Hats, like virtually any other thing, break down. Although they aren’t like cars and if you want to repair them it won’t cost too much, hats can be damaged as well. One of the most common damages you can see on a regular hat is a broken brim. Basically, every single hat has a brim (it wouldn’t be a hat if it doesn’t have one, right?) and therefore, most of the damage can occur on this part of the hat.

Brims are usually what make one hat a hat. It serves as a protective visor which makes sunlight bounce off your hat. Therefore, it’s the most important part of the hat. Because of its purpose, brims usually stick out from the rest of the hat. Think of a bird’s beak. It sticks out, right? The same goes for the brim. And, in most cases, the brim is made from a harder material than the rest of the hat. This is because brim needs to be sturdy and serve its purpose. If it isn’t sturdy and if it doesn’t stay in the same shape that it’s meant to be, then it basically loses its functionality. 

But, even though brims are, like we said, made from hard materials and are sturdy, they can be damaged nevertheless. In this article, we’ll cover various types of damage that can happen to your hats beloved brim. Also, we’ll see what are the best ways in which you can save your hat from going to the bin and use it a couple more times. 

Misshapen Brim

One of the most common issues which can happen to a brim is that it loses its original shape or form. If that’s the case, your hat would look silly and kind of out of proportion. So, you need to fix it. And to be honest, in most cases, this is very easy. In most cases, brim loses its original shape because it stayed in an unnatural position for a long time. Something like this could happen if you just toss your hat somewhere and then place a ton of other things on top of it. The weight of those things could bend the brim and after some time when you wish to wear your hat again, there will be an unpleasant surprise waiting for you. 

But, don’t worry, there’s a way to fix this. In most cases, the solution to this issue is similar to the way the issue was caused in the first place. To return the brim to its original shape you need to apply force in a reverse manner. So, place your hands so that when pushing your brim, you return it to the original form. It sounds simple and it really is. Squeeze the brim until it looks as you want it and has a normal shape to it. Be careful not to apply too much pressure though, as you can misshape it even more. 

Another way you can do this is to use a rubber band. Wrap the band tightly around the brim and let it rest for a couple of days. After the brim should return to its original shape and your problem will be solved. 

Another, not so much used method is to place your hat in something oval, like a mug. We don’t recommend this one as you really need to squeeze the hat inside and therefore damage it. But, if done correctly, the shape of the mug will return the brim in its original shape. 

Damaged Edge

Another sensitive part of the hat is the edge of the brim. It can get worn off and damaged with time and therefore, the hat which may be new could look all worn and old. Which can sometimes be a look you may not want. To make your brim’s edge look as new, all you need is a lighter and a pair of scissors. Simply trim any loose ends from fabric that might hang around from the edge and for more persistent ones, use a lighter. 

Also, if the color is worn off, you can use a marker to just color that part of the edge. It might sound a bit crazy, but we guarantee that no one will notice it from a distance. And, since we do all this just to prolong the life of our hat, we think that it’s worth it.

Take Care of Brim

In the end, we hope that you now know how to fix the most common type of damage which could occur on your brim. But, we have one more thing to say. Take care of your hat. If you look for it, your brim will stay intact and you won’t need any of these tips, ever. But, if you are sloppy with your hat, throw it and forget where it landed, then some damage might occur. So, keep in mind that you are the sole reason if any damage occurs.