Summer asks something different of a head covering than the rest of the year. What feels comfortable in March can be unbearable in July, and if you've lost your hair there's one more thing to consider: the skin on your head has never been in the sun before.
The sun first
A bare head burns quickly, and the scalp isn't used to direct sunlight. During and after certain treatments the skin also becomes more sensitive to light than usual. Ask your care team whether that applies to your treatment – it's a reasonable question and one they get often.
Whatever the answer, a head covering that actually covers is better protection than sunscreen on a spot that's hard to reach. If you need shade for your face as well, there are styles with a brim, such as the turban with a sun brim or the summer cap.
Fabric decides everything when it's hot
Thin isn't the same as cool. What matters is whether the fabric breathes and wicks moisture away, not just how light it feels in your hand.
- Cotton and bamboo breathe best and absorb moisture. Good for ordinary summer days.
- Thin viscose is light and dries quickly, but can feel stiffer against bare skin.
- Silk and satin feel cool against the skin straight away and glide softly, but don't absorb sweat in the same way.
If your head gets warm, Turban Sol and Turban Breezy are the thinnest we carry. Breezy also doesn't leave marks from the elastic, which you notice after a hot day.
Sweat and washing
In summer a head covering needs washing more often. Keep at least two so one is always clean, and choose at least one that can go in the machine at 30°C. Cotton, bamboo and viscose can. Silk and decorated styles should be hand washed and dried flat.
When it's hot but you want to look dressed
Summer is also weddings, graduations and dinners outdoors. A patterned or light-coloured turban usually feels cooler than a black one, both literally and visually. A scarf with long ties can be tied differently from one day to the next, so the same piece feels new.
Nights are warmer too
Light summer nights and warm bedrooms are their own problem. A silk sleep cap feels cooler against the pillow than cotton and doesn't chafe a tender scalp.
Wigs in summer
Many people who otherwise wear a wig switch to a turban when it gets really warm, and put the wig on only when they want to. That isn't a fallback, it's simply how both get used. If you've just been given a diagnosis, we've gathered the practical side in our guide to head coverings during cancer treatment.