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Duration:02:00
Uploaded:2016-12-05
Last sync:2024-02-18 20:15
A monthly show where we endeavor to answer one of your big questions. This week, Sammi Wood asks, “Is it true that if you wear a hat often enough it will cause you to bald?”
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Craig Benzene: Hi I'm Craig. Oh I'm sorry, that;s not my face, that's my bald spot. Hi, I'm Craig and this is Mental Floss video. Today I'm gonna answer Sammy Wood's big question, "Is it true that if you wear a hat often enough it will cause you to go bald?

Well Sammy, the short answer is no. But let's keep talking about because they don't pay me if these videos are 2 seconds long. Let's get started.

(intro music plays)
Firstly, what does cause baldness? 95% of hair thinning in men is known as male pattern baldness. It's caused by a testosterone called dihydrotestosterone, or DHT. And whether or not this causes balding is mostly due to genetics.

If a person has the right genes, DHT will cause their hair follicles to deteriorate.Eventually this leads to hair thinning and baldness. Other things that might cause hair thinning in both men and women are poor nutrition, drugs, infection, pregnancy, and trauma. But most of it comes down to genetics. Pretty sure pregnancy doesn't cause my baldness.

So, some people believe that hats can cause hair loss too, thanks to the phenomenon of traction alopecia. This is when a hairline recedes due to consistent traction. It occurs in some people who wear tight ponytails, barrettes, or helmets. These things have been known to damage hair follicles, causing scarring, and then hair can't grow there anymore. But most experts agree that a hat would have to be very tight in order to cause traction alopecia. (scoffs) Come on now.

As I mentioned earlier, baldness is mostly caused by genetics. It is possible that people who already have those genes might have their balding sped up by wearing hats. This is for a couple of potential reasons.

Taking the hat on and off might pull hair out that's on the edge of falling out, and wearing a tight hat causes less air flow to the hair follicles. (quieter) Just be careful when you're taking your hat off, guys. And don't wear it too tight. I just don't wanna see you all- It happened to me and I don't wanna see you all go bald. Actually it's fine, I don't really mind.

Thanks for watching Mental Floss video which is made with the help of all of these follicles. If you have a big question of your own you'd like answered, leave it below in the comments. See you next time. (quieter) I've referred to them as follicles before. Déjà vu.

(Outro music plays)