretchable. Even if you manage to stretch them a little bit, in most cases you will damage them as they aren’t really meant to be stretched. Other materials such as wool or cotton fabric behave better if you try to stretch them. On the other hand, if you wash your hat, you need to know that materials such as wool are prone to “shrinkage” which means that they will shrink to some degree. So, if the hat fits you sort of “okay” the first time you try it out, it doesn’t mean it will have the same fit after you clean it in the washing machine. This, of course, doesn’t apply for every single hat.

Another thing to keep in mind is a hat size chart. You can find various size charts online. Most of them display the same information and it’s very important to check this out before buying a hat. Of course, combine this with the measures you came up with after measuring your own head. For example, if your head measures show you that you are in between two sizes in the hat size chart, then it’s usually advised to pick a hat which is a size up as it will have a bit more room. Anyways, numbers don’t lie and therefore, the only thing you can trust besides your personal feeling of how the hat sits on your head are these measures.

Another important thing to take into consideration is the proportion. Proportion is extremely important whatever you may be doing. If the trousers are too long, and you are a small person, you won’t wear them, right? Again, we talked more about proportion in our article about how face shape dictates which hat you’ll pick. But, you don’t exactly need to be Einstein to know some things. They are pretty self-explanatory. Like, if you have a big head, it wouldn’t make sense to pick a hat that is even bigger. It will make you look like a “Barbie” doll. The same goes if your head is tiny.

These are all things you should keep in mind before buying any type of hat. If you want to spend some serious money, you want to find a perfect fit right? So, as they say, measure once, cut twice. In general, we’ll now cover some of the clear indicators you should follow that will show you if your hat has a good fit.

  • If you can fit in average one finger in the space between your hat and your head, that’s a good indicator you have the right size
  • The hat should sit above your eyebrows and don’t obstruct your sight.
  • A tight fit isn’t good. You should aim for a “snug” fit. That’s the perfect fit. If your hat sits too tight, you’ll feel like you have some sort of weight on your head and you may feel some tension. The hat shouldn’t move around but at the same time, it shouldn’t be rock solid as well.

We bet that you knew about some of these, but if you didn’t these are great indicators to have in mind when trying out a new hat. Next, we’ll cover some of the most popular hats out there and talk more about what is perfect for you should be looking for when it comes to them specifically. 

Baseball Cap

Baseball caps are probably the easiest ones to find the right fit for. They can be adjusted according to the size of your head with the help of adjustable strips they have on the back. Also, you can wear it any many ways. Tilted to the side, backward or normal. You name it. It’s so versatile and it’s no surprise that this hat is used by many people around the world.

Fedora

Fedoras are also extremely popular among the younger and older population as well. It’s very stylish and therefore people love to wear it when they want to feel like ladies or gentlemen. It’s easy to realize if the fedora fits your right or not. Firstly, you need to make sure that it fits strong enough that a common breeze won’t take it off. But, at the same time, the fit shouldn’t be so strong so that you feel like you have some weight on your head. In other words, aim for a snugged fit.

Beanie 

Beanies are winter type hats. Although people wear it during the summer as well, they are specially made to keep your head and ears warm. But, nowadays they serve as a fashion statement and it pretty much doesn’t make a difference if it’s winter or summer – you can wear it. How to know it fits you correctly? It’s easy. Beanies are often made from wool which usually has some synthetic material added to the mix. What this means is that you can stretch beanie a lot. And by a lot we mean it. There isn’t a head type that this hat won’t work for. The same goes for other beanie type hats. If you buy one, you can be sure it will fit you.

Flat Cap

Flat caps are also becoming more and more popular among the younger generation as well. Older people have been wearing this hat for quite some type. But, ever since a show called “Peaky Blinders” aired on TV, younger people fell in love with these hats. And they should. It’s a great hat which looks great on most people. It has a somewhat tight fit so you really need to test it out before buying. As with other hats, you should aim for a snugger fit – the one which isn’t too tight and too loose at the same time. 


To sum up, before picking the hat for you, see how it fits. It doesn’t matter if the hat looks good if you pretty much can’t wear it for more than 30 minutes. Hats are made to be on the head for longer periods of time and therefore, you need to do some testing before buying your hat. Hopefully, this article has helped you out and hopefully, you learned some new things when it comes to hat fitting. You need to take this very seriously as we get mails on a regular basis from people who ask us if it’s possible to widen or to narrow the hats. Guess why? Because they bought the hat with the wrong fit. So, to avoid getting into this situation, just follow the rules from this article. In most cases, we think you’ll pick the right fit, and as a disclaimer, we need to say that even if you follow everything we say, it might happen that still, the fit isn’t right. Yeah, it happens and in that situation, don’t be sad. Just buy a new hat!

Keep ’em Clean! Guide to Washing Your Beanies

Keep ’em Clean! Guide to Washing Your Beanies

To a lot of people, beanies are the staple style during winter. You not only get warmth but also a chance to look trendy and stylish. Speaking of which, we prepared some handy tips on how to wear a beanie and look stylish. But you may be asking about how to wash your beanies.

