Hairstyles that work with helmet hair??

[Linda]

Im retired now (a young 61) and riding and jumping all the time. When I was working, I would ride with my trainer in the morning before work (6:00 AM ) then swing by the gym at work, get cleaned up, and ready for the rest of my work day.

Now, however, I ride several horses during the day - some in the morning, some after lunch etc. I wear a helmet every time I ride so I have a “not so lovely” case of helmet hair all day long.

I have shoulder length hair which i think is part of the problem - it is heavy so tends to get flat which is NOT attractive. Im thinking of cutting it to chin length as that “might” make it less likely to get the “slicked down” flat hair look.

Im looking for ideas. My husband likes the shoulder length hair - but Im thinking there just has to be something better than the flattened hair look that results from wearing a helmet. (and no Im not giving up the helmet.)

Since Im riding different horses during the day, Im not planning on much styling between rides. Need ideas on something that would not look so flat after I take my helmet off. Doing a minor “fluff” of the hair would work. Just not a major restyle…

Going to see my hairstylist this week - so looking for ideas!

[Wicky]

Jean Luc Picard. That is the only look I think that doesn’t get spoiled by a helmet and a hard ride! Sometimes I will wet my hair and try to fluff it (it is 4-6 inches long, layered) but that doesn’t work well in the winter. No one likes the icicle look!

[Appsolute]

I had long hair and bangs - I would just put my hair in a pony tail after riding, comb out my bangs and they would dry (because I always get sweaty riding!) just fine.

Then I donated my hair - the hairdresser got a little scissor happy, my “shoulder length” request ended up chin length - and I find it HORRIBLE for riding (I HATE it! Can’t wait till it grows more).

Its too short to tie back in any manner - so its a mess under my helmet. When I remove my helmet, its sweaty, messy, and can’t be contained. I brush it out and it dries all funny (only way to style it is fresh from the shower and blow dry it). My hair is thick in volume, but fine in texture. TOTALLY flat after riding.

Now it is long enough for two tiny pony tails at each side of the base of my neck. At least now its not all messy under my helmet - but my “pig tails” look ridiculous, and are sweaty and gross when I am done riding.

For me at least, chin length was NOT the answer.

[541hunter]

My advice is some dry shampoo. I spray it on my roots, flip my head upside down, and fluff, then brush out with a boar hair brush. I have long hair (goes to about mid-back) and it definitely looks flat and funny when it gets a little greasy. The dry shampoo generally perks it right back up after a ride.

I also can’t emphasize my love of a nice low ponytail enough. Works well for post-ride hair.

[demidq]

Baseball cap then a shower and blow dry when you get home. There is NO haircut that looks good after a day of riding with a helmet!

[pony_baloney]

Be brave and get a pixie cut. A good one, where it’s texturized and razor cut. All you’ll have to do is wet your fingers a bit, rub your scalp, and finger style.

[shiloh]

I second the pixie cut. I had one and when I got done riding I took off helmet, maybe sprayed a bit of water on my hair, flipped my head upside down, fluffed, re-arranged and et voila - back in style again.

It’s either that or long hair in a ponytail.

[Linda]

Wellllll I have thought about a pixie cut. Had one in the 60s and thought it was just a “so so” look for me…although compared to my flat slick hair, its probably better!
Since Im retired, I “could” come home and blow it dry “upside down” if it were shorter than it is now.,hmmm
May give that a shot before going to the pixie.

Jean luc picard is bald! Dont think Im going there! Yikes! Hahaha

[UrbanHennery]

Pixie cut - you can wear a ball cap, a stocking cap, a helmet, whatever and then take it off, apply a touch of water with your fingers, and go on your way.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/notsourbanhennery/15043572873/sizes/z/

[Crash_Helmet]

I have medium long hair and ride multiples–here’s what I do. Take off helmet, take out low ponytail, bend over and fluff hair at roots. While still upside down, put elastic back in hair–this time time as a ponytail on the top of my head. Pull ponytail through twice and then do the halfway through move on third loop. It looks like a messy top knot–something like this: http://hairstyles-galaxy.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/sipausa_11010461.jpg (yes, I’m Gwen Stefani!).

