How to Choose the Perfect Sun Protection Hat

Choosing a good sun hat is very important. Not only do 1/3 of all skin cancers appear on the face but the biggest cause of premature aging is cumulative damage of the sun from infancy on up. So let’s get started finding the perfect sun hat for you.

All of our hats are chosen with sun protection in mind, but not all hats are created equal.

Let’s start with 5 basic questions to narrow down your search:

1. What activity will you be doing? Will there be wind? Do you need good peripheral vision? Will it be hot?
2. Do you want maximum sun protection or is good sun protection just fine?
3. How wide of a brim is comfortable for you?
4. How important is fashion to you or is functionality all you need?
5. Is your hair short? Thinning? Bald or shaved? Do you dye your hair?

1.What activity do you plan to do? Is it gardening, sailing, hiking, travel or a round of golf? Whatever the activity, it creates conditions we need to be concerned about.

Will you be in the wind? With a wide brim hat, a chin strap is very important for keeping your sun hat in place. Remember the old sitcom The Flying Nun? A wide brim hat will pick up the wind like it has wings of its own. Additionally, a chin strap will help keep your hat in place when bending over or dropping your chin is part of your activity, like in gardening.

Peripheral vision is an important factor for both safety and playing various sports like tennis or volleyball. This will be a personal decision for you. Consider both the size of the brim and, if a neck drape is involved, how far does the drape wrap around the face. I am a beach volleyball player and for me a 3″ brim is the widest I can use and still see high flying balls as well as the other players.

Will you be doing an activity that generates body heat? You may want to wear a sun visor for total head aeration or choose a sun hat with mesh on the side of the crown or a hat that made of a fast drying fabric that allows evaporative cooling. One trick for cooling your head in a hot, dry climate is to wet the hat and then let the evaporation cool your head.

Maximum sun protection vs good sun protection?

What is a maximum sun protection hat? We feel a maximum protection hat has a UPF rating of 50 and a hat brim that is 4 inches wide or greater. But there’s more. The brim needs to be angled downward. This downward sloping brim allows you to be protected for more hours of the day.

How does this work? At high noon, when the sun’s rays are directly overhead, even a 3″ brim hat may provide maximum sun protection for your head. But when the sun is either ascending or descending the sun’s rays can sneak right under your hat and strike your face or neck. At daybreak or sunset, when the suns ray’s are virtually horizontal, a wide brim hat may provide no protection at all.

Adventure sun hatIf you plan to be spending time outdoors when the sun is close to either horizon, you may want to think about our more unique designs such as the Kalahari hat, Adventure Hat or Chic Sheik that drop a vertical protective block of fabric between you and the sun.

Good sun protection can be had with a brim less than 4 inches wide or a brim that is more horizon from the head.

How wide of a brim are you comfortable with?

We all have different feelings about this one. Some people can handle a wide brim with no problem while others find it very distracting. Bottom line is that the wider the brim of the hat the more surface area there is to block the sun. But, of almost equal importance, is the angle of the brim. A wide brim hat that comes straight out from the head is good but when the sun is not straight overhead the rays can come under the brim and strike the face and neck. A brim that is angled downward goes a long way in giving you more hours of protection. As a basic rule of thumb, for maximum sun protection choose a downward angled 4″ brim sun hat … and, if you are comfortable, choosing a brim wider than 4″ is even better. If you are not sure how wide a brim you would like you may want to consider a 3 1/2 brim.

Now, how important is fashion to you?

As you can see, some of the sun protection inventors have come up with novel hat designs to protect you from the sun but, alas they would not be called high fashion … except possibly on another planet. Most of these unique hats were designed to solve special sun protection needs such as full face protection, additional neck protection or increased ventilation.

Some of our wide brim hats are the height of fashion creating a dramatic flare or ultra feminine silhouette. As we all know, fashion is in the eyes of the beholder so look for a hat that accentuates your attributes.

