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!