Hair styles

[alison_in_oh]

OK, next thing I'm thinking I'd better get under control before the season starts is my hair. I've never had an "active" hairstyle that I really loved, so I thought I'd poll the peanut gallery.

Generally in the summer I keep my hair long enough to pull back into a low ponytail under my helmet, or a rough french braid when it gets a little longer. This is OK, I guess, but there are always escaped wisps of hair annoying the heck out of me, and it can get hot. What I'd really love is a short style, but hubby doesn't want me to go boy-short, anything else would get in my eyes, and anyway growout would be even more of a pain than the wispies.

How do *you* wear your hair? Is there a clip out there that would anchor the wispies without causing a pressure point under my helmet and/or a helmet that would let me wear my ponytail a little higher? I've had my current one for five years so I'm about due for a new one anyway. Anybody have a favorite hair elastic that won't slip or pull? I generally wear fabric-covered scrunchies but they definitely slip (I have had more than one kind motorist roll down a window to point out to me that my scrunchie fell to the ground when I stopped!). Other elastics I've tried either pull or break. How about braid techniques, any favorites?

C'mon, magic hair solution, LOL!

[Irulan]

boy short. Most of the time I don't even comb it, unless I wake up in an "elvis". Wash-n-go is what I call it.It is sooooo easy! Once in a while I miss being able to put it up and use combs and things. I had long for many years but cut it off when I had babies. My hubby whined a little but too bad, it's my head and not his. I never hassle him about his season beard, and we get along just fine.

irulan

[Jo-n-NY]

I also didn't want boy short so I went for layers. The sides are angled so nothing gets in my face, but I do have bangs as I have had my whole life. It is long enough that I have hair down my neck but because it is layered and not thick in that area I put that little bit in a pony tail with those little elastic hair ties and tuck it up my helmet because I can't stand anythin on my neck when I am riding. I also do the same when on my trainer, but without the helmet and just leave the little pony tail.

Just one idea for you. I guess it depends if you can wear layers or not.

[Veronica]

Pony tail for me . I have to get it in just the right spot though - either really high or really low, otherwise my chin strap bugs me.

There are helmets out there with pony tail ports now. My next one may have one of those.

V.

[bounceswoosh]

How do *you* wear your hair?

Short. I had long hair all my life until I was maybe 18 or 19. I got sick of having my ponytail wrap around my neck and choke me whenever I did a spinning maneuver (in martial arts).

I went from chin-length to boy-short and back to almost chin-length again. My long-suffering hair stylist has to deal with directives like, "I'm never going to use any styling products, so it has to look good straight out of the shower. It has to be long enough to tuck behind my ears so it doesn't get into my eyes. Oh, and I don't like bangs."

With a bike helmet, you can typically tuck all of your hair under the helmet. If your hair still gets in your face, a bandana may help; that's what I use under my hockey helmet, and I've seen some on TE that don't have ties:

http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=13842

(Haven't tried them myself, yet, though)

[DeniseGoldberg]

Short, short, short for me! I can't be bothered with styling or even drying my hair, so it has been short for years. I get an interesting bicycle-helmet look where my hair forms ridges from the vents on my helmet. Here's a shot of my head after a happy day's riding on a tour of Hawaii:

[fixedgeargirl]

I've had long and straight, wore it in two braids, one on each side. This helped control the wispies, as it gets the starting point of the braid closer to the front of your head. I was never able to French braid, anyway! Eliminates ponytail lumps which interfere with helmet fit. Also helps with the lost/loose elastic dilemma, you wind those little ones around the bottom and they stay.

Ah, but those days are gone. I had my hair nearly as short as Denise and got tons of compliments. That cut I could let go for 8-10 weeks before it started to make me crazy (too long around my ears, bangs in my eyes). In those last few weeks I lost the fun, spiky aspect that got me the compliments, but it was still no fuss. Then I got a student hair cut at an Aveda salon. She had a certain cut she had to do as part of her curriculum, which wasn't what I would have chosen. I was pleasantly surprised! It's longer, face-framing, feminine, though it's still short. I run a little product through to separate strands, finger comb and I'm done. Fits great under a helmet, too!