Yes, your beanies should be washed. They are exposed to grime from your sweat, makeup, and any other products you use on your hair. If you are not careful, your hat can get gross and be the cause of infections.

You did a good thing finding this article. Or did it find you first? Whichever the case, you are in the right place now. You will get definitive guide to washing your beanies. Before we do that, you will also get to know why you even have to bother washing your winter hats. Get comfortable, it is going to be an exciting read.

Why should you bother washing your beanie?

You can’t go a day or two without washing your hair, right? The same dirt you are getting off your hair finds its way into your hats. It leaves you no choice other than washing your beanies regularly.

Let us bring this closer home for a better understanding. Everything we are wearing can gather a massive amount of dirt in a few hours. Our bodies let out a lot of dirt and it all goes to what we are wearing. For instance, the body releases at least one liter of sweat each day. It is even more for those who exercise or do labor-intensive jobs. There is also 40 grams of greasy sebum, 10 grams of salts, and not less than 2 billions of dead skin cells each day. A good portion of all these dirt is produced in the scalp and goes into your hair. It also finds a way into the hats. If you leave all the grime there, it will turn smelly and you sure do not want things escalating that far.

The ultimate guide to washing your beanies

There are two methods you can use to wash your beanie. You can either hand wash or machine wash it. Each method is dictated by the instructions on the label of your cold-weather hat. Machine washing is fast and will not take a lot of your time. If it is hand washing, do not be in a hurry, you will be there for longer.

Let us now explore each of the washing methods.

Machine washing

  • Check the beanie label to ascertain if it is machine-washable: there are washing instructions somewhere on the label. Beanies made of synthetic fibers, wool, cotton blends, and pure cotton can be washed in a machine. If you don’t see the label, don’t take the risk. Wash your beanie with hand.
  • Prevent your beanie from stretching by putting it in a laundry bag: Beanies are notorious for stretching, especially when you wash them in a machine. Woolen beanies are the biggest stretching culprits. Stay ahead of this problem by putting your hats in a laundry bag. Draw the strings and your hat is ready for a thorough wash.
  • Only soak your beanies with clothes in the same color.
  • Use a mild detergent and don’t pour it directly: introduce the detergent via the exterior drawer. Pouring the soap directly will lead to some portions absorbing more detergent than other others. Some areas will be more washed than others.
  • If your beanie is woolen, get detergents specific to it
  • Use gentle cleaning setting: when the settings are too high, your hats will lose their shape. Settle for settings that are within the handwashing scope.
  • Set temperatures at 29 degrees Celcius/85 degrees Fahrenheit: typically, hand washing settings work well with cold water. But some washing machines do not come with that option. Therefore, the temperature must not exceed 30 degrees Celcius or 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep away from the temptation to use hot water as it will shrink your beanies.
  • Reshape your beanie when wet: when you are done washing, reshape your hat when it is still damp. You can as well stuff it with a few grocery bags on the inside to keep its shape.
  • Dry your beanies naturally

You can read more about washing hats in a washing machine in another article where we went deeply into the subject.

Hand washing

This method is the best for knitted and synthetic fabric beanies. Here are the washing steps you should follow;

  • Again, check the label to make sure the material is suitable for hand-washing. Nylon, acrylic, and polyester are some of the materials that bond well with hand washing.
  • Fill up a bucket or sink with cold water
  • For woolen and cashmere beanies, use lukewarm water. The water you use should not be hotter than 29 degrees Celcius or 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Add a small amount of mild detergent: for every gallon of water, use one teaspoon of detergent. Use your hand to stir the water until the detergent is evenly distributed.
  • Put your hats into the mixture and keep swirling for about 5 minutes. Do not try to stretch the beanie because that will lead to a permanent loss of shape. By the time the 5 minutes expire, over 98% of the dirt will be gone. If your hat is stained, massage it with the detergent thoroughly. You can also soak your beanies longer to remove all the stubborn stains.
  • Use clean cold water to rinse your beanies: squeeze your beanies hard against the bottom or side of the sink or bucket. If your hat is made of a delicate fabric like cashmere, do not rinse it under a running tap.
  • Create a ball shape with your beanie then press it on a hard surface to lose most of the water. Stay away from wringing as it will destroy its elasticity and shape.
  • Roll up the beanies in a towel to remove extra moisture: if there is still some moisture left, put your beanie on a towel, roll it inside and press it gently to absorb the water. Make sure you are using a clean and larger towel than the beanie.
  • Air-dry your beanies. Do not fall to the temptation of using a dryer.

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Wrap-up

We all love beanies, and even more so when they are clean. After all, washing your beanie is not rocket science. You can do it like a pro thanks to this article. Start by inspecting the washing instructions on the label and decide if it is machine or hand wash. The rest is a piece of cake. Be careful not to stretch your hat by pressing on it hard. Also, avoid using hot water as it is an enemy to the elasticity of your good cold weather headwear.

When it comes to fashion, we are the first to break the news to you. Stay tuned for more about beanies and other headwears.