How to Fit a Western Hat When You Can't Find a Salesperson to Help

Have you ever walked in to a western store or a hat store and you can not seem to find help with sizing a hat? You don't know what kind to get. What style will look good on you. Should you buy felt or straw. Well, here are a few tips to help you.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• western or hat store
• mirror
• selection of hats

1. First look in the mirror. How is your head shaped? Do you have a round head? Most Hispanic and native Americans have a rounder head. Is your head flatter on the sides? Or do you look pretty normal?

2. When choosing a hat there are 3 different fits. Regular oval, Long oval and round oval. There are many different brands of hats. Stetson is the most popular brand. Stetson makes mostly a regular oval. Their sister company, Resistol, makes Long oval. Both brands make the round oval. Milano hat company, who makes Larry Mahan hats are made a little wider at the temple area.

3. Choose a couple of styles. Try them on and see what works best for you.
   If the hat is a little tight in the forehead, try a long oval. If the hat is tight on the sides, try the round oval.

4. The crown of the hat comes in many different shapes. The most popular is the cattleman or the rancher. This crown has a crease down the center of the crown with a recessed crease on each side. This is a traditional hat shape. It is carried by most of your western retailers.
   The tycoon or 3 finger pinch, is another popular shape. It is the shape of a tear drop. And, there is the brick crown. This shape looks pretty much like a brick dropped on your hat and creased it. It is a rectangle shape.

5. The brim comes in different sizes. The most popular is the 4" brim. Hats can be cut. So, if you like the hat but do not want a wide brim, have it cut. The 3 1/2" brim is popular with the Hispanic community.

6. When trying on the hats, look at your jaw line. Match the shape of your jaw to the shape of the hat. If you have a narrow jaw you might try the tycoon or the cattleman.

7. Your hat should fit about 2 fingers width above the eyebrow and about a finger width above your ears. Your hat should fit a little snug but not tight. The leather sweat band will for a suction to your forehead to keep your hat on. If you have bangs, brush them back and set your hat on your head.

8. Now you need to decide whether to purchase a felt hat or a straw hat.
   Most people go by the seasons. Straw after memorial day and felt after Labor day. Depending on where you live, you might wear a straw hat year round.

Tips & Warnings

• Felt Hats can be cut smaller in the brim.
• Hats can be reshaped.
• For a good hat, look for 4X and above.