The short answer
Yes, you can wear a sauna hat with hair extensions, braids or dreads. The Koala Hat has a relatively wide fit, so it suits most hairstyles. A very large bundle of hair may not fit under it, but it will still cover most of your scalp, and a high loose bun works well for longer hair.
If you have extensions, braids, locs or another protective style, the sauna raises a few extra questions. Will a sauna hat actually fit over all that hair? Is the heat a problem for your style? And is a hat worth wearing at all?
This guide covers how fit works with bulky hairstyles, what to know about heat and extensions, and how to wear a sauna hat comfortably with a protective style.
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Does a sauna hat fit over bulky hair?
For most people, yes. The Koala Hat has a relatively wide fit that works for a wide range of head sizes and hairstyles. If you have a huge bundle of hair, such as a very large set of braids or locs, it may not fit under the hat. Even then, the hat will cover most of your scalp, and any extra hair may dangle below it.
If you have longer hair, a high loose bun works well. Pile your hair up loosely, put the hat on over the top and you have good coverage without pulling on your scalp.
Fit by hairstyle
Hair extensions
Gather your hair into a loose, high bun and put the hat on over it. Avoid tight styles that pull on the roots or bonds.
Braids and cornrows
Flatter styles generally sit more easily under the hat. Longer braids can go up in a loose bun or hang below the brim.
Locs and dreadlocks
Gather them into a high loose bun if the length allows. A very large bundle may not fit, but the hat will still cover most of your scalp.
Long hair in a bun
A high loose bun works well. Keep it loose rather than tight so the hat sits comfortably on top.
Read more about longer hair in Are Sauna Hats Good for Long Hair?
Sauna heat and hair extensions
Hair extensions come in several types, including clip-ins, tape-ins, bonded or keratin extensions and synthetic styles. Each one reacts to heat a little differently.
- Synthetic fibres generally cannot take heat tools, and sustained high heat can soften or deform them.
- Bonded extensions are attached with heat-sealed keratin, and direct heat on the bonds can affect how well they hold.
- Tape-in extensions use adhesive, and heat and humidity can affect how well it holds over time.
- Some dread makers advise that wool dreads can shrink if they get wet and hot, and that synthetic dreads can lose their shape in a hot sauna.
Your extensions may be fine in a sauna, or they may not be. It depends on the type, how they were installed and what the maker recommends. The safest approach is to ask your stylist or check the extension maker's care guide before you start saunaing regularly.
A sauna hat helps reduce direct dry heat exposure to the top of your head and the hair beneath it, and helps with head heat comfort. It does not make any hairstyle heat-proof, so use it as one part of your approach, not a guarantee.
One hat, wide fit.
The Koala Sauna Hat is made from 100% Australian merino wool and has a relatively wide fit that suits most hairstyles. Natural insulation, head heat comfort and a cleaner sauna routine.
Shop The Koala HatTips for wearing a sauna hat with a protective style
- Put your hair up in a high, loose bun before the hat goes on. Avoid tight styles that pull on your scalp or roots.
- Put the hat on before you go into the sauna, not after your head starts to feel hot.
- Pull the brim down so it covers your ears and the sides of your head.
- If your hair is very bulky, expect some to dangle below the hat. That is normal.
- Keep your sessions controlled. Longer is not always better for your hair or your head.
- Check with your stylist or extension maker about heat before you sauna regularly.
- Be gentle with your hair after a session and avoid extra heat styling on the same day where you can.
Not sure how to wear it? Read How to Use a Sauna Hat Properly.
What our hairdresser says
Our sister Ivy is a hairdresser on Sydney's Northern Beaches, and she is a big part of why Koala Hats exists. She encourages her clients to wear sauna hats, including clients with extensions and styled hair. The response has typically been very positive, and she would rather see her clients in a hat than going in with no protection at all.
That is her professional view and what she has seen with her own clients, not a clinical claim. For advice on your specific extensions, your own stylist is the best person to ask.
Read more: How Koala Hats Started: The Story Behind Australia's Sauna Hat Brand
Do you need a sauna hat with a protective style?
You do not need one, but it can help. If you have extensions, braids or locs that you have paid for or put time into, a sauna hat is a low-cost way to reduce direct dry heat exposure to the top of your head. It is also useful if your scalp tends to overheat before the rest of you. For more on whether it is worth it, read Are Sauna Hats Worth It?
Build your sauna protocol.
The Koala Protocol is a free session builder that creates a personalised sauna and recovery routine based on exactly how you are feeling and what you have access to that day.
Build your protocolSauna hat and hair extensions FAQs
Can you wear a sauna hat with hair extensions?
Yes. Tie your hair up in a loose, high bun and put the hat on over the top. The Koala Hat has a relatively wide fit, so it suits most people. Check with your stylist about how your specific extensions handle sauna heat.
Will a sauna hat fit over braids or dreadlocks?
In most cases, yes. If you have a very large bundle of braids or locs, it may not fit fully under the hat, but it will still cover most of your scalp and any extra hair will dangle below. Gathering hair into a high loose bun usually works well.
Is sauna bad for hair extensions?
It depends on the type of extension. Synthetic fibres, keratin bonds and tape adhesive can all be affected by sustained heat. There is no universal rule, so ask your stylist or check the maker's care guide.
How do I protect my hair extensions in the sauna?
Wear a sauna hat to help reduce direct dry heat exposure, tie your hair up loosely, keep sessions controlled and check what your extension maker recommends. A hat helps, but it does not make extensions heat-proof.
Can you wear a sauna hat with a bun?
Yes. A high loose bun works well with a sauna hat. Keep it loose rather than tight so the hat sits comfortably and the bun does not pull on your scalp.
Does a sauna hat cover all of your hair?
No. A sauna hat covers your scalp and the top of your head, where the heat is most intense. Longer hair or bulky styles may hang below the brim.
What is the best sauna hat for bulky hairstyles?
A sauna hat with a relatively wide fit made from natural wool is a good choice. The Koala Sauna Hat is made from 100% Australian merino wool and suits most hairstyles, though a very large bundle of hair may not fit fully under it.
Sources
- Luxy Hair: types of hair extensions
- Perfect Locks: bonded hair extensions
- Dreadshop: dreads and the sauna