Travel Hat Information: Choose the right hat

Travel Hat information

I have always loved a hat and wear one every chance I get!  Here is my beloved grandmother, Grace, in 1938 looking very snappy.  Did I get the hat gene from her? I must have because I LOVE hats!

Hats are fun day to day for any reason, but hats on a trip are a fantastic idea! Not only are they fun, but they are really practical.

Travel  Hat Information: Keep the sun off your nose.

Most of what we think of as ‘natural’ and unavoidable skin aging is really from sun damage. Over time the ultraviolet light from the sun damages elastin in the skin which then leaves us with wrinkles, thin skin that bruises and tears easily and sunspots. The damage happens earlier than you think. Check out this photo from the 1938 edition of the American Academy of Dermatology. Stop that damage before it starts!

The damage we get from a sun burn is dangerous. Sunburn is the way your skin tells you it has been damaged by ultraviolet light. You don’t have to have a blister or peeling skin to have a sun burn. If your skin is pink…it is damaged.

Ultraviolet light damages the DNA in your skin. Your skin can repair itself, but not perfectly and certainly not at the same time it is being damaged with new, unprotected sun exposure. Over time some of the damage builds up in the DNA which can lead to skin cancer.

Travel Hat Information: A hat is better than sunscreen.

Sunscreen is a great invention, but like most things it has it drawbacks. Firstly, most people do not use enough sunscreen for  protection. Even if you do use enough the first time, most people don’t reapply as is needed  for maximum protection.

Don’t forget that sweating, rubbing and towel drying can remove sunscreen and allow ultraviolet damage.

Travel Hat Information:  Keep warm.

I’ve been caught off guard by the difference between 55 degrees in the sun and 55 degrees with overcast skies and wind. A hat will keep you warm and toasty.

Did your mom tell you that you lose the most heat from your head? So did mine, but the research she used for that bit of information was flawed. The US Army bundled up subjects WITHOUT covering their heads and put them in the cold. Then, they discovered that the soldiers lost a lot of heat from the uncovered head. (Duh) The truth is that any uncovered skin loses heat faster than covered skin.

What IS true is that keeping your head covered when it is really cold feels good! A hat keeps you feeling warm and toasty.

One of my favorite hats for winter weather (I’m wearing it in the photo below.) has little flaps that tuck away into the crown until you need them. Then, you just pull them down to cover your ears. Think that isn’t fashionable enough for you? You really can’t see them on my dark hair, but even if you could, I wouldn’t care……fashion goes out the window when you have icicles on your nose and ears!!

This Tilley hat shown below is bullet proof. (**** The hat is not really bullet proof -that is just a figure of speech! ) Squish it, wad it up, sit on it…whatever and then just fluff and brush off. This fantastic hat is made of wool it is warm and toasty and even has the secret ear flaps. Don’t be afraid the wool is itchy – it has a flannel lining.

Travel Hat Information: Keep cool.

A hat with a wide brim will keep you shaded and a mesh crown will let the air circulate on your head.

There is some confusion as to how a hat can keep you warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. Hmmmm…. I’m guessing these people have never stopped to think about the difference between a lightweight breathable shirt for summer and a thick woolen one for winter.

For the same reason that people in dry, HOT places like the deserts wear long robes, wearing a hat in the heat can keep the outside heat from bothering you. You’ll still want to let your body heat out…and let the breeze in for evaporative cooling when you sweat. So….drumroll, please….

In the summer the perfect hat has a brim to keep the sun’s heat off and a mesh crown to let your body heat out and the summer breeze in.

This hat fits that bill and is my all-time favorite! It is made by Barmah and is called “Canvas Drover”. It isn’t officially ‘packable’ because it has a stiff brim and can’t be folded. I really like a stiff brim for fashion’s sake and have learned how to pack them and take them all over with no problem. Video on how to do that to come!

See that string? It is super important on a travel hat!! Cinch it down tightly to keep a hat secure in the wind, or….take off the hat and use the string to let it hang down your back.

Travel Hat Information: Keep hair a non- issue.

Using a hat while traveling keeps hair care super simple. Just wash – brush, and go! Leave the hair products and styling tools at home and have a real vacation! Using a hat keeps you looking chic, too!

I purchased this fabulous hat with a satin band at my all time favorite hat store – The Hat People in Old Town Spring, Texas. Prior to visiting this store, I had tried on many, many hats and purchased several, but none were perfect. After just one visit with Berte, the owner of The Hat People, I realized all I needed was the ‘right’ hat!!

The hats at The Hat People are a little more expensive than what you’ll find at the mall. The reason is that here, in a real hat store,  you’ll find lots and lots of styles. At the mall you see the same hat style over and over and over so you can’t get a feel for how different styles will look on you. At a hat store you also get professional guidance choosing the best shape and an excellent quality hat. Several of mine are years old and still look fantastic. Believe me….paying a little extra pays off in the end. Quit buying 10 of the same old hats everyone else has – and feeling only so-so when you wear them and buy one great hat that makes you feel amazing!

Travel Hat Information: Keep fashion in mind.

You’ll be looking at these travel photographs for many years to come so you’ll want to look good!

Some people swear they don’t look good in a hat. I say hats are like jeans…sometimes you have a try on a zillion options, but you will find the one that is perfect for you. When you do – the result is magic! Just like you love your favorite brand of jeans, you’ll fall in love with the perfect hat, too!

Travel Hat Information: Choosing the right hat for your face is easy.

Long face shape: Think celebrities like Liv Tyler and Sarah Jessica Parker

Choose hats that are more wide than tall or have very little brim like a beret. Stay away from tall crowns.

Square face shape: Think celebrities like Demi Moore and Brad Pitt

Choose hats that are soft and round which complement the sharp lines of the face shape like bowler, fedoras and beanies.

Heart face shape: Think celebrities like Reece Witherspoon and Scarlett Johanssen

Choose hats with a medium sized brim – anything else goes for this face shape!

Round face shape: Think celebrities Adele and Kate Winslet

Choose sharp lines and tall crowns and an asymmetrical brims look great, too!

Oval face shape: Think celebrities like Eva Mendes and Angelina Jolie-Pitt

These lucky people can pretty much wear anything they like! Go crazy and have lots of hats. 🙂

If you aren’t sure which face shape you have try this:

1. Pull your hair back and look in the mirror. Take a bar of soap and outline your face. The resulting image on the mirror will help you decide your face shape.

2. Or, use a mathematical approach and use the formula you find here at measuring your face: wiki how

You CAN find the perfect hat for your face shape. Feel chic, stay protected, and save time. Send me photos of YOUR favorite hat!!

Happy fashionable travels,

Natalie, The Educational Tourist