[alison_in_oh]

My long-suffering hair stylist has to deal with directives like, "I'm never going to use any styling products, so it has to look good straight out of the shower. It has to be long enough to tuck behind my ears so it doesn't get into my eyes. Oh, and I don't like bangs."

Hahahah, that's totally me! I also add the "I'm not going to come back for a minimum of 4-6 months so it should grow out nicely!"

[CorsairMac]

Very Very long. My hair reaches below the small of my back. I wear it in a single braid down the back most days - no french braid as I don't want the ridge under my helmet. I also use elastic bands with no metal (cuts down on the split ends). Scrunchies won't hold my hair unless I wrap the scrunchie reallll tight. I don't have problems with humidity here like most of you do so the heat in the summer isn't an issue for me. Fly-away also isn't much of an issue, low humidity. I have had long, short and military buzz!! I Hate having anything that requires a lot of maintainence re: visits to the salon more than twice a year! So I've just let mine grow. My helmet does allow a ponytail which I've done a few times - braided the ponytail and slid it throught the "keepers" in the back but I thought it felt "restrictive" and don't do that anymore. If you dampen your hair when you braid it and then put your helmet on while the hair is still damp, it should keep the wisps inside the helmet. Plus it'll help keep your head cooler!

[MightyMitre]

I had long and very straight for ever, then went for a boy short cut which was fun but actually turned out to be more work than long. At least with long I can scape it all back into a ponytail and it looks ok, where as my short style required product and maintainance to look good.

As far as I'm concerned less is more when it comes to the upkeep of a hairstyle untill January .....when I decided to get my hair permed!!!! It's now shoulder length and curley and I LOVE it - even though it's not exactly low maintainance. I love my curls.

I also find scrunchies just don't hold and I usually wear a bandana or cycling cap under my helmet to keep all the little bits in.

[bikerchick68]

mine is midlength... long enough to ponytail but it annoys me when I ride to have it that way so I just tuck it behind my ears and go!

I have realized that no matter what I do I end up with "Hair by Helmet" anyway

[LBTC]

Long long long hair....past the small of my back. I trim my own bangs (they have to be very short for biking or they get in my eyes) and almost never see a hair dresser as they are toooooo expensive! would rather spend the cash on bike stuff!

My favourite riding hair style is two long braids. Eliminates the flyaways, the squirrels nest, and the bump at the back of the helmet. it's actually become my trademark! giggle. I must admit, though, that in kickboxing this hairstyle is actually disorienting if we do a lot of spinning work. I just learned how to do that bun thing with a round holder doodad and a stick....that worked very well for kickboxing!

helmet head...hmmmmmm...I bought a cool hat to put on after rides. usually I don't care tho'

oh, yes, and ponytail elastics with no metal. yes, they all wear out and break eventually...

has anyone tried the team estrogen ponytail holders? they look like something I might order next time I buy something here!

Namaste,
~T~

[CorsairMac]

TE Ponytail holders??.......going to have to check that out. I guess I never thought of TE being such a "complete" shop!

[administrator]

I believe LBTC is referring to Kenzie headgear, found here

They are made from a fabric-covered neoprene material and are designed to hold hair in place during high-movement physical activities like soccer, volleyball, etc.

[SnowMouse]

Having only brothers until I was 13, my Mum made things easy and we all had short hair, so as soon as I got a chance to grow it, it GREW! I've had long hair since and I always either braid it, french braid or go for two looped braids (I prefer this as I haven't got the weight on the back of my neck, I have thick hair from my Dutch father). I've been thinking about cutting it....but it's still just a thought....though reading this prompts me to leave it as I find hair in my face very annoying! I'd imagine a simple lycra headband would often do the trick to easy control though?