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Best Sun Hats to Protect Your Skin

Many of you know how vigilant I am about protecting my skin from the sun, (a case of melanoma will tend to do that) and hats are a stylish way to do it. Tiny hats are cute, but I opt for ones with more coverage and have worn them with confidence for years. Not only do they shield my skin from the harmful rays of the sun, but they are great at covering bad hair days and grown-out roots if you color your hair. The other thing I love about hats is the attitude they give to an outfit.

woman wearing 3/4 sleeve green top
BRIXTON JOANNA STRAW HAT

With warmer weather approaching, I know many of us will be spending more time outdoors. Today, we’re diving into the world of sun hats, and I’m sharing some of my favorites from wide brim straw hats to ball caps and everything in between to keep you protected.

PS- If you feel like you look silly in hats, you may just be choosing the wrong style for your face. I talk a lot about choosing the proper hat for you in this post.

SIMILAR PAPER HAT PACKABLE HAT…I LOVE THE LAVENDER SHADE!

If you love sun protection or are traveling soon with a hat and trying to figure out how to pack it, I’ve linked some other posts that you’ll find helpful below.

My Personal Favorite Sun Hats

Fashion blogger Jennifer Connolly wearing Eric Javits hat at Lake Tahoe
THIS ERIC JAVITS PACKABLE HAT HAS BEEN EVERYWHERE WITH ME AND ALWAYS LOOKS GREAT
Over 50 style blogger Jennifer Connolly wearing a wide brimmed hat with UPF, a cotton dress and a a straw tote from Walmart
THIS GIANT HAT COMES IN SEVERAL COLORS FOR UNDER $33 AND IS LIKE SITTING UNDER AN UMBRELLA
Jennifer Connolly of A Well Styled Life wearing white sunhat, denim shirt and white shorts
ANOTHER GREAT PACKABLE HAT UNDER $25 WITH CHIN STRAP and UPF 50+ FOR WINDY DAYS

The Best Sun Hats to Protect Your Skin

JOANNA STRAW FEDORA IN VANILLA  

1. Brixton Joanna Straw Hat

Iā€™ve had this hat in the classic beige straw and black ribbon for years. I reach for it more than any other hat I own so when I spotted this vanilla-colored one, I had to add it to my wardrobe because it goes with all of my softer colors. It also comes in a gorgeous lilac.

I ALSO HAVE THIS HAT IN GRAY

You can, and I have, spent a small fortune on a great hat, but this Brixton Joanna with UPF50+ protection is a stylish, sturdy hat at a fabulous price.

2. Lack of Color Scalloped Dolce Hat

I love the scalloped edge on this Lack of Color hat. These are the sort of details that make hats unique and fun. The ribbon will also help keep it on your head if it’s windy or you’re moving around a lot. It offers UPF 50+ protection, which makes it even better!

3. Super Wide Brim Bucket Hat UPF50+

Protect your face, neck, and shoulders from the harsh rays with this super wide-brim bucket hat. The strap can be snugged down securely for the windiest day so it’s great for camping, hiking, fishing, boating, and all of those outdoor activities. It’s a water-resistant fabric and has mesh panels to help keep it breathable. I have this one in beige and I love it for my daily walks plus scrunches into any bag without getting wrecked.

4. Multifunctional Bucket Sun Hat

This hat can be worn in four different ways. It has a detachable top and flaps which gives you as little or as much coverage as you want. You can wear it as a visor, a regular sun hat, a sun hat with a neck shield, or a sun hat with a neck and face shield (like pictured). This may look like overkill, but it would be great for so many situations where you are in direct sunlight like doing yard work in the middle of the day, walking in the direction of the sun on the beach, sitting on the bleachers watching a grandchild play a sport, etc. You can always remove the face and neck shield once the harshest sunlight hours of the day have passed and place them into your handbag.

5. San Diego Hat Company X-Large Brim Hat

This is the style of hat I take with me when we head somewhere tropical. It gives adequate coverage from the sun since it has UPF50+ protection, and an extra wide brim to shield my face, neck, and shoulders. Plus, this style of hat is surprisingly easy to pack. The one con about big floppy hats like this on the beach is that they could use a chin strap to keep them on in case of a big gust of wind! I have one like this that I keep by the back door and pop on to pick ripe tomatoes, etc from our veggie garden in the summer.

6. Verabella Lightweight Sunhat with Bow UPF50+

Speaking of chin straps, this pretty little sunhat with a bow has a detachable chin strap to keep it in place. It’s foldable, packable, and comes in several colors. If you have longer hair, this style of hat will also accommodate a ponytail or low bun. I also like this option for sitting against a beach chair.

7. Sunday Afternoons Sol Seeker

I love the decorative headband on this hat and the fact that it has adjustable internal sizing so you can get the perfect fit for all-day wear. This classic shape flatters most face shapes and is available in three other colors.

8. Lack of Color Seashell Boater Hat

I love a great boater shape. They look modern and classic at the same time with a flat top and straight brim. The neutral beaded strap gives it a fun coastal grandmother vibe making it ideal for a trip to the coast, a tropical vacation, or just the farmers market in your hometown.

9. UPF50+ Baseball Cap

This baseball cap is moisture-wicking making it a wonderful option for those of you who love to do active outdoor sports like running or playing golf or pickleball or simply cover a bad hair day. I don’t own a baseball cap, but they’re starting to appeal to me for the vibe they give a sporty outfit.

How to Make a Hat Fit Your Head

I’ve learned that few hats fit perfectly right out of the gate, so I highly recommend these stick-on foam strips. All you have to do is add them to the inside of your hat band.

STICK-ON FOAM STRIPS YOU SIMPLY ADD TO THE INSIDE OF YOUR HAT BAND.

