Straw Hats - Beach and Summer Fashion -     Sorted By Straw

Today's straw hats come in all shapes and sizes. Many varieties of straw are fully capable of taking even the brightest of dyes allowing men, women and children to choose their desired hat in any color of the rainbow or the lightest of pastels. These natural plant fiber hats are even suitable to those who prefer buying 100-percent organic products.

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If you are looking for an organic hat, try straw hats crafted from Rush or Xian. Both of these straws are usually untreated and left in their natural color. Rush tends to have a greenish-brown appearance and Xian is a creamy beige color. Their natural fragrance is appealing, as one smells much like handmade paper and the other smells like a freshly mowed lawn.

If you are looking for a straw hat, it helps to be aware of the types of straw that are used. Double wheat and Raffia are the two most durable, least expensive forms. Most of the beach hats you see while along the coastline or at area lakes are made from these materials.

Paper Panama or Panama straw are softer and offer exceptional airflow. If you want to avoid a sweaty head on a hot summer's day, Panama straw is an exceptional choice. When you see people wearing straw Panama-style hats, they are wearing this form of straw. Panama straw can be dyed, but it isn't highly receptive to dying agents, therefore you are more likely to find your colors are limited to muted pastels. It is one of the easiest straws to weave, so you shouldn't have a hard time finding a straw hat crafted from this material.

Avoid straw hats crafted from Visca. Visca is a man-made material from Japan that resembles straw, but is not durable. Hats made from Visca usually last no longer than twelve months. It is pointless to spend them money on these hats because they will need frequent replacing.

Finally, Parasisal and Sisal are generally used on high-quality, expensive hats. Because both of these straws take dyes exceptionally well, you will find them used in brightly colored hats in pricier boutiques and upscale department stores.