hair in helmet, good or bad?

[J-Lu]

I’m venturing over here because no one does helmets like the hunter-jumper folks (meaning, I think you pay attention to fit and style better than many disciplines).

I have a question about helmet fit (specifically, show helmet fit). Do you buy your helmet to fit your head and then do something with your long hair around that, or do you purchase a helmet that fits with your hair up? I’ve been told that one should never purchase a helmet that fits with your hair - it should only fit your actual head (for safety reasons), and I’ve been told that a helmet fit to your head with your hair up (obviously sized larger than your head) is just as safe. What do you think?

Show helmets are expensive and I have long hair but it’s not amazingly thick. I’m happy to do a little bun thing off the back (I’m a dressage rider), but I’m wondering what you show hunters and show jumpers do. I suspect you all are more safety conscious than dressage riders because you jump.

Thanks!

[hunterrider23]

I have a helmet that fits when I have my hair up and one for when it’s down. The down helmet is, for me, a gpa and the up is a samshield, but you can always pick a cheaper helmet to be your schooling helmet. I have heard good things about some of the ovations and tipperaries. IRH also makes some that are nice and a little more show acceptable, though more expensive. OneK is also one that is show acceptable yet a little less expensive than more common brands.

[hunterrider23]

Also you can always order in Europe, since the standards won’t matter since you aren’t wearing it at a show! Honestly I’m pretty sure the Euro version of ASTM or whatever it is as just as good!

[lmlacross]

I have one helmet-- a GPA. It fits with my shoulder-length hair up. I wear a hair net with hunter hair over the ears and an elastic at the nape of my neck. Pony fits in the hairnet “pocket”, is turned up, flattened a bit, then hat goes on from the back. Same way every time, schooling or show.

[J-Lu]

Thanks!

I have an ovation schooling helmet that fits me well (trust me, I have tried on every schooling helmet under the sun). I school with my ponytail out the back and all is well. My last show helmet wasn’t certified and I want this one to be. I went to a tack shop the other day for fitting and the question came up about my hair. I was also pretty surprised at the prevailing price tag for show helmets these days. I’m only going to be able to purchase one!

So I wonder what people do about their show helmets. Thanks for the insight so far!

[J-Lu]

[QUOTE=hunterrider23;8267032]
I have a helmet that fits when I have my hair up and one for when it’s down. The down helmet is, for me, a gpa and the up is a samshield, but you can always pick a cheaper helmet to be your schooling helmet. I have heard good things about some of the ovations and tipperaries. IRH also makes some that are nice and a little more show acceptable, though more expensive. OneK is also one that is show acceptable yet a little less expensive than more common brands.[/QUOTE]

The Samshield fit my head great with hair down, but it was $580. I’m just not ready to go there at the moment. None of the COs fit my long oval head with the hair down, but I didn’t try sizes up with my hair up. I guess people are fine sizing their helmets with their hair up? That’s considered to be OK in the event of a fall?

[LoveJubal]

I only have one helmet and I always wear my hair up, so I try it on with my hair up. Safe or not, that’s the way it is…

[Calvincrowe]

I love my OneK helmet–good value (made by the Samshield folks) and it looks fantastic on. I have shoulder length, thick hair that I put in a low pony and then slide the helmet on back to front, if that makes sense. I buy my helmets with my hair the way I wear it every time I ride–pony up. I’ve found that even with my bike helmet, having my hair up doesn’t negatively effect the fit and protection.

[largo]

If I’m remembering right there was a thread on here, somewhat recently, with the question if it’s just as safe or not and the majority (if not all) said it doesn’t make any difference safety wise! I have 3 helmets (2 samshield and 1 co), 2 for hair up, one for hair down.

[kdow]

[QUOTE=largo;8267112]
If I’m remembering right there was a thread on here, somewhat recently, with the question if it’s just as safe or not and the majority (if not all) said it doesn’t make any difference safety wise! I have 3 helmets (2 samshield and 1 co), 2 for hair up, one for hair down.[/QUOTE]

Is that what the majority of riders think or is that what helmet companies or other safety experts said? Because those aren’t necessarily the same thing.

[Khadiiyo]

My hair is always up (I can’t even fathom riding with my hair down, gasp! Lol) so I only try on helmets with hair up. Personally, I think it should fit your head according to how you will be riding. If you plan on doing the bun, then do your hair and then try on helmets. The bun may effect the placement on your head, you never know until you try

[supershorty628]

I always ride with my hair up, so when I try helmets on, I do so with my hair the way I ride.

[Pennywell_Bay]

I have shoulder length, thick hair. I try my helmets on to fit how I will have it when I ride, which isn’t much of a difference. I pull my hair back into a low ponytail and flip the end up. Hairnet or hunter hair depends on if I am showing etc (gasp, I know).

I have found that lately I had my hair slightly layered because it is way too thick. It also made a difference in fighting with my hair when I ride.

I’d suggest buying for how you are going to ride, barring a Princess Leah hairstyle.

[Madeline]

Except for teenage snowboarders and small skiing children with clueless parents, is there any other helmet-wearing sport where the helmet is not fitted to the skull?

If only George Morris, Andre Dignelli, Missy Clark and a few others came out in favor of correctly fitted helmets, the problem would be resolved forever.

“Hunter Hair” is a relatively recent phenomenon. The only tradition is that hair should be neat and contained. Until helmets got good, that meant short hair or hairnets controlling the mane at the nape of the neck. That way your hat would stay on, more or less. With the advent of good helmets with functional harnesses, the hair went up into the oversized helmet and the new bubblehead “Only this look is correct” was born. And persists in the face of logic.

[teddygirl]

What the helmet companies say, and what works, is to try on helmets with the way you wear your hair when your ride. If you do hunter hair when you ride, that’s how you should fit your helmet. What doesn’t work is fitting the helmet with your hair a certain way and then riding with your hair in a different style

[comingback]

[QUOTE=J-Lu;8267065]
The Samshield fit my head great with hair down, but it was $580. I’m just not ready to go there at the moment. None of the COs fit my long oval head with the hair down, but I didn’t try sizes up with my hair up. I guess people are fine sizing their helmets with their hair up? That’s considered to be OK in the event of a fall?[/QUOTE]

While still a chunk of change, there is the shadow matte style that is $420.
https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/samshield-shadow-matt-helmet-9903

I bought my helmet and sized it with my hair up, and that is how I wear it with each ride. In fact, each store I’ve been too, they have given me hairnets to put my hair up while trying on the helmets, so I’ve always assumed it was not a safety issue to be fitted that way.

[Madeline]

Who knows more about helmet fit? The people who do the research, or the people in the shop who are trying to sell you a helmet that your trainer will approve? Researchers on helmet safety or your trainer?

[jhg140]

One other thing to note about the Samshields… as long as you are not on the “bubble” in terms of where your size falls based on the ranges each shell size fits, you could buy two liners, each a different size, and just swap out for shows and riding at home (if you like to school with your hair down).

I believe the Antares helmets also have the same shell size and liner system.

[hunterrider23]

And if the Samshield fit, I’ve hear OneK is made on the same shell! It’s less expensive and still show appropriate.

[comingback]

[QUOTE=Madeline;8267341]
Who knows more about helmet fit? The people who do the research, or the people in the shop who are trying to sell you a helmet that your trainer will approve? Researchers on helmet safety or your trainer?[/QUOTE]

Well I would hope the manufacturer, who has to meet the safety guidelines outlined by researchers. Here is the CEO of Charles Owen showing how to fit the helmet. It starts by saying you should try on the helmet with your hair as it will be when you ride. Go to 11:14 if you don’t want to watch the whole thing.