Beanies are a fantastic piece of headwear that is as functional as they are gorgeous. They seem to always be in style, and you can wear them all year round if you really want to. But the season where beanies truly shine is in the winter. No matter how cold it gets, a quality beanie will keep your head and your ears warm.
The Issue With Beanies
Unfortunately, the bliss of wearing a snug beanie quickly transforms into an annoyance whenever long hairs are involved. Long-haired folks have two main options. They can either curl up the hair inside the beanie, which makes awkward bulges under the hat and can cause unnecessary pain from hair stretching. Or they can let their hair down from behind. But this makes the hair susceptible to frost, and the constant feeling of cold hair on the back of the neck is very annoying for many.
The Perfect Solution
Fortunately, you can buy beanie hats that are specifically designed for long hair in mind. These special beanies have a hole on top that you can use to form a ponytail outside the hat. They work flawlessly and offer almost identical cold protection to regular closed beanies. These aren't niche items either, and you can find very high-quality options made by reputable headwear manufacturers.
The other reason why so many people wear beanies as their headwear of choice is their aesthetic. Fortunately, these ponytail beanies retain the core vibe of regular beanies and sometimes even enhance it. These might require a bit more work than just wearing a beanie, but the end result is always worth the effort.
Wearing a Ponytail Beanie
Here's a step-by-step guide on wearing the beanie hat with a ponytail hole.
- Invert the beanie inside out.
- Wear it on your hand from the bottom with the ponytail hole close to your fingers.
- Pass the fingers through the ponytail hole.
- Make a ponytail with both hands and hold it in hand with the beanie.
- Use the free hand to pull the beanie on top of your head.
- Simultaneously, use the hand with the beanie to pull the hair through the ponytail hole.
- Make sure all of the hair in your ponytail is through the hole.
- Adjust the beanie afterward to get complete head coverage.
- You can use a rubber band to tighten the ponytail later if it feels too loose.
Buying the Right Ponytail Beanie
So, you understand the idea behind the beanie with the ponytail hole and want to buy one. Which one should you get? The answer to this will get harder the more you look into it, thanks to the hundreds, if not thousands, of available options. Luckily, sorting through these options is fairly manageable if you know exactly what you're looking for.
These are the two main attributes that you have to consider before you go searching for the right ponytail beanie for yourself.
Material
The material of the beanie will determine a lot of factors, including how the beanie feels on your head and how effective it is in providing warmth. You have four main options to choose from.
Acrylic
Acrylic is a synthetic material that is used in a lot of different beanies. The main reason behind this popularity is its low price, but that is not the only factor contributing to its success. The other reason why so many manufacturers make acrylic ponytail beanies is its industry-leading vibrance. It is exceptional, holding all kinds of dyes, and has a very bold and colorful final look as a result.
Fleece
Fleece is the other synthetic material used in the making of beanies, but this is nothing like acrylic. Instead of focusing on looks and cost, fleece is more concerned with performance. Beanies made from this material are highly durable and completely breathable. It is also great at wicking away moisture. Lastly, fleece beanies are machine washable, adding a layer of convenience for their users.
Cotton
Cotton is a natural fiber that combines the positive elements of both fleece and acrylic into one package. It is breathable, durable, and machine washable like fleece while having the dye holding capabilities of acrylic. It is a bit more expensive than both of those synthetic materials, though.
Wool
Wool is the most expensive material on this list, and for a good reason. It is the most premium-looking and feeling beanie material out there. Ponytail beanies made from wool are warm, soft, and incredibly cozy. If you can afford it, high-quality wool is the best option.
Color/design
The second major factor you have to look out for is the design of the beanie. This means everything from the shape and fit of a beanie to its color and pattern. However, evaluating these attributes individually will not be very productive. Finding a beanie with a very specific color, shape, pattern, and fit is almost impossible.
Instead, what you can do is categorize your options in terms of the vibe they emanate. Do I need a monotone ponytail beanie or a vibrant one? Do I prefer a tight fit or a looser one? Will I put in the effort to dress around a very stylish beanie, or would I prefer to wear a basic beanie over anything I'm already wearing? Ask yourself these questions, and the answers to them will help you focus on the options that are the ideal fit for you.
