Up to half of men eventually experience some degree of balding, and even confident men worry about developing male pattern baldness. Plenty of men take measures to avoid going bald, including using special shampoos, taking medications, and avoiding hats. That’s right – plenty of people think that hats play a role in causing baldness. But does this theory hold water? Keep reading to find out.
Why Do Hats Have a Reputation for Causing Baldness?
When you wear a hat, it stays in contact with your hair and scalp. Many people believe that the friction of the hat rubbing against your follicles and pulling on your hairs can contribute to balding. In addition, hats tend to limit the amount of fresh air that can get to your scalp, which some people believe is bad for the health of your hair.
Hats can also contribute to the illusion of having less hair. When you wear a hat all day, it flattens your hair, making it look less thick and healthy. If you wear a hat every day, you may also get used to the way you look in it, leading to greater insecurity about your hair when the hat comes off at night.
Is There Any Truth to the Rumors?
Hat lovers, you can breathe a sigh of relief – your hat isn’t damaging your hair. There’s no evidence that hats actually cause hair loss.
While it’s true that excessive friction and pulling can damage your hair over time, the average hat isn’t nearly tight enough to cause that kind of damage. The only possible risk you might incur from wearing a hat is getting a scalp infection, which could have a detrimental effect on your hair. As long as you keep your hat clean and let your scalp air out regularly, though, you don’t have to worry about whether your favorite hat is damaging your follicles.
What Are Your Options if You’re Balding?
Male hormones cause men to go bald, and there isn’t usually much that can be done about that. Balding tends to be genetic as well. But if you’re unhappy about losing your hair, there are a number of things you can try.
First, you can use something to make your hair look thicker. You don’t have to start wearing a wig – there are simpler and cheaper options available. Hair building fibers are one easy option. These fibers make your hair look thicker, which helps to cover up any bald spots, but they also wash out with a regular shampoo.
You can also try taking medication to make your hair grow back. Propecia and Rogaine are two common options. If you want to try a medication for hair regrowth, talk to your doctor first to make sure it’s safe for you.