5. Next, let’s take a look at your hair.

Do you have thinning hair, or are you balding or shave your head? If yes, mesh panels on the crown of the hat may provide extra air flow to keep your head cooler but it will also let UV radiation sneak through and reach your scalp. With maximum sun protection in mind, it is better to leave the mesh panels for those with thick tresses. For those of you who do have thick hair, choosing a hat with mesh panels will help your head stay cooler in the heat.

Do you have short hair? If yes, we need to be extra concerned about your neck. A sun visor or a brim less than 4″ leaves your neck open to sun damage. Typically a full brim hat will be your best choice.

Hair can get dry, cracked and brittle from too much sun. Dyed hair is especially susceptible to problems under UV radiation so, to protect your hair, I would suggest staying away from visor hats that leave your hair open to the sun light.

Just a few parting suggestions for picking the perfect hat for you:

Hat size: A hat that is too big is better than one that is too small. A tight hat may give you a headache and then you won’t want to wear it. Many of our hats are adjustable, but in all cases, please be sure to measure your head to ensure a perfect fit. For those of you with lots of little grey cells we have hats for big heads. And, for those of you with smaller heads, please know that you may request stick-on sizing tape to help you fit your hat.

Cotz sunscreenReflective rays: Even the widest brim hat will not be able to stop rays reflecting up from the ground, a near by car or any other reflective surface so wearing sunscreen is important for maximum sun protection. Rule of thumb: Sun protective fabric is always better than sunscreen in protecting you from the harmful rays of the sun but alas not always practical. On areas where you can’t cover up with fabric use sunscreen. Maximum sun protection is achieved by a combination of sun protective clothing and sunscreen.

Choosing a Perfect Sun Hat for Kids

We all know it is important to have healthy skin. Since more than 1/3 of all skin cancer appears on the face and the number one culprit for wrinkles and premature aging is the sun, wearing a good sun protective hat is a preventative measure too important to miss. A sunburn is never good , but remember sun damage is also cumulative. In other words, UV injury upon injury adds up over time to cumulate into major skin damage. The earlier sun protective measures are started, the better.

Let me say up front that kids can be tough when it comes to hats. Not that they are hard to fit but that getting a child to wear a hat can be a challenge. If you start them off wearing hats from infancy, like a car seat, they may come to expect wearing a sun hat is just a way of life. But even then, we often hear that most kids go through the “There is no way I am wearing a hat” stage. But fear not! As fellow conspirators in your child’s well-being, we think we may have some ideas that make wearing a hat fun!

So let’s start with getting a good fit, and we will end with suggestions that might help you get your children interested in wearing their sun hats.

Getting a good fit: The best way to get a good fit is the old fashion way of measuring the circumference of the head. For some of our hats we include age equivalents but beware! Head size varies dramatically for both adult and children with no regard to age or gender. We have seen 8 year olds with adult size heads. So measure around the head (above the eyes and ears… where the hat brim sits) with a soft measuring tape or use a string and then measure the length of the string to take the guess work out of sizing.

As we all know, kids grow at an alarming rate. Most of our hat measurements are within a range, but if your child’s head measurement is very close to the next larger size, you may want to consider choosing that bigger size.

Our brim sizes are all child appropriate, but you will most likely have insights as to the width of the brim that is best for your child. We would suggest you go with your gut feeling on this one, remembering that the wider the brim, the more sun will be blocked. Additionally, a brim with a downward slope will increase the sun protective ability of the hat.

Unless you know your child has a problem with a chin strap, we would suggest a chin strap to keep the hat on in the wind and when at play. If the hat you choose comes with a unwanted chin strap you can always cut it off or remove it.

So now, how do we get your child to wear a protective sun hat?

Here are some ideas to consider:

1. Young kids want to be like you … just like you. So, one of the best ways to get a child to wear their sun hat is to wear one yourself. Day in and day out don’t go outdoors without your sun protective hat and your child will get the message. And just think of all the benefits your own face will receive!
2. Talk to other parents about the benefits of having their kids wear a hat. Make wearing a hat the “IN” thing to do. When everyone else is doing it, arguments often vanish.
3. Here is our FUN idea – Have your child “design” his/her own hat, and maybe even hats for the rest of the family. Put out paint, fabric cut in daisy shapes, and other fun materials that could augment a hat. We even have a “Paint Your Own Hat” kit if you are tight on time. Another idea is to have a hat painting party and get everybody into it. I’ll bet you did not think sun protection could be fun!

