The cowboy hat carries with it a rich tradition of etiquette—unwritten rules that show respect, courtesy, and cultural awareness. While these customs originated in the working cattle culture of the American West and Australian outback, they've evolved into a code that hat wearers worldwide still follow. Understanding these traditions helps you wear your hat with confidence and avoid unintentional faux pas.
When to Remove Your Hat
The most fundamental aspect of hat etiquette involves knowing when your hat should come off. While modern society is generally more relaxed about hats, certain situations still call for removal.
Always Remove Your Hat For:
- The national anthem: Hold your hat over your heart with your right hand
- During prayer or blessing: Whether at church, a meal, or other occasions
- At funerals: Remove upon entering and keep off throughout
- When entering someone's home: Unless the host is also wearing a hat
- During formal dining: Especially at sit-down meals in nice restaurants
- When introduced to a woman: Traditional etiquette, still appreciated by many
- In courts of law: Required as a sign of respect
- When a flag passes in parade: Hold over heart as for the anthem
When removing your hat, hold it by the brim—not the crown—with the inside facing your body. This protects the crown shape and keeps the sweatband private.
You May Keep Your Hat On For:
- Outdoor events and activities
- Casual dining (counter service, food courts, pubs)
- Public transportation
- Shopping and retail stores
- Most workplaces (especially agricultural settings)
- Bars and casual social settings
The Grey Areas
Some situations require judgement:
- Elevators: Traditional etiquette said remove; modern practice says optional
- During indoor entertainment: Consider those seated behind you
- At the office: Follow workplace culture; remove for formal meetings
Handling Someone Else's Hat
Perhaps the most sacred rule of cowboy hat etiquette: never touch, move, or try on someone else's hat without explicit permission. This tradition runs deep, and violating it is considered seriously disrespectful.
Never pick up, move, or touch another person's cowboy hat. Even with good intentions, this is considered a significant breach of etiquette in western culture.
Why This Matters
Several reasons underpin this tradition:
- Personal item: A cowboy's hat is deeply personal, often moulded to their head over years
- Superstition: Some believe allowing others to handle your hat brings bad luck
- Practical concerns: Handling can transfer oils, damage the shape, or soil the hat
- Respect: Touching personal items without permission is simply poor manners
If You Must Move a Hat
In rare situations where you absolutely must move someone's hat (it's about to fall, it's in the way of an emergency), handle it with extreme care. Touch only the brim, move it the minimum distance necessary, and inform the owner immediately.
- Never try on someone else's hat without asking
- If given permission to handle a hat, touch only the brim
- Never set someone else's hat on a bed (considered very bad luck)
- When handed a hat to hold, treat it as you would a precious object
How to Set Down Your Hat
Where and how you place your hat when not wearing it reflects your knowledge of western traditions.
Crown Down vs Brim Down
The debate continues, but practical wisdom suggests:
- Crown down (upside down): Protects the brim from flattening and allows the sweatband to air out
- Brim down (right-side up): Can flatten the brim over time and trap moisture in the sweatband
Most serious hat wearers set their hats crown-down on clean surfaces. Some also believe this preserves your luck—setting it brim-down "lets all your luck run out."
Never Set a Hat on a Bed
This superstition is taken seriously throughout western culture. Setting a hat on a bed is considered extremely bad luck—some say it invites death or serious illness. Whether you believe the superstition or not, avoiding this habit shows cultural awareness.
Hat-Tipping and Greeting Customs
The classic "hat tip" remains a gracious way to acknowledge others:
The Hat Tip
To properly tip your hat:
- Grasp the front of the brim with your thumb and forefinger
- Lift the hat slightly (1-2 inches) from your head
- Nod slightly while lifting
- Return the hat to position
This gesture works for:
- Greeting someone passing by
- Acknowledging thanks
- Showing respect to elders
- Greeting women (traditional courtesy)
The Hat Wave
For more enthusiastic greetings, remove the hat entirely and wave it. This is common at rodeos, races, or when greeting friends from a distance.
Seasonal Etiquette
Traditional etiquette distinguishes between felt and straw seasons:
- Felt season: Traditionally autumn through spring (May to September in Australia)
- Straw season: Summer months (October to April in Australia)
While these "rules" have relaxed considerably, wearing straw in winter or felt in peak summer may still draw knowing glances from traditionalists. In practical terms, wear what's comfortable for the conditions—but be aware that some events or communities maintain stricter standards.
Working Hat vs Dress Hat
Many hat wearers maintain separate hats for different occasions:
Working Hats
- Show wear, stains, and character from use
- Perfectly acceptable—even preferred—for agricultural settings
- Should still be clean enough not to be offensive
Dress Hats
- Kept clean and well-maintained for social occasions
- Expected at formal events, church, and nice restaurants
- Should match the formality of your outfit
Wearing a beaten-up work hat to a wedding or a pristine dress hat for mustering both show a misunderstanding of occasion-appropriate attire.
Modern Etiquette Considerations
While respecting tradition, acknowledge that etiquette evolves:
- Gender: Traditional rules often distinguished between men's and women's behaviour; modern practice is more egalitarian
- Context: Urban environments may have different expectations than rural ones
- Generation: Older Australians may expect stricter adherence to tradition
- Setting: Western-themed events often embrace traditional etiquette more fully
When in doubt, observe what others are doing and err on the side of more formal etiquette. Removing your hat when uncertain shows respect; leaving it on when you should have removed it appears ignorant or rude.
Understanding and following these traditions connects you to generations of hat wearers who came before—and ensures you wear your cowboy hat with the confidence that comes from cultural knowledge.