It’s bad luck to wear a cowboy hat backwards.
Handling a Hat
- Some people swear that you should never grab the hat by the crown. Pick it up by its brim and then adjust it by the front and back of the brim.
- Other people say to hold the brim near the crown in the front and back when putting on or removing the hat.
- Set it upside down on its crown. Never set it right side up on its brim because that causes the brim to warp and misshape.
- Store the hat upside down inside its original box, if not worn often.
- Never set the hat near a heat source because that will cause the sweat band to contract and shrink the size. This is a real annoyance after you’ve got it to conform perfectly to your head.
Dealing with Wet Hats
- Felt hats were designed to be used in the rain.
- Wool hats are designed for dry climates and should never get wet.
- Straw hats are designed to handle a minimal amount of rain.
- When the hat gets wet, carefully even out and round out the dents and creases. Carefully turn the sweatband to the outside and sit the hat right side up on the sweatband. Let it dry slowly. Do not put it in an oven or use a blow-dryer on it.
Cleaning Hats
- Protect a hat from water damage with a non-silicone based protector, sprayed and lightly brushed into the felt.
- Keep felt hats clean with brushing, but use different ones for dark and light-colored hats.
- Get a heavily dirt and stained hat cleaned by a professional.
- Straw hats should be brushed regularly with a brim brush or an ordinary whisk broom. Clean a straw hat with a damp sponge and non-detergent soap.
Hat Color
Black hats are warmer and keep a cowboy’s head warmer on long cold nights or day.
Crown Creases
- Ranger Style: The two creases and dips are toward the front of the crown, with the crown higher in the back.
- Montana Peak: A hat with four creases radiating out from the top of the crown. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police wear this style.
- Straight Crown: A hat with no creases pressed into the crown.
- Hispanic Felt Hat: A hat with a straight crown flattened on top.
- Derby: A hat with no creases and the brim is narrow.
Hat Etiquette
- Tip your hat for strangers. Take if off for friends.
- Tip your hat any time a lady thanks you for some service.
- Take off your hat when the National Anthem is played.
- Take off your hat at a burial.
- Don’t take off your hat in public buildings, entrance halls, corridors of office buildings or hotels, or in elevators.
- Take off your hat when sitting down at a table for a meal, unless there is nowhere safe to lay the hat.
- Leave the hat on when sitting down to eat a meal at a counter.
Resources:
Cowboy Hat Info: http://www.cowboyhatinfo.org/hat_care_tips.html
Canadian Cowboy: http://www.canadiancowboy.com/index.html
FAQ’s about Cowboy Hats: http://www.countrycalendar.com/Country_Store/hats/faq_cowboy_hats.htm
Story of the Cowboy Hat: http://voices.yahoo.com/story-cowboy-hat-shapes-styles-6229318.html