Shop More of the Best Sun Hats:

Do you wear hats? What are your favorite shapes?

33 Comments

  1. Patricia King says:

    I love all the hats and clothes you suggest but where do you keep them? If I bought clothes every week I would need a storage locker.

    1. I donā€™t own or keep all the clothes I style. Some I return, some brands send to me and I donate lots to the womenā€™s shelter frequently.

  2. Wonderful post thank you

  3. Glenda Bibbero says:

    Thank you for this post. I have a collection of hats that I seldom wear because they are too big. I was so pleased to see the hat bands! I have not seen them before. I will be able to wear my hats much more often. Can’t wait for them to arrive!!

    1. You’ll love how they help. Sometimes I use one in the back, sometimes two, one on each side or just in front and back.

  4. I love and wear hats a lot. My favorite later was a Panama hat from Banana Republic, it comes in sizes. I wore it all over Italy, as well as at home. Itā€™s really hot here, and I feel much cooler!

  5. Hats come in sizes for men but seldom for women. Those of us with oversized brains need larger hats to fit our big heads. This has been an issue for me my entire life.

    1. Hats do come in sizes, my friend wears small. H&M had some, Nordstrom had some.

    2. Dianne Law says:

      I have found flattering hats for women with large or extra large heads at Sungrubbies. They are online and have a 4 season selection of hats for people with big heads- at 61 years old these are the first hats I have found that fit! They are flattering, assorted colors and many styles are available. Before I could only wear visors so I am so happy to support this company.

  6. Francesca B says:

    Thank you Jennifer for a great hat post ! So much fun! My hubby and l are off to Croatia and Prague this summer and l bought the Brixton hat,the black band and the vanilla,to compare thanks to your recommendations. Love the sound of the vanillaā€¦.especially as itā€™s a light grey apparently so good with my grey hair. Happy weekend šŸ™‚

    1. Itā€™s a very pretty, soft color. Let me know which one you end up with

  7. I am not crazy about hats but I do wear them in the sun to protect my hair, head, and skin.
    I have 2 paper packable hats and actually like to wear them.

  8. I have had skin cancer, but I would never, ever wear a hat. I’m very self conscious and hats are attention grabbers. No one wears hats where I live.

  9. I love hats and you look great in them. My problem is a small head and a pixie haircut. I feel at times I look goofy in hats. What type would you suggest. Iā€™m 5ā€™1.5ā€, small to medium frame.

  10. Ditto – you look great in hats! My problem is a big head; fine, on the short side hair and a very round face. I put on a hat – they usually don’t fit correctly and all I see is face. My hair is longer now which may help create an illusion for my face. I have relegated protection to adjustable visors. My question: in your hat shopping have you discovered a brand that offers sizes? Generally department stores don’t offer a range of sizes… thank you!

  11. I have an assortment of sun hats/hiking hats. I love the foam sizers & have them in my hats as my head is too small for the majority of hats.
    Lots of nice options! Thanks!

  12. What a great selection of hats! You always look so stylish in hats…they really suit you!

  13. Linda Lennon says:

    I love my Wallaroo petite collection especially the Victoria style. I have a small skull and the smaller brim suits my head. I play a lot of golf and I always wear a hat so itā€™s either the Victoria or a baseball cap. They pack very well. A fedora also suits me and gives a little edge.

  14. This is a great post! Thanks for recommending the Verabella as I always wear my hair in a pony tail in hot weather and could never find a hat (other than baseball cap) to accommodate it.

    1. Iā€™ve seen a brand Outdoor Tribe that has an ponytail opening. I think they are a cotton wide brim style.

  15. Hats look great on you! Thanks for showing the baseball cap because that’s all I wear to walk and golf. I’m glad they have sun protection options and a larger bill. We don’t sit around a pool anymore so a ball cap is really all I need.

  16. I just got a white Adidas ball cap for an upcoming trip – it has 50 UPF, and is made with some mesh & moisture wicking fabric.
    Amazon of course!

    1. Of course! I really want a ball cap now.

  17. SuzanneGabrielle says:

    In Australia, the schools have signs : “NO HAT, NO PLAY.” They’re not allowed outside without their hats. My dad died of melanoma at the age of 39 so needless to say I’m a big fan of SPF and hats. Plus, I now live in SW Florida so I have quite a collection and am rarely without one on my head. I recently bought 2 of those hat clips for my handbags which work well for when I’m on the go. You have some lovely choices here and the one that accommodates long hair pulled back is in my cart.

    1. Sadly, that hat clip didnā€™t arrive in time for this trip but Iā€™m ready for next time! Melanoma is terrifying. So sorry about your dad.

  18. Agree- you kook great in hats. I don’t but have two sun protected floppy beach hats similar to those you featured. One I purchased from my former dermatologist ( she retired ). I feel they help when on the beach or just lounging outside anywhere. I might need to invest in a better everyday cap ( baseball or other) to further protect my skin. I had a mohs surgery last summer under my eye area And do not want a repeat!

    1. Hats are great protection. I know that surgery was nasty for you. I hope you donā€™t have to go through it again.

  19. Pat Patterson says:

    Great post! My favorite is the Verabella Sun Hat. The back of the hat with the curved in brim doesnā€™t block the air from cooling your neck in very hot temps. Also, didnā€™t know Amazon sold hatsšŸ˜€
    Have a nice weekend!

    1. They have tons and at great prices too. Happy Friday!

  20. You really look fabulous in hats Jennifer.
    My hairstylist told me that wearing hats will help silver hair from yellowing in the sunshine. I need to go through my hats and see what still suits me and maybe try a boater style hat this summer.

    1. I didnā€™t know that about hair in the sun but it makes sense.

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