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Permalink Reply by Cassy Hill October 30, 2012 at 12:04pm

Hi, one of my clients was wearing just a felt hat with no lining during winter with her hair loss.Altho it maybe a case of trail and error, depending on each person. good luck.

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Permalink Reply by 1fi9iq6yxs6ig October 30, 2012 at 8:12pm

I've done a few 'proper' hats (as opposed to fleece beanies and pull-ons)  for women who've gone through chemo and lost their hair.  I've found that a deep cloche style with a narrow brim seems to suit well.  They can be cut a little shorter at the back to incorporate coat collars, and have a deep crown which covers the top of their ears and hides the fact that there's no hair.  A little brim adds some sophistication and a bit of mystery too.    

The cloche style can also be made assymetrical, i.e. with a longer brim on one side than the other - so it can suit a wide range of face shapes.   Natural fabrics, such as pure silk or a soft cotton lawn are good for lining - as natural fabrics absorb perspiration and are not irritating to the scalp - particularly if people are on medication which can make their skin sensitive.   

I'm conscious that if someone's wearing a hat because they have no hair, it could be staying on for a longish time so needs to work indoors as well as outdoors - something they can wear out to lunch perhaps?    I saw a hat once which had some decorative hole punching in the sides and top and I thought that might be a good idea for an indoor hat - lets air circulate!   Soft fabrics are best, Felt is an obvious choice of course, but I've also made an evening cloche using a base of 20/20 buckram covered in velvet and lined in silk which was appreciated.

Hope this helps  :)

 

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Permalink Reply by Cynthia G Peacock October 31, 2012 at 12:26am

Another alternative for someone with a sensitive scalp is a fabric hat--wool with lawn lining or even corduroy with lawn lining.  You'd probably want to design a custom pattern, but I would think something like the Folkwear Metropolitan Hat (269). 

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Permalink Reply by Kathleen Gaffey October 31, 2012 at 8:42pm

Thank you Cynthia ! What a darling hat. I have not seen that one.

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Permalink Reply by Kathleen Gaffey October 31, 2012 at 8:47pm

Thank you Greer! I like the idea of ventilation. And a buckram base could make for a very light indoor hat. Back to the drawing board!

Thanks.

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