Best Summer Hats for Women With Short Hair

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Wide-brim sun hats, straw fedoras, bucket hats, trucker hats, and sun visors are among the best summer hats for women with short hair. 

The right choice depends on your hairstyle, where you’ll wear it, and how you want the hat to fit and look.

What to Look for in a Summer Hat for Short Hair

The fit, crown, and brim are the main things to check when choosing a summer hat for short hair.

Brim and Crown

A wider brim gives you more shade, which is useful for the beach or a long day outside. 

If you’re wearing the hat for everyday use, a medium brim is easier to wear and usually looks less bulky on short hair.

The crown should sit fairly close to your head. A low or medium crown works well with short hair because it doesn’t add too much height.

Avoid a very wide brim with a tall crown. Together, they can make the hat look much bigger than your hair and face.

Fit and Adjustability

The hat should stay on your head without feeling tight. An adjustable band is a good option because you can loosen or tighten it as needed. 

If you’ll be at the beach or somewhere windy, a chin strap can also help. Avoid a loose hat that keeps moving or falling off.

Sun Protection and Material

Straw and cotton hats are good summer choices because they are light and comfortable. If sun protection is your main concern, look for a hat with a UPF rating. See our guide to the best UPF hats for women for more on UPF.

Avoid very thin or loosely woven hats if you need good protection from the sun.

Travel and Packability

If you’re taking the hat on vacation, a packable style is much easier to carry because it can fit in a suitcase or beach bag.

Hats made from soft, flexible materials are usually easier to fold or roll without losing their shape.

Avoid stiff hats that take up too much space or lose their shape when packed. 

Top 5 Summer Hats for Short Hair

These five styles cover different summer needs, from long days in the sun to casual everyday wear.

1. Wide Brim Sun Hat

The Sloggers Wide Brim Sun Hat is a good pick for short hair if you want a wide-brim hat for beach days, vacations, or long hours outside. 

The 4-inch brim gives you good coverage. It comes down far enough to shade your face and neck, which is what you want from a proper summer sun hat.

The medium crown works well with short hair. It isn’t especially tall, so the hat doesn’t sit too high on your head. The brim is also wide without making the crown look oversized. 

The fit is easy to adjust. A drawstring lets you make the hat tighter or looser. It also has a wind lanyard, which is useful at the beach or in breezy places.

It’s light and easy to pack. The hat is made from 65% paper and 35% polyester and is listed as lightweight and packable. That makes it easier to take on vacation than a stiff sun hat.

The hat has a UPF 50+ rating, which is useful when sun protection is one of your main reasons for wearing it.

Flaws but Not Dealbreakers

The brim is quite floppy. That’s good for packing, but it can move around in stronger wind and may get in your way when you’re trying to see ahead.

The weave is fairly open. Some light can pass through the material, so the UPF 50+ rating doesn’t mean every part of your face will be fully shaded at all times.

It’s not water-resistant, so it’s better suited to sunny days than rainy weather.

Specs

2. Pineapple&Star Straw Fedora

The Pineapple&Star Straw Fedora is a better fit if you want a summer hat that looks more like a regular outfit piece than a full sun hat. It gives some sun coverage without the large brim of the Sloggers.

The smaller brim makes it easier to wear every day. The brim is 2.5 inches wide, so it gives some shade around the face without feeling like a large beach hat. That makes more sense for walks, outdoor lunches, travel, or casual summer wear.

The crown has a classic fedora shape. It’s 4.5 inches high, so it has enough room for short hair without needing a tall, bulky shape. 

The inside can be adjusted to get a better fit, and there’s also a removable chin cord when you need extra hold. This is useful on windy days, but you can take the cord off when you don’t need it.

It’s easy to take on a trip. The hat is made from paper straw and polyester and is designed to be crushed and packed for travel. That’s a useful feature if you don’t want to carry a stiff hat in your suitcase.

It also has a UPF 50+ rating, so you get more than just the look of a summer hat.

Flaws but Not Dealbreakers

The brim is not wide enough for full sun coverage. If you’re going to spend hours at the beach or sitting in direct sun, the Sloggers above gives you more shade.

