Want a nifty little sun hat? Know the different types and materials for sun hats before making your pick from the most popular ones.

Introduction:

Sun hats, here’s something we all can agree looks really gracias on all women, and really brightens their face. Sun hats were used for more as utilitarian accessories rather than for fashion, but you know how cute things get picked up! If you want to add to your cuteness with pretty sun hats and want to know more about them, I have the perfect cue for starters!

I keep an eye out, scouting for the cutest products, and I have a few special mentions if you want one! So let’s get you started on sun hats!

The Deeper Origins of the Sun Hat

Sun hats had always been used for protection from the sun and were made of straws or other accessible materials, up until the Renaissance period when women started wearing them for fashion made beautiful with different colors, feathers, and precious stones. Back then the brim of the hats were much bigger, and as we get to the current trend, they’ve become shortened, and are produced casually for everything. Today, it’s worn for the same reason, and they come in several types, and materials with their own perks.

Types of Sun Hats

Coming out of different regions of Europe, sun hats come in different variations and styles. They have their own appeal and purpose, but let me go over them to help you pick your type. If you’ll be wearing it throughout the day, might as well put a little more attention in finding out which suits your style best.

Wide-brim hats: These hats have a wide brim as the name suggests, and actually come from ancient Egyptians. Pharaohs used to wear them to show off their social status, and of course, protection from the sun. Now these hats have become modernized, and stylized to be used for going out and painting the city red and protecting yourself from the sun while you’re out there. They come in a wide range of materials, so now you can even wear them to the beach without worrying about damaging them.

Floppy hats: Floppy hats are wide-rimmed sun hats for women to wear anywhere, but you can mostly see their use on the beach. Its origins are deeply rooted in Europe and offer protection from the sun while also making a comfy fit and breathability for your hair. I’ve seen a lot of these being made with fabric or durable plastic, with brims that protect even the neck. Apparently, these hats were worn by women of nobility in Europe and since then have only grown in popularity thanks to their floppy style.

Bucket hats: Bucket hats are more of a comfort pick, originating from the 1900s in Ireland, where they were worn for their excellent fit, providing a good shade from the sun while working out there. Bucket hats are now a fashion statement, and I love seeing them in all these pretty colors and materials. Their thin, downward brim, makes for an interesting look, paired with a sundress on a sunny day in Spain.

Visors: Visors are sun hats without caps, only a brim that offers decent protection from the sun. This minimalistic design was meant for sports, and I’m sure you’ve seen a lot of these during golf and tennis matches, and they have their own appeal. While it’s not worn for fashion primarily, it does give the wearer a supposed “cool” look.

Most Common Materials for Sun Hats

Sun hats are available from different materials, and they all serve their own purpose. A little breakdown of these materials will you understand if you should buy them, and how you can extend their lifetime.

Straw:  Straw makes for very lightweight and natural-looking sun hats. These are made with large weave gaps and provide excellent ventilation for their wearer. You could get them in all-natural colors with some interesting hues. Apparently, some stiffer straws will need you to wear them for a while to break it in. Sadly, it offers little when you’re packing them for a trip. Remember to avoid water exposure because this material can start to naturally decompose. To maintain the cleanliness of straw hats, you can wipe them with a damp cloth but remember to let them dry before storing them.

Fabric: Fabric hats are the choice of those looking to ramp up their looks, mostly being made of cotton, polyester, or nylon. Because the fabric is more durable, lasts longer, and gives you a wider option for colors, it stands as the most widely used material for sun hats. I’ve mostly seen fabric hats being used mostly for fashion, but they do help screen the sun, can’t say the same for breathability. Maintaining and cleaning fabric hats is slightly easier, and you can just wash them with your clothes in a washing machine. Just remember to go easy on the detergent for those made with cotton.

Paper:  Paper sun hats are mere novelty items and can protect from the sun. They are disposable and come in all sorts of fun colors. I don’t think I’ve seen too many since they’re all disposable and no one really buys them for the long term, because they can tear or lose shape. Since they are made of paper, cleaning them is really not an option, but if you must know, you can pretty much get a good clean by wiping with a damp towel and letting it dry.

Felt: The sturdier and more long-term options come from sun hats made of felt. Being usually made of wool or synthetic fibers, they can amplify the look and feel. These materials are for colder climates, and generally worn as a fashion statement. Taking care of sun hats made of felt is a bit complex, and needs a guide of its own, but avoid washing them directly. To clean off dust or surface-level dirt, you can use a soft brush and gentle strokes. As for deeper cleaning, I prefer professionals.

Most Popular Sun Hats You Can Buy

Popular sun hats from all across the web. Looking to get your own sun hat? Take a look at these five options that are extremely popular all across the internet with buyers emptying the stocks within days. You can find them on Amazon or directly from online fashion and accessories stores.

FURTALK Sun Visor Hat: Being an absolute favorite in the fashion industry it does more than just the name. Being made out of comfy material that hugs your skull gently, and a large foldable brim, it provides you with excellent protection from the sun, blocking out those harmful UV rays entirely! The weave makes this sun hat extremely breathable, allowing for comfort and ventilation for the crown. The cool part is, that it comes in a variety of pretty colors to match your dress and complete your fashionable summer look.

Toddler Girl Sun Hat

Janessa Leone Packable Hat: This popular pick is famously seen on models and celebrities adding it to their wardrobe for its luxurious look and feel. Protection from the sun? Absolutely! It has wide brims and a breathable crown for the perfect outing, be it the beach or some quaint European town. You can find this pick in straw and felt, so you know exactly which price tag would suit your taste. This one is my personal favorite and the one that is usually seen in movies.

Lanzom Women’s Wide Brim Straw Panama Hat: One of the best picks for summertime fashion wardrobes, the Lanzom Women’s Wide Brim Straw Panama sun hat takes home the prize for being a popular pick across all online stores. This one’s designed for both practicality and fashion, being made of all-natural straw that has undergone treatment to make them durable and longer lasting. When you wear this hat, you get the look of a native and get that breathable crown and wide brims. It looks good, people love it, and it’s comfy. I suggest this pick for those of you who really care about rustic fashion.

Solbari Wide Brim UPF 50+ Hat: Designed especially to protect you from the sun, this pick also looks pretty. This sun hat is made from high-tech fabrics, and blocks of UV rays to prevent excessive damage from the sun. Luckily it has a chinstrap, so you can enjoy a long list of outdoor activities without worrying about your hat flying off. Don’t even worry about it with Solbari, I bought one years ago, and I still have it. Looks good, comes in pretty colors, and protects you from the sun and its UV rays, this one makes for a personal favorite and popular pick!

NPQQUAN Ponytail Sun Bucket Hat: A popular pick for active women out there, the NPQQUAN ponytail sun bucket hat is one of the more popular ones. It’s made of breathable and lightweight materials, allowing you the coolness of the shade, and the feel of the wind in your hair. Speaking of hair, it has a little slot for a ponytail, and I find that absolutely adorable. So, if you’re going out on long activities and want to look good while protecting yourself from the sun, this pick is just for you.

Which Sun Hat Will You Pick?

While sun hats were made for the sole purpose of protecting from the sun, it also has become an accessory for fashionistas all across the world. It’s cute, compact, easy to clean, and comes in a bunch of different materials. It’s best to know which hat you want and what you can expect from the various materials and types. Know your hat and pick your style!