Does wearing a hat cause baldness? What research tells us

Hats have the unique ability to be both useful and fashionable, but does wearing a hat cause baldness or hair loss? Read on to find out what the research has to say. 

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Do hats cause hair loss?

Luckily, the answer to that common query is no.

A study looking at identical male twins showed that various environmental factors might impact hair loss or male pattern baldness. Things like smoking and the presence of dandruff were linked to increased frontal hair loss, while drinking four or more alcoholic drinks per week was associated with increased hair loss around the temples (Gatherwright, 2013). 

On the flip side, those who wore a hat daily saw less hair loss around the temples (Gatherwright, 2013).

Now, while the research does not point to a direct link between hats and hair loss, dermatologists encourage hat-wearers to be mindful of sporting a tight hat too often during the summer when you’re more likely to sweat can irritate or inflame the hair follicles.

What about traction alopecia?

Traction alopecia is hair loss caused by repeated and severe stress on your hair follicles. Think of a tight ponytail or bun, taunt braids or dreadlocks, heavy hair extensions, or overnight rollers.

But traction alopecia can also happen when you repeatedly wear the same tight headgear, such as for religious reasons or a hard hat or helmet as part of a professional requirement. Still, as suggested in the earlier study, there’s no conclusive evidence linking hats to hair loss or baldness.

Research shows that traction alopecia occurs in one-third of women of African descent who wear these tight hairstyles. Ballerinas, gymnasts, and military personnel—all known for stern hair styling—may also experience higher rates of traction alopecia compared with the general public (Billero, 2018). 

The good news is that if traction alopecia is detected early enough, hair restoration is possible by removing the source of tension on the hair.

Other causes of hair loss

Flat caps, beanies, fedoras, snapbacks—none of these will cause you to go bald. In fact, the most common cause of hair loss, androgenic alopecia, is completely out of your hands.

Androgenic alopecia

Androgenic alopecia, also known as androgenetic alopecia or male or female pattern baldness, is a genetic condition that affects both genders. Around half of American men aged 50 live with male pattern baldness, with the prevalence increasing with age. Female pattern baldness affects around 38% of women over age 70 (Phillips, 2017).

Androgenic alopecia usually occurs gradually over time and follows predictable patterns. For men, this means a receding hairline or bald spot, and for women, it’s usually thinning hair along the crown of the scalp.

Male pattern baldness is often caused by DHT (dihydrotestosterone), a male hormone or androgen. Among people who are genetically susceptible to androgenic alopecia, DHT causes hair follicles to shrink and generate shorter, thinner hairs (Ho, 2021).

While other types of hair loss are typically reversible, there is no cure for androgenic alopecia. That said, finasteride (brand name Propecia) and minoxidil (brand name Rogaine) can slow or stop hair loss and, if started early enough, can even regrow some hair.

Telogen effluvium

Extreme stress and shock manifest in the body in all sorts of ways, including hair loss. Emotional or physiological stress can lead to the sudden onset of a temporary hair loss called telogen effluvium. Usually, this occurs due to extreme weight loss, surgeries, illness, certain medications, hormonal changes, or having a baby. The good news is that the hair will typically regrow once you remove the cause of the stress (Hughes, 2021).

Medical conditions

Another condition that can yield hair loss or hair thinning is trichotillomania. Trichotillomania is a mental disorder that involves recurrent, irresistible urges to pull out hair from your scalp, eyebrows, or other areas of your body, despite best efforts to stop. When the obsession is focused on the head, the repetitive hair pulling can leave patchy bald spots on the scalp (Pereyra, 2021). 

Another condition, alopecia areata, is when your body’s immune system attacks healthy hair follicles, causing hair to fall out and preventing new hair from growing. Lastly, hormonal problems, like thyroid disorder or being postpartum, can also lead to hair loss (Lepe, 2021).

Medications

Hair loss and baldness can be side effects of certain medications and supplements, such as those used for high blood pressure, heart problems, cancer, acne, and more. For many people, stopping the medicine can improve hair loss and regrowth. Just be sure to check with your healthcare provider before quitting a medication. 

As you can see, there are many causes of baldness, but hat-wearing is not a big one. Go ahead and wear that hat to protect yourself from the sun’s harmful UV rays or support your favorite team, and don’t worry about what it will do to your hairline.

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How we reviewed this article

Every article on Health Guide goes through rigorous fact-checking by our team of medical reviewers. Our reviewers are trained medical professionals who ensure each article contains the most up-to-date information, and that medical details have been correctly interpreted by the writer.

Current version

April 14, 2022

Written by

Alexandria Bachert

Fact checked by

Chimene Richa, MD

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About the medical reviewer

Chimene Richa, MD

Dr. Richa is a board-certified Ophthalmologist and medical writer for Ro.