Even In The Winter, You Still Need Sun Exposure Protection

Even in the winter you still need sun exposure protection. The cold of winter can be very deceiving. When you’re shivering in your heavy winter coat and you have long johns on just to stay warm, why in the world would you think of sun exposure protection? Wouldn’t you think that was just for summer?

Not really! The sun will bathe everyone in it’s UV rays in summer or winter, rain or shine. Even in the winter, you’ll still need sun exposure protection.

If you live where it’s sunny all the time then it really goes without saying, you really need to wear sunblock all the time and a good pair of sunglasses to help protect your eyes.

But, even when you live some place where it snows, you still need sunglasses and sunblock. Really you need them even more since the bright snow reflects the UV rays right back at you. So, you end up getting the UV rays right from the sun and from the bright glare of all the snow that is all around you.

So, you may be asking yourself, what is so bad about the UV rays? I have 2 words: free radicals. As you know, we are made up of cells. Molecules are what cells are made of. The molecules that have unpaired electrons are called free radicals. These electrons want to pair up so they can stabilize the molecule. Doing so by taking electrons from any molecule they make contact with. This will make those particular molecules unstable and this makes them turn and make the other molecules unstable. As this is happening in our cells damage occurs.

The opposite are the antioxidants. They give electrons to the free radicals thus neutralizing them, stopping the damage.

The sun’s UV rays make free radicals, this is why more sun exposure protection the better. It’s true that sunlight helps our bodies by producing vitamin D but only about 10 minutes a day is all you need for that. Make sure you use plenty of sunblock so you can protect your body.

Eat foods rich in antioxidants like veggies and fruits. Also the Vitamins E and C have good potent antioxidants so take these supplements to help.

Choosing The Right Gardening Hat

Deciding on a gardening hat is more then thinking about the way it looks in your mirror. Sure, style is important but there is also practicality, function, comfort and wear ability.

A gardening hat can have materials like cotton, palm, straw, paper, nylon, raffia, hemp, and many different other materials. Every gardening hat has its own specific characteristics of ventilation, durability, UPF and flexibility.

The strength to stay in place in wind is an important key for a great gardening hat. There are some that have adjustable chinstraps that will hold tightly in strong wind but won’t clamp like a vice. The chinstrap should also always be well behaved when you’re not using it. But some are heavy and won’t stay under your hat during the calmer days. Some gardening hat styles will with both the chinstrap and a back of the head strap so that you can adjust it for a better fit.

Depending on the material and design, one size usually fits most folks if it’s flexible and stretchy enough. For the hats that are in specific sizes you will need to measure around your head where the hat would fit. Gardening hats should fit you well and not be so low that it obstructs your vision. Remember hats shouldn’t be painful vices that leave red marks are your forehead.

A lot of folks wear a gardening hat to block damaging UV rays. A hat with a wide brim all the way around and have a tight weave are best to block out the UV rays. Check the UV rating on the hat, UPF 50+ is the highest UV rating. this rating is a lot like the ratings of sunblock but it’s the fabric that is tested. Remember, always wear sunblock for added protection from the sun.

Gardening hats should be well ventilated. Heads perspire so you’ll be more comfortable where there is air movement for evaporative cooling.

A gardening hat can come in many different colors and styles. Just choose one that looks great on you and that has the right amount of UV protection that you’re looking for. Happy hat hunting!

Pick Up A Sun Visor For A Great Way To Protect Yourself From Harmful Uv Rays!

A sun visor can come in a wide variety of styles and designs. Designed to protect your face from the sun’s harmful UV rays, these great looks in a sun visor will protect you and keep you looking stylish while you keep your beautiful skin free from premature aging!

The Adidas Grandslam Visor is a great option to wear when playing tennis or soccer to protect you from the sun and also keep you cool. Designed with X-Static antimicrobial silver fibers that conduct heat away from skin and ClimaLite fabric technology to keep you cool, this visor also has UV protection is built into the hat with an SPF of 25. The ClimaCool provides 360 degrees of cooling and increased ventilation. A great option to wear that will not break down despite multiple wears. The anti-microbial technology that this hat offers will extend the life of this visor.

