Summer asks different things of headwear than the rest of the year. What feels comfortable in March can be unbearable in July – and if you have lost your hair, there is one more thing to think about: the skin on your head has never been in the sun before.
Sun first
A bare head burns quickly, and the scalp is not used to direct sunlight. During and after some treatments, the skin also becomes more sensitive to sunlight than usual. Ask your contact nurse whether this applies to your treatment – it is a perfectly reasonable question, and one they hear often.
Whatever the answer, headwear that actually covers you is better protection than sunscreen in a place that is hard to apply it. If you also need shade for your face, there are styles with a brim, such as the turban with sun visor or the summer cap.
In the heat, the material is everything
Thin is not the same as cool. What makes the difference is whether the fabric breathes and wicks away moisture – not just how light it feels in your hand.
- Cotton and bamboo breathe best and absorb moisture. Great for ordinary summer days.
- Thin viscose is light and dries quickly, but can feel a little stiffer against bare skin.
- Silk and satin feel cool directly against the skin and glide softly, but do not absorb sweat in the same way.
If your head gets warm easily, Turban Sol and Turban Breezy are the thinnest we have. Breezy also leaves no marks from the elastic, which you will notice when you take it off after a hot day.
Sweat and washing
In summer, headwear needs washing more often. Have at least two so one is always clean, and choose at least one that can be machine-washed at 30 degrees. Cotton, bamboo and viscose can handle it. Silk and embellished styles should be hand-washed and dried flat.
When it is hot but you want to look your best
Summer also means weddings, graduations and dinners outdoors. A patterned or light-coloured turban usually feels cooler than a black one – both in reality and visually. A scarf with long ties can be tied differently from day to day, so the same piece feels new.
The nights are warmer too
Light summer nights and warm bedrooms are a challenge of their own. A silk sleep cap feels cooler against the pillow than cotton and does not rub against a sensitive scalp.
Wigs in summer
Many people who usually wear a wig switch to a turban when it gets really hot, and only put the wig on when they feel like it. It is not a fallback but a perfectly normal way to use both. If you have just found out you will lose your hair, we have gathered the practical advice in our guide to headwear during cancer treatment.