You probably won’t think about it until the first time you attempt to put a hat over your hair system, but not just any old hat, hood, or scarf will do. To help you protect your investment, here we discuss what to avoid and what to look for when wearing hats, hoods, helmets, and scarves.

Hats

Just like sleeping on a standard cotton or flannel pillowcase, a snuggly knitted or crocheted wool or cotton hat can damage your hair. That fuzzy fleece or flannel inside hats and hoods will do the same. Short, Velcro-like fibers catch and pull on your hair, causing knotting, tangling, and breakage. They also absorb moisture from the hair, causing it to dry out.

Helmets

If you regularly need to wear a helmet for work, riding, or other activity, we recommend wearing a headscarf under the helmet. If you are taking the helmet on and off a lot, this will protect your hair from friction that causes shedding, and protect your bond from the constant tension as well. It’s not a necessity, but if you're trying to get the most longevity out of your hair system, wear a headscarf under your helmet.

Hoods

Whereas not so much of a problem with short hair, hoods on coats and hoodies can cause unnecessary tangling for longer hair. The hair sitting in the hood bunches up and tangles as you move around.

Hats you can wear

Here are some quick tips to stay warm and protect your hair replacement system:

• Choose hats and hoods lined with satin, polyester, acetate, nylon, acrylic, canvas, or faux fur.
• Choose hats that are woven, not knitted or crocheted. This allows for a smoother surface and less nooks and crannies for your hair to get caught in.
• Avoid tight hats that create friction on your hair.
• Stay away from fuzzy fibers. If the hat or hood is fuzzy, your hair will be too.
• Never put a hat or hood on wet hair to prevent excessive matting and tangling.

Scarves

If you have short hair, winter scarves are not an issue. But for those with long hair, scarves increase the chances of tangling and breakage.

If your hair is long and you still have your own naturally growing hair at the nape of your neck, your scarf will rub on your growing hair as opposed to your hair system. That being said, you need to assess whether or not it's a good idea for you to wear a scarf made with fluffy and fibrous cotton or wool fiber. Your growing hair needs to be dense enough to create a decent barrier between the scarf and the hair in your system. If you're wearing a full cap system and your hair is long, stick to silk, acrylic or acetate scarves, or a similar fiber that won't tangle your hair.