If you are a lifeguard and need a sun visor to block the sun, but you also need some waterproofing technology, pick up the Nike Swim Lifeguard visor. This hat is constructed in 100% recycled Polyester taffeta. The lightweight and quick adjust back closure will provide a perfect fit and will not weigh you down when you need to think or act quickly. The sweat wicking technology will extend the life of this visor while the Dri-Fit material will dry quickly without staining and without damaging the fabric.

For a great look in a beach inspired visor, pick up the Sun N Sand Bayside Visor for only $10.95. This is a great choice if you have swim lessons for your children and you will be sitting out in the sun for a long period of time. This hat features a cotton crown to promote ventilation while the sewn paper braid brim also highlights a 4′ wide brim to protect you from the sun. A wide brim is a great option for those women who often forget to reapply sunscreen. This wide brim will keep you protected from harmful UV rays.

For a great hat to wear that also acts as a visor, pick up the Pantropic Packable Visor. This is a beautiful hat to pick up that provides 360 degrees of visor protection. Hand-woven in Ecuador, this hat packing perfectly flat in your suitcase and comes equipped with a 50+ UPF. A great option to take with you to a tropical island where you know you will be loafing in the sunshine for a few hours. The spandex headband fits all sizes comfortably while the 4′ brim provides optimal sun protection.

For a great look in a winter visor, pick up the Polartec Powerstretch Beanie with a visor. This hat has the fit of a skull cap with the benefits of a more constructed design. The sun shading visor at the front also provides the ponytail hole at the back so you don’t have to readjust your hair when heading out for your activity. This is great for those who live in cold climates and understand that you can get sun exposure from snow and sun as well. A great fit that will hug your head comfortably while keep you warm.

These great looks in a sun visor will keep you protected through a variety of activities.

Play It Safe – Wear Sun Hats

The head must be protected from the heat and rays of the sun. If you happen to visit a beach or are out in the open country with a blazing sun, it’s advisable for you to wear a sun hat. A sun hat is not a fashion item, but required health protection. The sun’s rays can cause sun stroke and blisters on your scalp. If a person happens to be bald, their head can sweat profusely in the heat. Appropriate headgear is worn as part of the uniform by the defense forces of the world. This is to protect them from the rays of the sun. Sun rays can also cause skin diseases and skin cancer. Therefore, it is imperative to wear appropriate hats. If you are going to spend time outdoors in the sun, the hat you wear should have a wide brim so that the back of the neck, the forehead, and the ears, and sides of the face are protected from the sun’s rays.

When buying a hat, choose one that is made of a natural fiber such as cotton. There should also be small vents on the side of the hats. Natural fiber is cooler than synthetic fiber, and the vents will allow the flow of air on the scalp. When buying a sun hat, buy one that is of thick material and is white or some light color. White and light colored sun hats do not absorb the sun’s heat. So, they serve as additional protection for the head.

People who live in hot or tropical climates wear some form of headgear to protect their heads from the rays and heat of the sun. They wear it to safeguard their health. There are definite health benefits to wearing sun hats. One major health benefit is that your scalp will not get burnt, and also your chances of suffering from a sun stroke are reduced, and of course, your skin is protected from skin cancer, which may be caused by the ultra violet rays of the sun.

How long or thick your hair may be, it’s still advisable to wear a sun hat whenever you are out in the sun. Even if you are pottering around in the garden, or getting a sun tan, you must wear a sun hat. If you happen to have delicate skin, then it becomes all the more necessary to wear a hat.

So, wearing a proper hat that will protect your head and parts of your face is essential. The sun’s rays can cause serious skin damage. The skin takes a long time to heal from sunburn. So, why take a risk when wearing a hat will protect your head and is also beneficial for your health. In case you are going to a country where the temperatures are high and there is plenty of sunshine, remember to buy and take a sun hat. The biggest organ of the body is the skin and nobody wants to damage their skin.