The 5 Best Hats for Bald Men | Winter & Summer Ideas

For bald guys, hats can be a great way to add some extra points to your look. But, what hats are the best to wear for different occasions? Today, we’ll show you the best hats for different types of style (casual, formal, semi-formal) and then we’ll leave you with our favorite hats for bald men. Let’s get started!

(If you want to scroll around, we’ve attached a table of contents below so that you can skip to the parts you want to read.)

Best Hats for Bald Guys

The best hats for bald guys in the winter might not be the best hats for guys with hair in the winter. The same goes for summer and spring. That’s why we’ll be covering both winter and summer hats that bald men can pull off.

Hats are great for semi-casual outfits. If you’re interesting in exploring what exactly constitutes a semi-casual outfit, feel free to check out the article we wrote on how to wear semi-casual clothing.

Attached below is a list of our some favorite hats for bald men that we will go over in this article. Feel free to check them out!

Best Winter Hats for Bald Guys

Since you don’t have human hair to help keep your top insulated, you’ll need to invest in some winter hats that can keep your bald head warm.

Let’s take a look at some of the best winter hats for bald men. We’ll go over one casual piece for everyday wear and then one formal piece that you can take with you to formal events.

5. Casual Style: Beanies

Bald guy in beanie

The beanie is a great start for this list. You see them everywhere when it’s cold. Beanies help you stay warm around all areas of the head. They cover the entire frontal skull and provide a heavy insulation that traps heat inside so that you can stay warm at all times.

The main feature of the beanie is that it can cover your ears. Ears have no protective fat tissue so when temperatures are low, the nerves in the ear canal react with a strong pain impulse. Beanies act as a protective layer, lowering the risk of infection and stimulating blood flow throughout the head. 

They can be styled with most winter outfits. While I don’t recommend wearing it with your business-formal attire, beanies are a great addition to your smart-casual and business-casual fits. Since you can find a beanie in virtually any colorway, it’s very easy to match a beanie to neutral, dark, or light tones. 

4. Formal Style: Flat Caps

Hats for bald men (flatcap)
Credit: Balding Life

One of the best formal hats for bald guys is the flat cap, otherwise known as the newsboy cap. A flat cap is a rounded cap with a short, rounded front brim. Flat caps utilize soft fabric construction for a textured feel while the body of the hat is pulled over the brim to create a firm structure. 

Flat caps have been around since the 1890’s. However, at the start of 20th century, the flat cap exploded in popularity. They were worn to school, to work, for casual wear, and for formal wear. Flat caps were worn for every occasion.

While flat caps are not as popular now as they were in the early 1900s, flat caps are still a great hat to wear. Because flat caps are traditionally constructed from wool and cotton, they do a great job of keeping heat contained.

man wearing a flat cap

Nowadays, flat caps are generally geared towards business and formal attire. This means that you’ll see most flat caps accompanied with overcoats, blazers, sweaters, and dress shirts.  There are some casual outfits that allow for a flat cap, such as the one shown below. However, throughout history, flat caps have mostly been worn with professional attire. 

Interested in Professional Attire? Check out some of 1920s’ male fashion taste.

Best Summer Hats for Bald Guys

When the heat hits, you’re going to need a different selection of hats. Instead of keeping your head warm, you’re going to want to prevent sweat buildup during the hot and grueling days. We have three summer hats for bald men that you’ll be able to take with you anywhere.

Summer hats aren’t really for formal events, so we’ll have two casual hats that you can bring with you to any event, whether it’s the beach, a picnic, or some sporting activity. Then, we’ll leave you with one other recommendation worth trying out.

3. Casual Style: Baseball Hat

Jason Statham in baseball hat

As simple as they are, baseball hats will always find a place in fashion enthusiasts’ hearts. Baseball hats can be worn with almost any casual summer outfit that you can think of, whether it’s shorts and a tee or a linen shirt and khakis. Dressed correctly, baseball hats can give your simple outfit and elevated look..

Baseball hats also protect you from unwanted UV rays since the brim protects the front of your face while the cap protects the upper area of your head. To further battle against summer weather, baseball hats also have eyelets: round holes sewn on the top to provide ventilation to the wearer and keep the head cool. 

When it comes to baseball hats, there are many different iterations that you can choose from. 

Types of Baseball Hat Structures

Starting from the structure, you can choose either structured or unstructured baseball hats. Structured baseball hats have a supportive fabric that helps the hat keep its shape when crumpled. Structure hats are most commonly worn by baseball players. 

Unstructured baseball hats are designed such that the two front panels of the hat flop flat whenever it’s not on someone’s head. They use a relaxed fabric, allowing for a comfortable feel.

Types of Baseball Hat Profiles

The profile of the hat has to do with the slant of the front of the hat. Baseball hats can have a low-profile, mid-profile, and high-profile. 

Low-profile hats have a low-rise slope and are normally associated with golfer-style hats. Mid-profile hats are an in-between. They’re slightly steeper, at around 45 degrees, and are most commonly worn by baseball players. High-profile hats have a nearly 90 degree angle and are normally associated with trucker hats and snapbacks. 

Types of Baseball Hat Fittings

Baseball hats have different fits: 

  • one-size/fitted hat
  • Flex-fit hat
  • Adjustable-fit hat

Fitted hats are meant for one head size. They cannot be adjusted and usually come in a size range like small, medium, or large. Because of their limited flexibility, fitted hats are meant for fashion and not for sports.

