long or short?

[Grog]

after all the good advice I have gotten, I think I'll just maybe get a loose perm, then I can wash and go after a ride.

I have the chance to have vaguely curly (if unruly!) hair to start with. Wash and go is what you want indeed!

[latelatebloomer]

I've had all lengths of 'dos and found that super-short OR long are the easiest. I feel most attractive with longer hair, so I'm sticking with that - usually in braids when I'm being active. And then I discovered that guys seem to dig the braids. I always get a lot of compliments on my "braid" days. I'm very happy with my DH, but a compliment from another source is always a big ego boost.

[CorsairMac]

Long here: down to my hinney and I wear it in a single braid in the winter (keeps the back of the neck warm plus I wear a balaclava) and a ponytail braid in the summer.

[snowtulip]

Pigtails are great! I had just above the shoulder hair for a while (all one length, no bangs) and I loved having pigtails sticking out of my helmet. I think they actually helped me ride because I felt spunky with them. I now have short hair again and it works great under the helmet, but it doesn't have the same spunk factor.

If you stay long, go with the braid like Corsair Mac, she has beautiful braid hair!

[roughingit]

Mine's two inches below bra strap length, and I just tie it in a pony or one long braid with an extra elastic at the top to keep strays from getting loose. Long hair is soooooo much easier to deal with than short! I have a genetic part (think seventies flowerchild hair here) and it's still visible even when my hair was less than an inch long!

[Mia]

Long hair definately seems the way to go. Can't wait to try the pigtails under my helmet and see if it makes me feel spunky! Also, never tried braids while riding, but that seems like a great option, too.

[LED_now]

I just shaved my head 2 months ago -- had psyched myself up for years, wanting to do it for years: had long mega-production (lol) rock'n'roll hair for years (entertainment industry job -- which I quit due to health issue & then discovered riding...).
It had always been ponytailed or 2 braids for riding. I'd recently expiremented w/various lengths, going shorter: to the shoulders, then chin-length (unh-unh), layered, bla bla bla never-ending saga, couldn't quite get the "me" back. But now with this:
I am thrilled with the result!
I feel gorgeous and it rocks harder than ever! lol
Not too mention no more coloring, detangling, dread-knot at the nape of the neck in winter, etc. etc. Too many reasons to list.
Hubby adores it. Lucky me, bonus.

[DeniseGoldberg]

I'm a short hair kind of gal - it gets cut every 4 weeks, and there are some months I wonder if a shorter time period would be better!

Here's a photo of my helmet head after a day of cycling in Hawaii back in 2003:

[singletrackmind]

Well, it's been butt-length most of my life but last year I donated 13" to Locks of Love. THAT was an adjustment! Sooo much lighter, easier to maintain, and the shampoo/conditioner savings! I still had enough for a short pony and that's how I wore it. All that and I still prefer long and I'm glad it's back. I'll take the heat, the tangles, the leaves and sticks just to have my hair. I wear it in about 5 ponys spaced the length of it unless I'm lazy, then it's just one.

[roughingit]

If it's any consolation to those who are graying, many of us younger longhairs think it looks really awesome to see someone with long gray or silvershot hair! I just don't see why on earth society says that women must cut and colour their hair once they reach midlife and beyond

[Mia]

You're right...have you ever seen Twister? The woman that plays the Aunt has beautiful long gray/silver hair. I color my hair because I just get bored with it and love to try new looks, have only found one gray hair so far.

Also, DeniseGoldberg, that hair is just too funny . Looks like you have tiny little mohawks sticking out of your head

[emily_in_nc]

Agreed, there is very pretty "silver" hair, and then there is drab mixed brown/gray ("salt-n-pepper") hair, which is what mine would look like if I didn't color it dark blonde. It will probably be lovely someday when it's all white, but it's going to be a long time getting there. I got my first gray hair at age 25, am 44 now, and still have plenty of brown mixed in (about 50/50). It's just not pretty hair and does make me look older if I don't color it. I don't feel compelled to do so by society, but only because I like the way I look without my salt-n-pepper hair much better!

Emily

[crazycanuck]

Hey there,

I have longish hair and got tired of having sweat from my helmet run onto my glasses and fog them up just as i was doing some sweet downhill run.

Anywho, i found a headbandy thing made by BUFF...no clue if they're sold overseas but man they're awesome...

C

[Raindrop]

I'm a short hair all the way. When I ride I do get some interesting "lifts" from my helmet, but I slap a ballcap on as soon as I'm done.

In my day to day life, I teach Spinning classes ( 7 a week) and I have to wear a headband cause I sweat like a very sweaty pig, plus I do personal training in between classes. Alll-in-all I just sweat...so short hair works for me. If I had better bone structure I would consider the bald look. But, I stick with short hair for now.

P.S. I enjoy my short hair...right now it's brown with blond and purple highlights. If it's going to be short...it HAS to be fun!

[Mia]

brown and purple.. ...hmmm....sounds interesting, very spunky! No way where I work would they let me get away with something like that! There is a woman I work with that let her daughters get pink highlights in their blonde hair...her inlaws freaked . I thought I had decided to leave it long.....now that head band thing that crazycanuck mentioned sounds pretty good. I don't bike to work or anywhere that I can't take a shower after anyway. I probably won't decide until ten minutes before I sit in the chair! I still have two weeks to make a decision. I have had about every length and color (not purple though ) and I like short, I was just worried about it getting in the way for bicycling.
Thank-you everybody for all your input.