long or short?

[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.

[Mia]

WOW Shaved...how very brave of you! I am a big hair person, love hair! I love to cut it, color it, comb it, you name it. I cut my Husbands hair and his Grandpas' and some of our friends. I always said if I ever quit my current job (dealing black-jack at a casino) I would go to cosmetology school to learn to do hair professionally. I watched G.I. Jane on HBO last week though, and thought how liberating it would feel to be able to shave your head. Demi Moore looks great that way, I'm pretty sure I would not. KUDO'S to you for being so brave.

[kestrel]

Wow. Shaved! You must have a gorgeous noggin'!

Me on the other hand.. Would not be appropriate.

I like my hair below shoulder length (everything else looks sad) so I generally ride with it in a ponytail, single braid, or braided pigtails. Or twist my hair like the strands of a rope (looks very nice!) Its all tied very low. If I remember, I dampen my hair so I can do a tighter braid. I've done the roll my hair up in a bun and secure it with a ponytail holder, but that never stays. Besides, I had that the single time I've gotten harassed while cycling, so bad associations there (and with little red sedans).

I'm not sure if I could pull off the Pippi Longstocking look with my braids flying out of my helmet! That'd be AWESOME to see!

Now I'm almost tempted to get those fancy ponytail holders so I can have ribbons on the ends of my braids. Can you imagine? Hahaha..

[LED_now]

"gorgeous noggin'" ha ha, my husband's expression ... a nice surprise to me!
hee hee hee

One last word: Something to remember if any of y'all decide to try it one day:

SUNSCREEN !!

[Blueberry]

KUDO'S to you for being so brave.

I'm definately in the short camp - long enough to look OK in an office - barely! Works great for riding, though I do get interesting helmet hair. Apparently the hair gets sucked up through the vents when riding because I end up with hair ridges at the end of the ride. It's rather amusing.

That said, there's a big diff between short hair and no hair - wow! I can't imagine!

I did the long hair thing for a while, and it just got so icky when riding I couldn't stand it. I would wash it and pull it back wet - I never gave it a chance to dry! ICK! Plus the extra 15 minutes sleep in the AM is nice for those of us who aren't AM people!

I do agree with others that in between hair doesn't work so great. It's got to be long enough to pull back or short enough that you really don't have to worry about it. Now if I could just find someone to trim it for a more reasonable price (it seems the shorter it is, the more often I have to visit my stylist), I'd be in great shape

I could imaging vent tan lines - that would be interesting Guess sunscreen is a big deal!

[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.

[emily_in_nc]

I would go long again and do the ponytail or braid thing if I didn't have to color my graying hair. I color it myself, and it's a pain to do with longer hair (have to buy two kits), and it tends to get more damaged and drier the longer it is. So, despite the fact that I like long hair and think I look good in it, I have decided that due to the coloring and my frequent-cycling lifestyle, short works best for me. It's so quick to blow-dry before work too!

I'm a lot like Mia, though, I go back and forth, and before each trip to the stylist I seem to have a big internal debate about growing it out vs. getting it cut shorter vs. just getting a trim. I usually don't decide til the day of my appointment, and so much can depend on just how it decides to look that one day!

Emily

[Trekhawk]

"gorgeous noggin'" ha ha, my husband's expression ... a nice surprise to me!
hee hee hee
One last word: Something to remember if any of y'all decide to try it one day:
SUNSCREEN !!

LED - my husband is thinning on top and he wears a thing called a DoWrap under his helmet not only does it stop his head getting burnt but it helps with sweat. Its a nice thin material (100 % coolmax) he says he doesnt even notice he has it on under his helmet. Looks good as well when you take your helmet off. Could also be good for hiding that helmet hair when stopping on a ride for a bite etc.