The Easter bonnet is steeped in history, tradition and culture. However, for obvious reasons, we hair stylists, “artists,” have a love-hate relationship with hats. In fact, it pains us to see our masterful work under cover. Think about it, would you visit a museum to see all of its artifacts under a cloth? How would you feel if you were an actor giving the performance of your life without an audience, or if you paid top dollar for tickets to see your favorite band and they played behind a curtain? Hair under a hat is like the air we breathe – you cannot see it. Our feelings aside, there are times, circumstances and occasions that you will choose a hat over your hairdresser’s ego. Therefore, we are not going to rain on your parade or spoil the best of your Sunday best to tell you not to wear a hat. But we’d be remiss if we did not remind you that a hat is an accessory, and healthy hair is a necessity. So in the name of all things fashion, let us celebrate millinery (women’s hats) and how to wear them responsibly so that it does not damage your hair.
The History of the Easter Bonnet
The history of the Easter bonnet goes back farther than many of us realize. Easter Bonnets even go farther back in time than Easter itself. The first bonnets, usually a circle of leaves and flowers, symbolized the cycle of the seasons and the coming of Spring. The Christian holiday of Easter celebrates new life and rebirth with pure and new clothing. Later on in history came the “Sunday of Joy,” the Easter after the end of the Civil War. This day allowed mothers and daughters to come out of mourning dawning pastel colors and incorporating the spring flowers. The 1870’s marked the beginning of the Easter Parade in New York. The Easter Parade allowed women to proudly show off their new spring clothing and Easter Bonnets.
The Easter fashion traditions are still alive today, celebrated among the young and old. Easter bonnets come in all shapes, sizes, colors and designs. Easter bonnets often mark the beginning of many people’s love of hats. Their beauty is well known and admired. They still symbolize new life in the coming of spring, warm weather and religious celebrations.
By Anne Kreke
Read the original post at Hats and Veils.
The Modern Day Bonnet
The New York City Easter Parade and Bonnet Festival along Fifth Avenue is one of the nation’s most celebrated traditions and traces its roots back to the 1870s. Let’s fast forward to the 2000s to admire some of the event’s most festive creations.
We cannot deny the strong, spiritual, year-round devotion to hats. On any given Sunday in many African American churches, you’ll find a creation, perhaps the work of a local millinery like LA’s Leola Speed, that will make you want to stand up and shout: Best in Show.
Wear Hats Responsibly!
So, should you choose to rock a hat for style, fun, convenience or shade (from the sun, not to throw an insult), do so in a way that maintains the health of your hair. Here are a few tips to wear a hat responsibly:
- Use a daily moisturizer to prevent frizz and static caused by dryness.
- Ask your stylist for about products that build volume because a hat will push your hair down and flatten your style.
- Style your hair a bit fuller than you normally would before you put on a hat to keep some of the volume when you take it off.
- Never put a hat on your wet hair. Doing so may cause tension, breakage and the ultimate case of hat head when the hair is dry.
- Give your hair room to breathe. Wearing a tight hat causes the hair to get greasy at the roots but dry at the ends. When the hat rubs against dry hair, it may cause it to break. A tight hat will put pressure on your head (it should feel comfortable and not pressed against your head), crush your curls and make your scalp sweat, making the situation worse.
- Wear a satin cap or scarf underneath your hat to prevent your hair from breaking and dryness and to preserve your hairstyle.
- Look for hats with a satin or silk lining.
- Straw hats should be tightly woven and smooth. If the straw is loose and sticks out of the hat, it will easily pull on the hair, making it break. If the weave of the straw isn’t tight enough, sun will shine through it and minimize the UV protection of the hat.
For more information, check out the links below or #AskKarlinesSalon. We look forward to seeing you at your next appointment.
Wearing Hats With Natural Hair for Minimal Damage – Visit this link.
Wearing Hats with Natural Hair – Visit this link.
Does Wearing Hats Have Any Effect on Hair Health? – Visit this link.