What is a visor hat for?
-
What is a visor hat for?
A sports visor, also called a sun visor hat or visor cap, is a type of crownless hat consisting simply of a visor or brim with a strap encircling the head. The top of the head is not covered and the visor protects only the face, including eyes, nose, and cheeks, from the sun.
The visor portion of a sun visor may be either curved or flat and the strap is often equipped with an adjustable velcro fastener in back. The strap can function as a sweatband although usually not. This type of headgear was designed for use in outdoor sports (especially golf, tennis, volleyball, and softball) where eye protection from direct sunlight is desirable, while the missing crown allows for ventilation. It is now often used by non-athletes at beach and other sunny outdoor events.
How to shop for a sun hat that protects your skin
Go wide: Not all sun hats are created equal. “Generally, a 4-inch brim around the entire circumference of the hat is needed to protect the face, neck, eyes, and ears,” Dr. Waldorf says. Visors can be worn for sun protection, as well, but the brim should be super wide, practically wrapping around the head, she adds.
You’ll also want to avoid baseball caps, unless they have a drape. “A regular baseball cap is not sufficient—they’re designed to keep the glare of the sun out of your eyes, not to protect your skin,” notes Dr. Waldorf.
Pay attention to color: When it comes to the fabric, go for hats with a darkly-colored, tightly-woven fabric like denim, canvas, wool, or synthetic fibers, which can effectively shield against harmful UV rays, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. To check the coverage of the fabric, shine a flashlight through it to see which areas are shaded and which are exposed, suggests Debra Jaliman, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City and author of Skin Rules. If you can see through the fabric, UV radiation can reach your skin.
Scan the label: There are also hats with built-in UV protection, which can make shopping a little easier. Go for hats that have an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) of 30 or above, says Dr. Jaliman. UPF represents how much UV radiation (both UVB and UVA rays) a fabric allows to reach your skin. In order to earn the Skin Cancer Foundation’s seal of approval a fabric must have a UPF of at least 30. Anywhere between UPF 30 to 49 is very good protection, while UPF 50+ qualifies as excellent.
Midway through the summer, this much can be said of accessories trends: Headwear is having a moment. We bring you the trends. You make them your own.