With the summer wedding season in full swing and York’s Ebor Festival about to get underway, Sarah French speaks to the experts in managing hat and hair

WE all love a chance to dress up and any occasion to wear a hat as well is generally a happy one – weddings, christenings and the races to name a few.

But it presents a perennial problem – if you’re wearing a hat, how do you do your hair, and critically, how do you avoid the dreaded ‘hat hair’ when you take off your chapeau?

The most beautiful look can be wrecked the minute the stunning hat is removed and the flattened locks beneath, complete with circular indent, are revealed.

The nature of hats means they generally need some support, with hair providing a useful foundation for the hat to sit on or be pinned to. But building up some bulk beneath, whether through clever blow-drying, backcombing, curling, plaiting or pleating, can also fall flat under the hat if it’s not done by an expert.

More serious still is how to integrate hat and hair into the overall look.

Wilson Derbyshire, owner of Shine in Northallerton and a partner in its sister branch in Stokesley, explains: “Whether you’re going to the races or a wedding, the looks that work best are those where the outfit, accessories, hat, make-up and hair blend seamlessly so they all complement each other and the end result reflects the personality of the wearer.

“It takes some planning but it’s worth it because it takes all the stress out of the day itself. Hats and hair are what draw everyone’s attention at the races. They’re the ultimate accessory, so it’s worth getting it right.”

When it comes to hair, the team at Shine tailor the style to work not just with the type and length of hair the client has but also to their hat and their outfit.

If a client wants a particular style before they’ve chosen their hat, or does not want to stray too far from their normal look, the team can recommend the style of hat that will work so they don’t make any costly mistakes.

For clients who’ve already selected their hat, Wilson recommends they bring it into the salon before the big day for a fitting and style consultation.

“We treat it in the same way as if a client is coming for a cut and colour. We have a menu of looks we can create but ultimately it has to work for the individual client and be bespoke to them.”

When it comes to beauty, Shine salon owner Siobhan Caffery says, again, it is all in the prerace planning.

“In my experience ladies like to look tanned and well groomed for the races. The quality of our GELeration soak-off gel polish means you can have your nails done at least a couple of a days before and be confident they will still look perfect, and you can get your spray tan one or two days in advance as well.

“With beauty, a natural, flawless complexion will set off your hat and hair to best effect so I’d recommend a Thalgo Silicium Super-Lift Facial for 75 minutes of relaxation in which your skin is exfoliated, smoothed and pumped full of antiageing ingredients so it appears lifted and firmer.”

Critically, the Shine team aims to create hair and beauty looks that work with or without a hat.

Wilson adds: “A hat should never be used as a shield or somewhere to hide your hair. If your hair is done well it should give you added confidence.

“In a couple of seconds a well put together style can be tweaked so that the hair, once completely revealed, speaks for itself. In fact, with a pretty, creative style it might be your hair that’s the best winner of the day.”

  • For more advice on getting your hair hatready, contact Shine in Northallerton on 01609 771477 or Stokesley on 01642 712755.

Style 1: The Modern Beehive – for hair of most textures that is past shoulder length. Soft with an offset, inverted chignon, it’s a slightly deconstructed style rather than a classic sweeping beehive. It works best with a simple accessory on a slide or pinned in.

Style 2: The Braided Bun (main picture and right) – a pretty, elaborate style for longer hair, it starts with a ponytail that’s braided, pulled up on top and pinned. It works well with a front fitting fascinator or small hat on a band, a hatinator.

Style 3: The Modern Bun – for shoulder length hair or longer, this is a traditional bun deconstructed to create a more modern look. It works best with a sidefitted accessory.

Style 4: Festival Chic – a good style for a teenager, hair is twisted back on one side and plaited from the other before being gathered together, off centre, at the back. It works well with a floral headband.

Style 5: Trainer style – a style for longer, fine hair, it sits lower so works well with a full hat yet still looks elegant once the hat is removed. It involves traditional and fishtail plaiting with the hair intertwined to create loops and curls that are pinned securely.

Style 6: The Ascot – the most formal style to be worn with a fascinator or accessory on a slide, this is good for thick, shoulder-length hair. It’s created from a forward fishtail plait that’s swept into a relaxed French pleat with a long, smooth but wavy fringe.