[Linda]

Ayyyy ,think that pixie cut is just too short for me…something a little longer maybe??

[UrbanHennery]

You can go longer - but there’s a very fine line between short enough that it won’t get the helmet hair and so long that it will just look squashed all the time. At some point a pony tail is a better option - and I rocked that for years before I had it all whacked off again.

[stb]

My hair is not as short as the pixie shown above, but it is short and layered. I can take off a helmet and fluff my hair with my fingers and it recovers pretty well. It’s awesome. I had to experiment a bit to find the perfect helmet length. Too short and I look like a pinhead, too long and it just flattens out and won’t recover.

[raff]

I do exactly what Crash Helmet does.

[pony_baloney]

A pixie cut can have bangs—full ones, wispy ones, or longer ones. Sometimes it’s what’s around your face that matters more than what’s on your head.

I always laugh when someone with long hair says they can’t wear short hair, and most of the time they have it pulled back in a ponytail. You’d look pretty much the same, only better, with some fullness and, oh, some style?

[Linda]

Style - yes!
If I pull it in a pony tail, its not great with the way my face looks.

Will try a “slightly” shorter cut and hopefully fluffing it up and blow drying it after riding will help.

I do wear basball caps to hide the helmet hair, but Id really like to find a cut that works so I can avoid that…its just not a great look other than at the barn…sigh

[triple]

[QUOTE=pony baloney;7910518]
Be brave and get a pixie cut. A good one, where it’s texturized and razor cut. All you’ll have to do is wet your fingers a bit, rub your scalp, and finger style.[/QUOTE]

Nooooooo!!!

Erk - I know they’re in, but I hate the idea of people lopping off their hair!

I have looong hair (as in at least 3 or 4 inches below my shoulder blades) and I would recommend firstly having a well ventilated hat - the difference it makes is huge. The difference between riding in the hat I have now vs my old one is huge - on freshly washed hair (i.e. that morning or the previous evening), flipping my head upside down and fluffing it a bit makes it look as though I hadn’t ridden.

Anything later than that, ponytail is key - if you have to run somewhere immediately and don’t want to be sporting the messy very high ponytail, I honestly find with longer hair you can just slick it back into a mid height pony and it looks quite respectable - if it’s gone a bit lank from riding, twist the ponytail ends so that it kind of ends up in a large barrel roll at the bottom. Practically high fashion, darling.

Having had shorter hair (and I mean short - pixie length at the back that took years to grow out) I think the shorter you go the harder it is to make it look normal after riding as shorter hair requires a more styled, kept look. Also, PITA the ass when actually ON a horse - my ponytail can be tied down low and tucked down the back of my jacket out of the way. Less so the wisps of hair that used to disengage themselves when it was short and tickle my neck and slip out the sides of the helmet.

[Jo]

[QUOTE=pony baloney;7910518]
Be brave and get a pixie cut. A good one, where it’s texturized and razor cut. All you’ll have to do is wet your fingers a bit, rub your scalp, and finger style.[/QUOTE]

This. I chopped my hair off (about 8") a few months ago and have not regretted it for a second. I never thought I would like having short short hair but it is the best decision EVER.

[BigBlackDog]

I have a super short bob, ear lobe length and really like it! When schooling I don’t have to use a hair net and it’s nice and cool in the summer. When I get off I just finger fluff and are ready to go!

Appsolute, have you tried a “cone head” hair net? Sounds so dumb but that’s we call them at my barn. They’re actually called the No Knot Hair Net. They’re awesome for people with short hair because you don’t have to have a pony tail. They’re just awesome all around actually.

[pony_baloney]

[QUOTE=Linda;7912693]
Style - yes!
If I pull it in a pony tail, its not great with the way my face looks.[/QUOTE]

With short/pixie hair, you can have chunky pieces or wisps pulled onto your face, so unlike a ponytail where it’s all pulled back. A cute little longer bit in front of your ears and your face is nicely framed.

If you’re considering it, bring pictures with you to show what you like and don’t like. So much easier for the stylist.

Short hair really makes your eyes show; you can do minimal makeup with just mascara, filled-in brows and tinted lip gloss and you’ll look great in a casual way. I spend more time on my horse’s hair than I do on my own!