by Miranda Hilderbrand
It’s official – summer is upon us. Temperatures are rising, days are growing longer and folks are enjoying some fun in the sun. Summer is a time for beach vacations, outdoor parties and BBQs, trips to the lake, and so much more. It is also the perfect season for hats, and if you aren’t wearing a hat in the summer sun, you should be. Not only are hats a fun and stylish accessory, wearing one will protect you from the sun and prevent skin cancer.
A proper hat for sun protection is crucial during the summer months. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, in the past three decades, more people have had skin cancer than all other cancers combined. Melanoma is by far the deadliest form of skin cancer causing more than 75% of all skin cancer related deaths. And if the health risks aren’t enough to make you want to put on a hat, it is said that more than 90% of the visible changes attributed to skin aging are caused by the sun. This is why wearing a hat will protect your skin and can potentially save your life.
There are a few things you should look for when finding a hat for summer. For starters, wear a hat with a wide enough brim as it will better protect your scalp, ears, face and neck from the sun. You should also look for a hat with a tight weave as a loose weave will allow sun rays to penetrate through the hat.
When searching for a sun hat, you may come across a UPF label. The UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) label on a hat will inform you on how much of the sun’s UV rays are absorbed by the hat. For example, a hat with a 50 UPF will only allow 1/50th of the sun’s rays to reach your skin. Keep in mind that 50+ is the highest UPF rating a hat can be given. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends a hat with a UPF of 30 or higher for optimal protection.
One of our favorite hats for sun protection has to be the Tilley. If you enjoy the great outdoors or plan on being near water this summer, this is the hat for you. Not only does it have a 50+ UPF rating, it is virtually indestructible. washable, it has tightening cords to keep it on your head and it floats! Another favorite has to be our collection from Barmah. They are an Australian company so all of their hats have a great outback look to them and you can even fold them up for easy travel. We also carry quite a few other utility hats for summer ranging from Western wear, lightweight fabric hats, bamboo hats and many more options.
Looking for a more fashionable option to stay cool in the summer sun? You can never go wrong with a panama hat (great for men and women)! All panama hats are made of the lightweight and durable toquilla straw, making them incredibly breathable. They are meticulously hand-woven in Ecuador and sent around to world to various hatters to be shaped. Hatbox offers many different styles and colors of panamas ranging from the timeless fedora to wide-brimmed fashion sun-hats with everything in between. We even have our very own Hatbox panama that was woven and designed exclusively for our store. Not only does it have a unique crown shape, it also has an adjustable strap in the sweatband (to tighten the fit) so you don’t lose it on a particularly windy day.
Ladies, are you looking for a sun hat for the season? Look no further, from the practical sun hat that is perfect for a day at the beach to the stylish hats that are perfect for any day event, we have a little bit of everything. Our sun-hats will typically vary from having a 3” brim to a 6” in brim with many of the hats having a 50+ UPF rating. As an added bonus, many of our sun hats are able to be rolled up for easy travel.
At Hatbox, we are committed to helping you find the perfect summer hat that will provide protection and look stylish! Here are a few more tips to keep you in top health during the season: wear sunglasses, drink plenty of water, apply sunscreen, and wear your hat!
