LBTC.....I know everybit about what you're talking about....and I had a hairdresser call my hair colour mousy brown! When I started growing it out it had no style, and the word mop head was appropriate....and I'm still learning new ways to tie it and so on. My favorite way to wear it for skiing is in a low pony tail, with 3 more elastics lied at equal distances to the end. I left it at it's colour, because it's so dry, that colouring it, destroys it.

I do two loop braids simply by splitting the hair in two so you'd be making two pony tails, but I braid each one and then tuck them under....then the Heidi name starts flying about! I find this the most comfortable way to wear my hair riding.....although it's just no good for when you're in a hurry.