Helmets and Long hair

[OakLeaf]

When my hair was hip length I kept it in a single braid when I rode. In those days I was riding upward of 200 miles a week. The only problem it gave me was the weird tan line from riding in a bra top.

My reasons for cutting it short had nothing to do with sports. But I do love it short.

[oniasuka]

Every time I've put it in a braid it's caused problems. It is certainly less of a problem than before, but the knotting still happens because my hair likes to inch out and then knot.

I have super thin hair, though.

The buff sounds like a good idea, though.

[marni]

my 78 year old riding buddy miss Janet has waist length hair. She wears it in a center braid which she pulls through the back of her helmet and then clips in a double loop up near where it comes out of the helmet with a french (spring type) clip. She has to release the clip and pull her helmet off the braid if she takes her helmet off, but since we are both distance riders that usually only happens at the end of the ride.

[shootingstar]

my 78 year old riding buddy miss Janet has waist length hair

And being in Texan heat that's impressive. But then maybe long hair is all she's known for last few decades.

Hope onia, you get used to cycling with the hair..and go longer distances without worrying about your hair.

[lph]

I use a Buff cut in half and used as a headband to keep my hair back and smooth, it picks up sweat as an additional bonus. I don't have really long hair, though, long enough for a ponytail but fine and curly so it knots easily. I've tried growing it out but it just grows sideways :-P

[Blueberry]

No personal experience (I tried to grow mine out not long ago, and couldn't make it past chin length before it started driving me nuts!) - but I wonder if you might find inspiration here. The author appears to have long hair, and usually does 2 braids. Might be worth asking her opinion directly, as she does lots of long distance riding. Her blog is pretty amazing reading btw - lots of inspiration there

Good luck! Cut if if you want to - but I'm confident you can find some kind of solution if you don't want to.

[TrekDianna]

Short rides I just ponytail, but long rides or mountain biking it's either one or two braids. If I get tangles, conditioner usually takes care of that in the shower.