Tips from local stylist Shun Pittman on fighting hat hair

As the temperatures drop, it’s tempting to throw a hat on before heading out the door for work. Even if a parka manages to preserve your work (or post-work happy hour) outfit, it’s tough to ignore that awkward dent in your ‘do and limpness that comes with hat hair.

Shun Pittman, the owner and founder of Corps d’Elite salon on U Street, says you don’t have to tuck a flat iron in your bag to look put-together when the hats come off – she swears by a combo of products and an ounce of prevention. Pittman, who has 23 years of experience in hair styling, knows a thing or two about post-work touch ups – her salon has a late-night beauty bar for women who want to get glammed up before hitting the town.

Pittman says prevention is key – before you put on your hat, there are ways to do some damage control.

When you reach for your headgear, opt for something with a softer brim, like a slouchy beanie as opposed to a baseball cap.
Tucking your hair into a ponytail and covering your head in a silk scarf a la Jackie O before you put your hat on will also help prevent the damage wool fibers can do to your hair, Pittman says.
If you’re concerned about static, Pittman suggests grabbing an unscented dryer sheet to wipe the inside of the hat.
Make sure your hair is completely dry and cool after using heat styling tools before you put on a hat, otherwise the heat will create a bigger dent in your hair that’s harder to fix later.

When it comes to actually fixing hat hair, Pittman says to use dry shampoo, pomade or putty and serum.

Flip your head over and spray some dry shampoo to revive your roots. Pittman recommends prefers Sebastian Dry Clean Only because it doesn’t leave a white residue.
Start with a pea-sized amount of pomade and warm it up in your hands and grab a 2-3” section of hair around the crown where the hat indention is and run your hands through the hair from near the roots to the tip. Pittman recommend doing this about 20 times for each section of hair.
If your hair is thick or you want a sleeker look, use putty instead of pomade.
To top it off, use a little bit of serum to tame flyways – like the pomade and putty, a little product goes a long way so use it sparingly.