Bamboo hoodie and how to keep the hood in shape
Short answer: The hood loses its shape through heat and through drying crumpled or hanging wet. Hang the hoodie up with the hood smoothed out and keep it out of the tumble dryer, and the hood keeps standing and sits neatly on your back.
Heat is the main cause
High heat in the tumble dryer creases the hood fabric for good. The hood is often sewn in two layers, and they do not always shrink by the same amount, so the seam twists. That one step does the most damage, and it cannot be undone. Wash at a low temperature and let the air do the rest. See washing and care.
Hang with the hood smoothed
Smooth the hood out by hand before you hang the hoodie up. If it dries crumpled, the shape sets that way and sits crooked the next time you wear it. Pull gently at the edge of the hood to restore its original shape, and let it hang freely down the back while drying. See bamboo hoodies for men.
Tie the drawstring
Tie the drawstring in a loose knot at the front before the hoodie goes in the machine. Otherwise it gets pulled into the channel during the wash and is hard to get out again. If it happens anyway, fix a safety pin to the end and push the cord back through the channel. A loose knot is enough.
Lay heavy hoodies flat
A heavy hoodie is stretched by its own weight when it hangs wet. The water pulls the shoulders down and makes it longer than it was. Lay it flat on a towel or drying rack instead, with the hood smoothed out beside it. Turn it after a few hours so it dries evenly. See bamboo hoodies for women.
Storing between wears
A hoodie hung from a hook by its hood stretches the hood over time. Hang it on a hanger instead, or fold it and place it on a shelf with the hood folded over the back. That way the neck seam is not pulled out of shape, and the hood keeps its form even after many months of wear.
The hood in daily use
The hood wears most where it rests against a jacket collar or a backpack. Pull it out over the jacket rather than letting it get squashed underneath, so it does not end up creased and flat. If you often wear it up, avoid pulling hard on the drawstring, because that stretches the edge.
The ribbing follows the same rule
Ribbing at the cuffs and hem also loses its stretch in heat. Slack ribbing makes the hoodie hang and the sleeves slide over your hands. Treat the whole garment the same way: low temperature, inside out and air drying. Then the hood and ribbing keep their shape for just as long. See sweatwear.
If the hood is already creased
A hood creased by drying can often be partly smoothed out. Dampen it with a spray bottle, smooth it by hand and let it dry flat. If heat has twisted the seam, it rarely comes back fully, but it can look neater. Avoid ironing on high heat, as that can leave the fabric shiny.
In short
The hood keeps its shape if you avoid heat and let it dry smoothed out. Tie the drawstring before washing, lay heavy hoodies flat and store them on a hanger rather than a hook. The same habits keep the ribbing firm, so the whole hoodie looks good for longer.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the hood lose its shape?
From heat in the tumble dryer and from drying crumpled. The hood is often two layers, and when they shrink differently, the seam twists and can hardly be put right.
How do I stop the drawstring disappearing?
Tie it in a loose knot at the front before the hoodie goes in the machine. If it disappears anyway, fix a safety pin to the end and push it back through the channel.
Should a heavy hoodie be hung or laid flat?
Laid flat on a towel or drying rack. The weight of the water stretches it out of shape when it hangs, making the shoulders and length bigger than before.
See our range of bamboo hoodie for men.
