Q&A for How to Wear a Cowboy Hat Properly

A real cowboy acts on old traditions, like taking your hat off when you eat, pray, say the pledge, etc. As long as you remove your hat at these times to be respectful, you can wear your hat just about anywhere in public.

The high point goes at the front and the low point goes at the back. So when you look in the mirror you should see the high point of the hat.

I have seen both left and right side, usually from the maker as well as the very back side. I too question which is proper/acceptable.

The bow on the outside of the hat around the crown should go on your left side.

If you are riding in windy weather you need to wear a neck string so your hat doesn't fall off. It can actually be dangerous if your hat is loose as if may scare your horse if it flies off and hits your horse in the face. Always wear what's safe and don't you ever worry about being un-cool. Say "I am cool, Safer is smarter."

Take it to a professional haberdasher. They use steam and the molds used in making the hats and shaping the crowns to reshape it to its original condition. If it needs a new sweatband, they can sew that in as well. It's well worth it.

Use talc powder over the hat and let it sit for a couple of hours. Then use a soft brush to brush the talc powder off. Make sure you go with the grain of the fur when brushing.

You could use a lint roller or tape. All you have to do is take the tape or lint roller and roll or stick it on the parts where the hair is and take it off. The hairs will come off with ease. You can also adopt the motto: "Animal hair? Don't care."

A good western store will have a leather stretching solution that you might try on your hat.

Of course, whatever you want that makes you happy with the hat is fine! As long as it fits the occasion, it is perfectly fine.

Most good hats have a 'sleeve' that goes all the way around the inside of a cap. You can slip 'spacers' into these sleeves to make the hat fit better and more snugly.

There are little pins on the end of the stampede string that you stick through the base of the sweatband (band inside of hat). You can then fold the pin over so that it stays in place. Make sure you know where you want the string to sit before you start to poke holes in the hat.