The Versatile Winter Bucket Hat That Doesn’t Mess Up My Hair | Reviews by Wirecutter – The New York Times

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By Sri Rain Stewart
Sri Rain Stewart is a writer covering style, gifts, and beauty. She is also a yoga enthusiast and the author of a guide to the best yoga blocks.
For years, I dreaded days that dropped below 40 degrees Fahrenheit because it meant choosing between warmth and having a good hair day.
A knit beanie kept my ears and head warm, but I hated what it did to my hair. Tight-fitting hats around a curly mane are a one-way ticket to bed head: They flatten the hair around the scalp and tug even the most perfectly set curls down and out of shape. But it was a price I was willing to pay to make it through winter.
So when I bought the Apparis Amara Bucket Hat last winter, I was aiming for style rather than function. It was cute; I saw it on social media and throughout New York City. Little did I know that my purely aesthetic purchase would become my go-to winter hat for keeping my curls intact and my ears adequately warm.
This trendy faux-fur bucket hat provides warmth and little to no fuss on a head full of hair.
When I first went out with my Amara Bucket Hat, which I bought in a dark-brown espresso color, I styled it with my red Ganni puffer, a simple pair of blue jeans, and my favorite black oxfords. I fully expected it to flatten my hair, like any other hat I’ve tried—and was willing to take the risk because my outfit was cute.
But it barely affected my curls, even after I traversed the city and transferred from ferry to subway to meet up with friends for dinner.
Anyone with curly hair knows that your tresses require delicate handling to maintain definition. Wind and friction—or say, a knit hat—can cause unwanted frizz and unruly curls. The Amara Bucket Hat comes in one size only, so it’s meant to fit a wide range of head sizes. As a result, it has an oversized fit on me, and unlike putting on a stretchy, tight-fitting knit beanie, this suede-lined, looser-fit bucket hat doesn’t cause as much tension when placed on my head, so it doesn’t weigh down my curls.
In the year since, I’ve worn it with a variety of hairstyles and have found that it keeps my mane in place whether my hair is curly, straightened, braided, or tied in a low ponytail. I’ve occasionally worn it with my hair in a low bun, too, but feeling a bulge on my neck is pretty uncomfortable—I prefer to stick to styles with my hair down.
But equally important for a winter hat is the fact that it keeps my head warm—and this Amara Bucket Hat, despite being faux fur, faux suede, and 100% polyester, is cozy. I’ve worn this hat in freezing temperatures, bringing it along on my ski trips and weekends upstate in the Catskills—I never complained that my head was cold.
And though I can’t claim the hat is waterproof, I have successfully worn it in the snow. Due to its texture, snowflakes landed and stuck on the faux fur, but no water seeped through, and the covered part of my head stayed dry. When I got back inside, I let the hat dry completely and it was good as new.
Of course, you can find warmer and more-waterproof hats than the Amara Bucket Hat. It’s also not ideal for windy days. Not only do I find myself holding the hat to make sure it doesn’t blow away, but the large size also allows for cold wind to reach my ears. Though I love this hat day-to-day—like when I’m out and about, catching up with friends, or having a date night—if I were planning to spend many hours outside, I would sacrifice a good hair day and reach for a knit beanie that fits closer to my head.
It’s so easy to style, though, that I find myself reaching for it regularly. Depending on my needs, I fold the brim a few ways. I can fold just the front to improve my view or fold the whole brim for less friction around my hair and less hat-touching-the-neck. I can also fold the brim just a little, or fold it deeply for a wide-hat look. I normally wear my hat with the whole brim folded because I think it suits my small-ish head. This also creates a snug fit so it stays put.
I’ve experimented with wearing the Amara hat in its traditional unfolded form, but it tends to slide down my head and block my view. In the name of fashion, I’ll go for the look occasionally, but it’s not practical when I need to be warm or when I’m taking a long walk.
Style is subjective, and some might argue that the bucket hat never really goes out of style. For me and my fashion sensibilities, the Amara Bucket Hat is the perfect addition to any winter outfit and the only hat I’ve ever worn that doesn’t destroy my curls. So on trend or not, you’ll find me in this cute, luxe hat for many winters to come.
This article was edited by Hannah Rimm and Maxine Builder.
Sri Rain Stewart
I cover updates for Wirecutter’s style, gifts, and beauty sections, to which I’ve contributed research and reporting as well.
I’ve also reported for Wirecutter’s health section, with a guide to the best yoga blocks.
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