A cowboy hat holds its shape for years with the right handling. Most damage comes from picking a hat up the wrong way or leaving it brim-down. Where a hat comes with its own care instructions, follow those first.

Handling your hat

• Pick it up by the brim, front and back, with clean hands. Pinching the crown repeatedly weakens it and can crack straw.
• Rest it upside down on its crown, or on a hat rack, never flat on its brim. A brim left flat slowly loses its curve.
• Keep it away from heat. Don’t leave a hat on a car dashboard or near a radiator; heat can shrink the sweatband and distort the shape.

Cleaning a felt hat

1. Brush it regularly with a soft hat brush, working anticlockwise around the crown and brim, following the direction of the felt.
2. Lift light marks with a dry sponge or a felt-cleaning sponge.
3. For heavier stains, or a hat that has lost its shape, ask a professional hatter. Steaming and reshaping is best done by someone with the right equipment.

Cleaning a straw hat

• Wipe gently with a barely damp cloth, then let it air-dry. Never soak a straw hat.
• Straw becomes brittle when it’s too dry. Store it away from direct sun and heat.
• Crushed straw rarely recovers fully, so travel with it in a hat box or on your head.

If your hat gets wet

1. Shake off the water, then blot gently with a clean towel.
2. Turn the sweatband out so it can dry without shrinking.
3. Let the hat dry naturally at room temperature, resting on its crown or on an upturned bowl that fits inside it so it keeps its shape.
4. Never use a hairdryer, radiator or tumble dryer.

Storing your hat

• A hat box is ideal, especially for long-term storage. Otherwise, rest the hat upside down on its crown on a clean shelf.
• Keep it in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight, which can fade colours.
• Don’t stack anything on top of it.

Need help?

Questions about a particular hat? Call +44 7476 604596 or email sales@thecowboybootstore.com.