Wearing Hats Can Make You Bald

During my formative years, my parents were always telling me to remove my baseball cap before sitting down for dinner. Their reasons were two fold.

The first being the most obvious, it was rude. The second had to do with going bald. They truly believed that if I wore my cap long enough that I will become as bald as Buddah. Baldness is attributed to hereditary traits. My parents believed otherwise, and that if you didn't let your head have an ample supply of oxygen, you would definitely go bald. They also believed that if you're hot and you're wearing a hat, you'll not only cut off the oxygen supply to your head, you'll perspire more and the perspiration which is a mix of waste products and salts will contribute to you going bald as well.

Do you think the wearing of hats has contributed to your baldness and the baldness of the general public? I've been asked this question dozens of times. I conclude that the percentage of men that wear hats is less today than in the past, so how can a hat contribute to baldness?

Whaddaya think?

So that explains why i'm bald. Tahnks for clearing that up for me.

Hats don't make you bald! That's rediculous. It's genetics.

The proof is under the hat. Take a look at what's under the cap Wils is sportin'.


He's sportin' my old "do". Nasty isn't it!

"The myth about headwear causing baldness has been passed around for generations by men who found themselves going bald shortly after entering military service. This of course led to questions about the cause of loss, and theories that tight-fitting military hats were the reason so many military personnel start losing their hair.

Another way that the myth has been spread is through western (so-called “cowboy”) culture. Balding cowboys are fairly common, and because they typically wear cowboy hats, it is part of western folklore that this is what causes a man to lose his tresses, so to speak. The answer to all these questions, though, is that baldness and loss of hair simply do not occur from wearing any sort of hat."

Source: http://www.hair-loss-adviser.com/do_hats_cause_baldness.html

I tend to agree with this article, the source of baldness primarily has to do with genetics. Hats are not a factor in baldness.

It's a total myth. If it had any basis in reality, Michael Moore would be a baldie.

The entire concept that hats cause baldness is just plain rediculous.

And there I was thinking that my current lack of hair had something to do with taking a razor to it every other day.

Joey wrote:And there I was thinking that my current lack of hair had something to do with taking a razor to it every other day.

I think there's something to this. Wearing hats, especially in the summer makes the head overheat. All the excess sweat can damage hair follicles.

The thread "What's under The Hat, Tim" had me questioning if it's really the hat that casues baldness. I think it's the other way around. Baldness comes first, then the hat.
After all, even a top flight custom hat is cheaper than a toupee.
But really, a sleek hair-free dome is far more stylish!

Razorman wrote:After all, even a top flight custom hat is cheaper than a toupee.

Custom hats can be very expensive.

Luke wrote:

Razorman wrote:After all, even a top flight custom hat is cheaper than a toupee.

Custom hats can be very expensive.

Nix the rug and the hat. All you really need is a razor, a cheap can of shave cream, sunscreen and your head will be in top form.

Wearing hats has no impact on the amount of hair on your head.

Been thinking about this recently. Wore lots of hats and caps as a kid. Summertime I always had a cap on. Maybe it's not such an old wive's tale. Caps sort of restrict the flow of blood to the hair follicles.