Getting the size right matters. It comes in three sizes, and the fit can be loose if you choose a size that’s too large. Measuring your head before ordering is worth doing.

It’s also not water-resistant, so this is one to keep for dry summer weather.

Specs

3. Grace Folly Beach Trucker Hat

The Grace Folly Beach Trucker Hat is a good option if you want something casual and easy to wear with short hair. It’s more of an everyday summer cap than a hat for full sun coverage.

The adjustable back makes the fit easy to change. It has a snap closure, so you can loosen or tighten it as needed. That’s useful with short hair because there isn’t much hair under the hat to help fill out a loose fit.

The mesh back helps on hot days. The front is cotton and the back has mesh, so air can move through the back of the hat. The curved bill also gives some shade over the eyes.

It has a lower profile than a large sun hat. The front is described as mid-profile, so it sits closer to the head than the wide-brim options in this list. That makes it a good choice when you want a simple cap that doesn’t change the whole look of your outfit.

Flaws but Not Dealbreakers

The fit can be tricky. It’s one size with an adjustable snap, but the shape can feel shallow on some heads and the front can look quite large on others. If hats often feel tight or small on you, this probably isn’t the safest pick.

The sun coverage is limited. The curved bill helps shade your eyes, but it doesn’t cover your ears, neck, or sides of your face like the wider hats on this list.

The colors may not look exactly like the photos. That’s worth keeping in mind if you’re choosing one to match a specific outfit.

Specs

4. CHOK.LIDS Frayed Bucket Hat

The CHOK.LIDS Frayed Bucket Hat is a casual option if you want a soft, wide-brim hat for summer. Its 10-inch overall brim gives it much more coverage than a typical bucket hat, but the one-size fit is the main thing to think about before buying. 

The wide brim gives plenty of coverage. The brim measures 10 inches across the hat, so it gives more shade than most casual bucket hats. That makes it useful for the beach, walks, and other sunny days when you want more coverage without wearing a traditional sun hat.

The soft cotton makes it easy to wear. It’s made from 100% cotton and has a lightweight feel. The floppy shape also gives it a relaxed look that works well with casual summer clothes.

The fit is the weak point. This is a one-size hat, with the listed head measurements ranging from 21.6 to 23.6 inches depending on the fit. The product lists a drawstring, but fit feedback is mixed. If your head is smaller or larger than the listed range, this isn’t the safest choice.

The cotton material also has some stretch, but not much, so don’t expect the hat to change size very much once you’re wearing it.

Flaws but Not Dealbreakers

The one-size design can make the fit unpredictable. Some heads will fit it well, while others may find it too loose or too tight. Measuring your head before ordering is especially important with this one.

The floppy brim can move around. That’s part of the relaxed bucket-hat style, but it may not be the best choice if you need the brim to stay in one position while walking or doing outdoor activities.

It’s not water resistant. Keep it for dry summer weather.

Specs

5. FURTALK Straw Sun Visor

The FURTALK Straw Sun Visor is a good choice if you want a lot of sun coverage without putting a full hat over your hair. The open back leaves the top of your head free, which can be especially useful with short hair.

The long brim gives it more coverage than a typical visor. It measures about 5 inches from front to back, so it can shade most of the face. That’s useful for beach days, travel, and other times when you’ll be sitting or walking in strong sun.

The back adjusts to your head. It uses an elastic strap, so you can change the fit instead of being stuck with a fixed size. The listed head size is 21.2 to 23.6 inches.

The paper-straw material is lightweight and tightly woven. It also rolls up and can be secured with an elastic band, so it doesn’t take much room in a suitcase or tote.

Flaws but Not Dealbreakers

The large brim can get in the way if you have a smaller face. It gives good coverage, but you may notice the brim more when looking around or taking photos. 

The back strap can come loose. If you’re wearing it for a long walk or traveling, you may have to readjust it from time to time.

Specs

Best Summer Hats for Different Needs

You may be unsure which hat is right for you. Here’s what to look for in each situation so you can choose the one that suits you best.

