Caps, Hats & Hair Loss
A: No. There is no scientific evidence that wearing a hat causes permanent hair loss or baldness. For most people, the worst consequence of wearing a hat is a temporary case of "hat hair."
One concern with frequent hat-wearing is reduced air circulation around the scalp. During hot weather or physical activity, sweat, sebum, dirt, and shed skin cells can become trapped beneath the hat. If these aren't washed away regularly, they can build up around the hair follicles, leading to itchiness or clogged follicles. While this doesn't cause baldness, an unhealthy scalp environment can interfere with optimal hair growth.
The solution is simple: keep your scalp clean. Using a scalp-cleansing shampoo - or a shampoo formulated for oily scalps if you tend to perspire heavily - will help remove sweat and debris.
Hats should fit properly. A hat that's excessively tight can create constant friction or tension on the hairline, particularly around the forehead and temples. In rare cases, prolonged and repeated pulling on the same hairs may contribute to traction-related hair loss. However, this is caused by chronic tension and not by the simple act of wearing a hat. A properly fitting baseball cap or sun hat should not put enough pressure on the hair follicles to cause permanent damage.
One reason the myth that "hats cause baldness" has persisted is that many people who are already losing their hair choose to wear hats more often. In other words, they wear hats because they're experiencing hair loss and not because the hats caused it in the first place.
©Hairfinder.com
See also:
Hair loss
Hair myths
How can I recognize hair breakage?