Flex-fit hats are seen as the “one size fits most” hat. These hats have an elastic sweatband built inside, allowing for multi-directional stretching. While Flex-fit hats fit a wider range of head sizes, I would still recommend buying a hat suitable to your measurements.

Adjustable-fit hats have a velcro strap on the back that allow them to fit multiple sizes. Essentially, they’re a “one size fits all.” These are the cheapest baseball hats available and also the most common. 

Whether you’re going to a brunch or running a few errands, baseball hats work perfectly with whatever casual summer outfit you want to boast. Each baseball hat has a unique structure, profile, and fit while also providing the necessary protection against that hot, summer weather. 

2. Casual Style: Straw Hat

Bald guy in straw hat
Credit: The Bald Gent

Straw hats are mostly great for casual wear, especially at the beach. However, you’ll find rare instances where the hat is paired with something formal like a suit. For instance, at an outdoor luncheon where the temperatures a little too hot for your liking, a straw hat would be handy.

Straw hats are popular mainly because straw is very lightweight, allowing the hat to rest comfortably on your head. Furthermore, because straw hats are woven, there are little pockets of ventilation that let air flow through, keeping your head cool. 

The effectiveness of your straw hat depends on the tightness of the weave and the size of the holes. To see how effective your straw hat is, hold it up to the sun and see how much light gets through.

Keep in mind that the size of the holes does not solely dictate how effective the hat is. Some straw hats like to have larger holes for better ventilation but they still use high-quality straw and tightly-woven designs to keep the sun out. 

You can match a straw hat with something like a polo shirt for the summer and you’ll have the perfect go-to outfit for any events that you have going on during the warmer periods of the year.

Our Favorite Straw Hats

Straw hats come in many shapes and sizes. However, there are a select few that have caught my eye due to their functionality and unique looks. So if you’re in the market for a new straw hat, definitely check these out if you want a hat that will last you a long time while also looking great on your head.

1. Other Recommendations: Fedora

Bald guy in fedora. One of the best hats for bald guys
Credit: Hairline Ink

One of the controversial hats for bald men is the fedora. Fedoras are formal wear and, because most outfits are trending towards a casual look, it can be hard to sport a fedora unless you’re wearing something formal. Even then, fedoras can only pair with certain outfits and for some suits, it can be hard to pair the looks.

However, there are many benefits that come with wearing a fedora and the hat itself can be customized. The main features of the fedora are the crown and brim. The crown can be shaped in many ways, including the diamond crown and center dents. The most common shape is the teardrop crown.

The brim of the fedora can also vary. It can be finished with different widths, designs, and builds. Some brims are left raw on the edge while others are sewn in. Others can angle up or down.

There are fedoras that have special grommets or mesh inlets that allow for a ventilated crown. This creates more air circulation. 

Traditionally, fedoras have been worn in the spring and cooler periods of summer. If you don’t want to wear a fedora during the warmer days, then I highly recommend going with a Panama hat.

Does Wearing a Hat Make You Go Bald?

Credit: The Herald Sun

One common myth that arises for people who wear hats is the wearing hats makes you go bald. This is not true. Hair loss is caused by a range of genetic and hormonal factors, none of which are related to wearing hats. 

The myth stems from the belief that growing hair is a lot like growing grass. If you cover up grass with a piece of cloth, the grass will die because the grass isn’t getting its nutrients.  Therefore, the myth says that if you wear a hat, your hair won’t be getting enough exposure to the environment around it, thus causing hair loss.

The only way for your hair to be damaged by wearing a hat would be if you wore the hat so tightly around your head that it restricted blood flow. 

What Not to Do When Wearing a Hat Bald

The rules of fashion are different when you have a bald head. There are some standards that bald men must abide by that men with hair don’t have to follow. If you’re bald and you want to wear a hat, there are some rules that you need to know about. 

Don’t Hatfish

Hatfishing is when a man wears a hat to trick people into thinking they’re more attractive. We all know a guy who is guilty of this. Everytime you see them, they’re wearing a hat of some kind. And while there are some people who just wear hats for the sake of doing it, most people who hatfish do it because they’re balding or their hairline is receding.

Balding is something that every man will go through in their life. Men who hatfish are men who cannot come to terms with this fact. Hats are a great fashion piece and can be used in many ways. However, the one way that hats should not be used is to hide the fact that you’re balding. 

If you are balding, accept it. There are plenty of men out there with receding hairlines who still look great! Don’t be someone who wears hats as a way to hide their head. 

Should Bald Men Wear a Visor

Credit: The Chicago Tribune

There’s nothing stopping you from wearing a visor. However, if you’re bald, one main issue that you’ll always have to deal with is the opening on the top of the visor. Generally, hats are meant to protect against the sun.

However, visors only help with keeping the sun out of your eyes thanks to their broad brim. Because the top of the visor is exposed to sunlight, bald men will generally find themselves more prone to sunburns. 

So, should bald men wear a visor? It depends. It’s definitely not one of the best hats for bald guys and it’s not one of the best winter hats for bald guys. However, it’s worth experimenting within the summer, as long as you have a bottle of sunscreen to help battle the rays. 

Final Thoughts

From the flat cap to the baseball hat, there are a wide range of hats for bald men looking One thing worth noting is that there is no required standard for a “perfect hat.” 

I’d say that the best hats for bald guys are the ones that fit your personal style. You might like straw hats more than you like flat caps or you might prefer baseball hats over fedoras. In the end, it comes down to what you like more than anything. 

So, let me leave you with this question. If you’re sporting the bald look, what’s the perfect hat for you?