ElizabethThanks so much for your response! My husband (carrier) also has thick hair and his hat after a day of work is unbearable but I never thought about it being a cause for our daughter. Both of them have thick hair but our youngest - her hair has always stayed close on her head, instead of big curls like our oldest - so that may have been the difference.
Thanks again and I"m so glad that you found something that works!