These days, everyone knows that the sun’s rays can damage your skin, and that they shine on you all year round, even when it’s Winter. You actually get most of your sun exposure just walking to the store, or to and from your car. So it makes sense to protect you skin with sun screen.
But what about your head? It is the closest part of your body to the sun, and yet, most of us wouldn’t think of putting sun screen on our head. However, a good way to shield your scalp, your hair and your face from the sun, is to wear a hat.
I have recently been introduced to Walleroo hats. They’re inspired by rugged Australia, and even have Australian style names, but they’re actually from a company in Boulder, Colorado. Walleroo has come up with dozens of ways to stay warm, or keep cool, wearing their stylish hats. But Walleroo hats have something special: hats (marked with a “sun symbol”) that show they’re UPF 50+. The fabrics these hats are made of block 97.5% of the sun’s UVA and UVB rays. UPF 50 is the highest rating for fabric/clothing that you can get. Of course, using sun block is still a good idea, as a hat, even if it’s a Wallaroo hat, only protects the skin it covers and perhaps, the part of your face that is well shielded with a large hat brim.
You might think to wear a hat in the Summer, to shield your eyes and face from the sun, and to keep cooler, but what about in the Winter? The Winter sun is strong, too, even if it’s cold outside. And glare from snow can actually make exposure, even more dangerous. So Walleroo has a new, “W” collection with three UPF 50+ styles. I tried “Melbourne,” a stylish hat with UPF 50. It’s a Winter-warm, cushy, scrunchy, fleece hat called “Melbourne” (srp. $40.00 plus shipping), in camel, chocolate or black. It has a quilted, satin lining and an adjustable, drawstring hidden inside to ensure a perfect fit. The brim is soft, and you can pull it down or flip it up a bit. It is a style that flatters every woman, and a far cry from the dorky sun-savers I was forced to wear by my well-meaning parents, that’s for sure! I actually like wearing my Walleroo hat! There’s also “Tasmania,” with a faux suede exterior and a faux fur interior and 2 1/4″ brim for warmth and sun protection. It is available in the camel, chocolate and black. Another popular stykle is “Brindabella,”made of a soft chenille braid with a 3 1/2” brim, available in burgundy, grey and black. There are lots of other styles, including year-round and summer hats in all shapes and sizes for men, women, children and even, babies!
Whether you’re skiing (and hoping to avoid the glare from the snow on the slopes) or just walking around the mall, a hat featuring UPF 50+ is both practical, and a statement of style. The majority of Wallaroo hats feature UPF 50+ protection. They’re not only good quality, they’re affordable, with prices starting at around $26.00. And if that’s not enough to convince you to buy a Walleroo hat, consider that each year, the company will donate 1% of their profits to skin cancer research, education and prevention in the United States.
Visit the Walleroo Web Site or find the hats in 2,000 outdoor, resort, golf, gardening and boutique retails stores throughout the U.S.
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