Beach

At the beach, you want a hat that stays on, gives you enough shade, and doesn’t become a hassle in the wind. 

The Wide-Brim Sun Hat is the best pick from our list. The wide brim covers more of your face and neck, and the wind lanyard helps keep it in place. If you want something lighter, the Sun Visor is a good alternative.

Travel

For travel, the main thing is having a hat that is easy to carry and won’t take up much space. 

The Straw Fedora is the best choice from our list because it packs easily into your suitcase and works for sightseeing, beach days, and casual vacation outfits without feeling too bulky.

Everyday Wear

The Trucker Hat works well for regular summer days when you want something simple and easy to wear. The adjustable snapback lets you change the fit, while the mesh back keeps air moving when you’re outside. It’s a good fit for walks, errands, and casual days out.

Maximum Sun Protection

If keeping the sun off your face and neck is your main concern, go with the Wide-Brim Sun Hat. Its wide brim gives you more coverage than the smaller-brim styles, and the UPF 50+ rating adds another layer of protection.

The wind lanyard also helps keep the hat in place when you’re outside for longer.

How to Wear a Summer Hat With Short Hair

Short hair gives you plenty of ways to wear a summer hat. You can leave some hair out around your face, tuck the sides behind your ears, or let your natural texture show. The best way to wear the hat depends a little on your haircut.

Pixie Cut

Start with your usual hairstyle and leave your bangs or front pieces in place. Put the hat on and see where it naturally sits. If it covers too much of your hair, move it slightly back until some of the front is showing.

Pull out any hair that gets tucked under the hat around your forehead and ears. You can leave it loose for a softer look or tuck the sides behind your ears for a cleaner look. 

With a wide-brim hat, avoid pulling it too far down, as this can cover too much of your haircut and face.

Bob

Style your hair as you normally wear it, then place the hat on without pushing all your hair underneath. Pull the side pieces back out around your face if they get caught under the hat.

Tuck one side behind your ear and leave the other side loose for a simple look. With a wide-brim hat, place it slightly back on your head so more of your bob shows. If the ends get a little messy, fix them with your fingers instead of brushing your whole hair again.

Curly Short Hair

Get your curls back into their normal shape before putting the hat on. A little curl cream can help if your hair gets dry or loses its shape easily.

Place the hat gently over your curls without pressing it down too much. Let the curls around your face stay out, and if a curl gets caught under the brim, gently pull it back out with your fingers and let it fall into its natural shape.

When you take the hat off, fluff the curls with your fingers to bring their shape back.

Very Short or Fine Hair

Fine or very short hair can lose its shape under a hat, so give the roots a little texture first. Use a small amount of dry shampoo or light styling spray, then lift the roots with your fingers before putting the hat on. 

Put the hat on without pressing it down too hard. Leave a little hair showing around the front or sides, and make sure the hat feels secure without sitting too tightly on your hair. When you take it off, run your fingers through the roots to bring some volume back.

For more detailed tips, see our guide to How to Wear a Hat With Short Hair.

What Hats Should You Avoid With Short Hair?

The main thing to avoid is a hat that doesn’t sit well on your head. A loose hat can move around more easily, while a hat that’s too tight can leave a mark on your forehead or feel uncomfortable after a while.

Pay attention to the crown too. If it’s too deep, the hat can cover more of your haircut than you want, especially with a pixie cut or very short hair. If it’s too shallow, the hat may sit high and feel like it’s just sitting on top of your head.

So don’t avoid a hat just because it’s a fedora, bucket hat, cap, or wide-brim hat. They can all work with short hair. Just make sure the hat fits your head well, sits at the right height, and feels comfortable to wear.

Find the Right Hat Size

Found a hat you like? Before you order it, make sure you have the right size. A good-looking hat won’t feel right if the fit is too loose or too tight.

Use our Hat Size Calculator to find your hat size, or use the Hat Size Converter to convert between US, UK, and other sizing systems.

If you haven’t measured your head yet, follow our guide on How to Measure Your Head for a Hat Size before choosing your size.