Wool regulates
Wool in summer???
That wool keeps you warm is no secret. But few people know that virgin wool is also incredibly comfortable in summer. After all, a sheep wears its wool coat all year round — even in the heat.
As so often, nature has come up with the perfect solution. Let’s dive in.
A marvel of nature
A sheep usually lives outside all year long. So it’s exposed to everything nature throws at it: rain, wind, heat, cold — and its wool is perfectly designed for it all.
A wool fiber is made up of several layers, just like human hair. These layers work together so the fibers naturally curl. That crimp creates tiny air pockets that do two things: in winter they trap warmth, and in summer they allow pleasant airflow.
The sheep’s skin also produces lanolin, the natural wool fat. Combined with the scaly surface of the fibers, this light oily layer makes wool water-repellent. So when it rains, water simply beads off the outer layer and the sheep stays dry underneath.
Lanolin also gives wool that typical “sheepy” smell. If your virgin wool products have that scent, it’s actually a sign of high quality. A good lanolin content means your wool is not only water-resistant but also naturally antibacterial, it neutralizes odors (like sweat) and keeps the fibers supple.
With our lanolin spray, you can refresh the lanolin in your wool products. And for more intensive care, our lanolin treatment gives tired wool a nourishing boost.
But wait — how can wool repel water and still absorb moisture?
It’s brilliantly simple! The rain hitting the sheep is liquid water — the droplets are too large on a microscopic level to penetrate the oily wool fibers.
Sweat, on the other hand, starts as vapor. It only becomes liquid once it cools down on your skin (condensation). Before that happens, the vapor is absorbed into the wool fibers because vapor molecules are much smaller than water droplets.
(Okay, that’s a very simplified explanation, but we figure nobody here wants a full scientific thesis 😉)
Then, the moisture inside the wool slowly evaporates back into the air, creating a slight cooling effect. That’s how a sheep — or a human wearing wool — stays dry and comfortably regulated.
#HappyBabyHappyParent
BUT… if wool wicks away vapor, what about sweat that’s already liquid? 🤔
Good question! Here’s another bit of genius from nature. Wool has what’s called a wicking effect. This means that liquid sweat is drawn away from the skin, distributed throughout the wool, and then evaporates from there. So your baby stays pleasantly dry and doesn’t end up soaking in sweat.
Pretty clever, right? Nature thought of everything — and we get to enjoy the benefits.
Check out our wool favorites for your baby!
