Can you really go bald from wearing a hair? I spoke to an expert directly!

A cap is a must-have item for summer when you are spending time outdoors. Of course, they are essential for sunny days not only for outdoor scenes but also for everyday styles. It’s already a fashion icon, but I’m still curious about what goes on inside of the hat.

Just go outside a little during summer and the inside of your hat will get stuffy pretty fast! Naturally, it doesn’t seem to be good for the scalp … I’ve heard rumors that “I’m going bald because of wearing a hat”, but is that really true?

So, I asked a hair expert about the urban legends surrounding our summer essentials.

Is wearing a hat bad for your scalp?

Shinya Amino (Angfa Hair specialist) well known for the hair-growth shampoo “Scalp D”, belongs to the D Clinic Division of Angfa, a leading aging care company in Japan. He is the deputy chief of the core area development section of the product development department, and is also active as a hair diagnostician.

This time, I visited the headquarters of Angfa, which is famous for scalp shampoo. There I interviewed Shinya Amino, a scalp specialist who also acts as a hair diagnostician. I immediately asked about the relationship between hats and thinning hair.

Does wearing a cap in midsummer have a negative effect on the scalp?

Amino: First of all, it is better to wear a hat. In the summer, the ultraviolet rays are strong, so if you continue to absorb them for a long time, it will damage the scalp and worsen the scalp environment. Therefore, it is very important to wear a hat. However, if you continue to wear it for a long time, the temperature and humidity inside the hat will rise and it will become stuffy easily.

 

Does it matter how you wear your hat?

It cannot be said that it doesn’t have an adverse effect. So how do you wear a hat without adversely affecting your scalp? 

Amino: You should wear a hat so that your scalp doesn’t get stuffy as much as possible. Take off your hat in the shade on a regular basis to wipe off sweat from your scalp, and whenever you take a break indoors, take off your hat and dry your scalp. I think that the potential benefit will be greater if you do.

Does the frequency of wearing a hat matter?

Amino: “I think it’s related. For example, if you wear a hat every day and it feels tight, you may have poor circulation in your scalp. I think it’s a good idea to choose a hat that isn’t too tight. ”

Is there a hat suitable for thinning hair?

Wearing a hat and thinning hair seem to have something to do with each other. How to choose a hat seems to be an important point to make best use of them during the summer. Is there a hat suitable for thinning hair?

Could you tell me if there is a type of hat that is good for the scalp?

Amino “First of all, a straw hat has excellent breathability. It also has the advantage of having a larger shade than a cap. It blocks the entire head from UV rays.”

From outdoor brands, there are many caps that are made of mesh or have ventilation to ensure breathability. 

Amino: Of course, that is also effective. From the perspective of hair thinning measures, breathability is the most important part. UV protection is also important. The rest is to keep your scalp as clean as possible as any hat that is unsanitary can have a negative effect on your scalp. ”

Choosing a hat is important, but keeping it clean is also important right?

Amino: After all, sebum and sweat easily adhere to the part that comes into contact with the scalp, and germs are likely to grow, so it is better to wash your hat regularly. Since germs can also cause thinning hair, I think it can likely cause problems. However, when going out for a long time such as camping or traveling, it is ideal to prepare several kinds of hats and always wear a clean one. ”

What are the signs that you have thinning hair?

Are there any things we should be looking out for as a sign of thinning hair?

Amino: “It’s easy to understand when you feel that your daily styling is affected by the amount of hair you have. Another thing is to check for hair loss. If you have more thin and short hair loss, you may need to be careful. Hmm. Hair has a growth period of about 2 to 6 years, but people with thin hair lose it in about half the period. If such hair loss increases, it may be a sign of thinning hair”.

How can I keep my scalp healthy?

Choosing a hat that is as breathable as possible and washing it regularly to keep it clean seems to help prevent thinning hair. Now that you know the mechanism of thinning hair, let’s ask about other scalp care methods.

Are there any effective item other than hats that protect the scalp from UV rays?

Amino: I think hats are the most effective, but it might be a good idea to use a UV protective spray for the scalp.

Those types of spray are available right! Is there any day to day things we should be careful about?

Amino: What is surprisingly not well known about is sleep. From 10 pm to 2 am is said to be the “golden time for hair,” and hair grows the most during that time. It may be difficult in your daily rhythm, but getting a good night’s sleep during that time will help prevent thinning hair. Another is diet. This is not limited to hair, but it is the basis of promoting health. If you continue to eat an unbalanced diet or ff you eat only oily foods, excess sebum may be secreted and the scalp environment may deteriorate. ”

It is important to keep in mind a healthy diet and sleep rhythm as a measure against thinning hair right?

Amino: Of course, it’s also important to wash your hair and dry it thoroughly. Hair is similar to laundry, and it is easiest for germs to grow when it is just left to dry on its own. Recently the number of dry shampoos made from organic materials is increasing, so using them when outdoors for long periods may be one way to incorporate them into your scalp care routine. Even in an environment where you can’t wash your hair, just using a dry shampoo to control sweat and sebum is completely different than doing nothing at all.”

Is it possible to recover from thinning hair?

Amino: “I can’t say it unconditionally, but I think it’s possible yes. Basically, thinning hair becomes a disease called AGA (male pattern baldness). For those who want full-scale treatment, not only is daily care and health important but we recommend treatment at a specialized clinic. ”

 

Just as we thought hats are essential for summers outdoors but lets be careful how we use them!

Wearing a hat during the middle of summer is a great way to help prevent heat stroke. But as we have learned it can also lead to the thinning of your hair so let’s review some of our key findings from this interview.

 

‘The Key Points We Learned About Wearing a Hat Effectively”

1. Wear a hat that prevents your scalp becoming stuffy as much as possible.

Choose a well-ventilated hat, such as a mesh cap or straw hat. It is important to take off your hat regularly in the shade or indoors, wipe off sweat frequently, and dry your scalp.

2. Do not wear a hat that is too tight!

Tightening around the head can also cause poor circulation in the scalp. Even when in windy outdoor locations, it may be better to wear something with a strap instead of wearing a hat that is too tight.

3. Wash your hat frequently to keep it clean.

Sebum and sweat easily stick to the inside of the hat, and germs that cause thinning hair can grow, so it is important to wash it regularly to keep it clean! Ideally, bring multiple caps for camping or traveling.

For those of you who are concerned about scalp stuffiness and thinning hair, keeping your hat clean while maintaining breathability as much as possible will aid in scalp care and help prevent premature hair thinning.

Of course, daily eating habits and daily lifestyle are important, and if you stick to a good hair washing method and shampoo selection, it will be even more effective. But before that, let’s learn the correct way to use hats as a measure that anyone can do, and enjoy a healthy summer active lifestyle!