When Old Man Winter comes calling, one of the most important accessories we can reach for when heading outside is a scarf. Along with your coat and hat, your scarf plays a very important role in keeping your body warm and protected from the elements and dangerously low temperatures.
But how does a scarf keep you warm, really? What exactly does it do?
In this post, you’ll find out why scarves keep you warm, which material keeps you the warmest, and why you really can’t have too many of them.
Why Do Scarves Keep You Warm?
If you only rely on your jacket to keep you warm when you’re outside in the winter, you’re really not thinking it through. Your jacket can only cover so much of your body and in most cases, your neck is often left exposed to the frigid air and blustery wind.
When you wear a scarf, the scarf protects your neck by serving as a barrier between your skin and the elements. The right scarf can also protect your nose and ears, two body parts that are highly susceptible to cold weather.
Another reason why scarves help keep you warm is that when you inhale cold air into your lungs, the cold air forces your internal core temperature to drop a bit, and even a minor drop can make a big difference in how you feel. But, by wearing a scarf around your neck and mouth, you essentially create a form of insulation and a pocket of warm air. This pocket helps protect you from inhaling harsh winter air, therefore helping to keep your core at the right temperature.
Wearing a Scarf Can Even Help Protect You From Colds
We all know that scarves help keep us warm in the winter, but according to a study that was published in 2015 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, scarves can also help us avoid the cold virus. The reason is because the cold virus thrives in the nose especially when it is in a colder temperature for an extended period of times. The study suggested that if the nose is kept warm with a scarf, then it will be less likely to inhale the cold air directly, thus increasing your chances of fighting off a cold virus.
Which Fabric Makes for the Warmest Scarves?
If you really want to keep your nose, face, ears, and neck warm and toasty this winter, then your choice of scarf matters. The best fabric for your winter scarf is Cashmere and for a few important reasons.
- Cashmere is a natural insulator because its only job is to keep Cashmere goats warm in the brutally cold climates in which they are raised.
- Cashmere is one of the softest fibers in the world, so scarves made from it are soft against the skin and hypoallergenic.
- Cashmere is extremely breathable, so it can keep you warm while allowing moisture to escape.
