Keeping-hair-out-of-face question

[salsabike]

I am about to cut my hair by several inches. It'll be about chin level, maybe. I absolutely hate getting wisps of hair in my face when I ride, so I've kept it long for quite a while so I can pull it back in a ponytail. But I am all of a sudden totally tired of the length and care it requires, so want it shorter so I can just toss some gel in it and be done after I wash it.

Aside from headbands, I would appreciate any tips from people with hair this length on how they keep it out of their faces when they ride.

[bounceswoosh]

I just tuck it inside the helmet band and it stays put ... I may have relatively well-behaved hair, though.

[salsabike]

Yeah, mine is full of life, so definitely not well behaved.

[Trekhawk]

You could try a Dowrap
http://www.dowrap.com/
or a Buff.

I started wearing these (I have buffs and dowraps) when my hair was shorter and I found they kept it from blowing around my face. Now my hair is longer I still wear them as they stop sweat from getting in my eyes and if I have to take my helmet off in public places I don't scare as many people with my helmet hair.

[Fujichants]

Can you somehow tuck it all under one of those cycling caps (the ones that look like a swim cap). I can't imagine this to be comfortable though.

[Alex]

I love Wickie Wear stuff. It's cut a bit smaller than the unisex Headsweats stuff, so it fits my head better. It will keep the hair and sweat out of your eyes and looks pretty darn good when you take your helmet off, too. I'm a fan of the tie-back bandana style.

Alex

[Trekhawk]

I love Wickie Wear stuff. It's cut a bit smaller than the unisex Headsweats stuff, so it fits my head better. It will keep the hair and sweat out of your eyes and looks pretty darn good when you take your helmet off, too. I'm a fan of the tie-back bandana style.

Alex

Yep the Wickie Wear are the ones I like too.

[velogirl]

I just cut my very long hair this spring. It's a bit longer than chin-length now, and I like to put it up into two pigtails. The secret with very short hair is to use vinyl ponytail holders.

[NbyNW]

My hair seems to stay out of the way when I'm wearing a helmet.

For other kinds of exercise, I cut sleeves off of old T-shirts and use them as adjustable-width headbands. I guess it's sort of like a buff, but less material. Pretty much the only thing that has worked for me over the years, and on cold days it's an extra layer of insulation under my helmet without making my helmet too snug.

They've got "stay-in-place" headbands at Lucy, but they weren't strong or wide enough to keep my hair in place.

[shootingstar]

I can see what your problem could be..if chin-length. Maybe pin up your hair somehow??? Of course helmet might press down.

I have hair shorter than that....for past 2 decades. I prefer it cut over my ears. But my hair is naturally straight and grows fast and my problem occasionally is bangs..which I must curl with curling iron or it will fall into my eyes. In the end, I end up getting haircuts every 4-5 months.

Hair length and style is to me, a realistic consideration if one cycles regularily.

I wear lycra headbands only to keep my ears warms in cooler weahter. Nothing to do with my hair.

Otherwise I jam helmet on my hair, if hair is getting long over eyes, I shove it once or twice around inside helmet. Then later, try to look beautiful with brush in hand afterwards.

What I really don't like is hair that grows long and itches me around the nape of neck when I wear helmet plus the light standup collars of jersey, fleecy plus outer jacket. which what is happening right now....that means a haircut soon.

[jesvetmed]

I like to put it up into two pigtails.

I second that... my hair is shoulder-ish and layered, so doesn't make it to one ponytail in the back. But I can easily do one on each side, braided or just in ponytail. And they fit nicely behind my ears and under the helmet strap... no problems whatsoever!

And.. pigtails make you feel younger!

[Velobambina]

A buff works for me, long or short hair. Very versatile.

[malkin]

Pigtails are cute too!

[Hammer]

I find that I have to keep my mid back length hair in a tight double layered ponytail. If I haphazardly do a double pull through, then it flops around in the wind and blocks my view from my glasses mirror.

I was hoping to grow my hair long enough to chop and donate to locks of love. Even if I cut it chin length, I don't think it's long enough. While it is long, it won't grow longer. It just stays. Prenatal vitamins and all. So, who knows how long I'll keep it. I'm considering shoulder length with a few layers. Something easier to care for. But we'll see what I decide will be easiest for biking and running and low maintainance.

[7rider]

The only thing worse than helmet-head is Buff-head! I do use a Buff or Do-wrap for my short hair, but it requires that I wear it long past the ride, too, if I'm not at home right away.
Another thing I do when I don't wear anything under my helmet is tilt my head way back and comb the hair back with my fingers and tuck the hair behind my ears. I put the helmet on in that position, then straighten up and and adjust. I find that helps to keep the hair back and out of my face.