I recently decided it was time to break down and replace my helmet. I’ve had a GPA Titium for a little over five years now, and I know it’s suggested that helmets have a shelf life. This particular helmet has also become uncomfortable, and I end up with a headache and a bright red line across my forehead if I wear it too long. So alas, time to start anew.
The issue I’ve run into is my hair. Admittedly…I have super long and fairly thick hair. It almost reaches my hip bones currently…and for reference I’m very tall at 5’11 and have a fairly long torso. When I went to my favorite tack shop this past weekend I asked to try on a Samshield, and nothing they could do could make the helmet fit with all my hair up in it. When I did my hair in a hair net like I normally do when I ride, the helmet perched way up off my head. The fitter explained that merely going up in size to fit my hair would compromise the safety of the helmet, and it needed to most importantly fit my head. She said I should wear a 7 3/8…which is the same size as my current helmet. Although my GPA is tight, it doesn’t perch if I get the hair all in there right and as flat as possible.
So my question is…do I chop my hair? Should I go back and try the Speed Air (which is what my heart is coveting anyways but…$$$)? Is there some magical trick to make it work? I know I’m not the only rider out there with super long locks. I’m a new riding instructor, and will have my hair up in my helmet every time I ride, almost every day, so being comfortable and safe is very important…but I also LOVE my hair. HELP! 
I you have to have your hair up every day, I’d consider cutting it. It you can make do with a braid or pony tail on most days, you may be able to purchase a second larger helmet to accommodate your hair on show days. This will likely require blow drying your hair, then flat ironing it so that it takes up as little room as possible. Even then, you may have to get creative by braiding half of it around the outside of your head just under where your helmet would sit (but out of sight), and bringing the other half over your ears, then up onto your head.
On a related note, I have a perfectly good CO helmet that fit ok when I bought it but now it is loose. I don’t know whether it is beacuse the foam in the rim has compressed somewhat or if it’s because I have changed my hairstyle.
Anyway, if a helmet is slightly loose is there anything I can do about it, or do I basically have to junk it?
Try on different helmets/styles. I know many, many people with long hair and they’ve all found comfortable, properly fitting helmets.
The other option you can consider, is putting your hair in a ponytail and - horrors, I know - not putting it all up under your helmet, HP style.
The Helmet Nazis will suggest something to the effect that this is the only “safe” way to wear a helmet (and that putting any hair up under a helmet will compromise safety.) I do not actually agree with that belief personally - and until we have a way to actually TEST under those conditions, that is all it is: a belief. But it’s an option and one that is chosen by a lot of top riders now, particularly jumper riders and europeans.
If you go with the suggestions to just do a neat braid/ponytail at home and then put your hair up for shows, I would suggest getting a helmet with a removable liner, such as Samshield or Antares. That way, you can wear your hair down with the smaller sized liner, and then swap out for a larger liner for days you wear your hair up. A bit cheaper than buying two different sized helmets, and safer than comprising fit based on hair style.
[QUOTE=jhg140;8176802]
If you go with the suggestions to just do a neat braid/ponytail at home and then put your hair up for shows, I would suggest getting a helmet with a removable liner, such as Samshield or Antares. That way, you can wear your hair down with the smaller sized liner, and then swap out for a larger liner for days you wear your hair up. A bit cheaper than buying two different sized helmets, and safer than comprising fit based on hair style.[/QUOTE]
This. I suggest getting a helmet with a removable liner. That’s what I did. I fit my helmet with my hair UP with hair net, like I usually wear it. I did buy a brand that I could remove the liner, one for funk and two for size.
I’d see what else you can try on if you’re dead set against cutting any of your length off. I’m much shorter but also have thick hair down to my butt…so I feel your pain lol had my heart set on a onek but no matter what they just won’t work with my hair+head shape 
GPAs tend to work the best for me, and the Pegasus brand works well too. Also, I’ve gotten my stylist to do some layers and thinning in my hair to help keep the thickness under control!
[QUOTE=SnicklefritzG;8176776]
On a related note, I have a perfectly good CO helmet that fit ok when I bought it but now it is loose. I don’t know whether it is beacuse the foam in the rim has compressed somewhat or if it’s because I have changed my hairstyle.
Anyway, if a helmet is slightly loose is there anything I can do about it, or do I basically have to junk it?[/QUOTE]
I had a couple of Charles Owens in the last 10 years - two different models. The foam in both of them compressed over a period of time and I replaced them at the three year mark because of it. When I was shopping again two years ago, I tried a size smaller and it was snug but wearable but the foam would have compressed in it as well. It’s a very common problem with the CO’s and one reason why I didn’t go with CO again.
I did try the small inserts that CO makes to help with helmet fit but they really didn’t do anything for my situation.
Does the Samshield fit without your hair? If it’s the correct shape for your head and you simply can’t get your hair under it, you might just have too much hair. It is possible to shove a ton of hair under your helmet, but 5’11" to your hips is a lot. If the Samshield isn’t comfortable even without your hair, it might just be the wrong shape.
Speaking as someone who also has thick hair…if you want to put it up in a helmet, cut it. Layers and thinning will help, but you’ve got to lop it off a lot of length if you want to put it up in a helmet.
People with regular hair don’t understand what it means to have thick hair. There is no way I could grow my hair halfway down my back and get it up in a helmet–any helmet and any size–without completely compromising fit and safety. I’m guessing you are in the same boat. I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I’ve been there.
The good news is that 1) riding/showing is way more fun than having great hair, 2) you can lop your tresses off and donate to Locks of Love and feel great about that, and 3) shorter hair is more in fashion now anyway. 
I have thick long hair and use a no knot hairnet with my CO. It has made a tremendous difference in fitting with so much hair!!
I’d go for the less-fashionable choice of not putting all your hair in your helmet than compromising safety with it in there.
I have hair down six inches above my waist currently. I’m 5’11 as well so I understand your pain.
I’ve actually had my hair down to my butt within the past five years as well. I have always had long hair and I showed the AA hunters as a child. You don’t have to cut your hair to fit it in your helmet.
First I would braid my hair. Then I would loop the bottom under and tie with a pony tail holder. Hair net one would go over this. Then flip under your helmet. Hairnet two at this point to keep all in shape. Add helmet. I haven’t used the no knot hairnets but I have quite a few friends who swear by them.
Also you could try wearing it outside your helmet for everyday riding. I event now so I sometimes wear it out of my helmet. I braid it, apply hairnet. Then I loop into bun and add hairnet. I do this figure eight tucking pattern to further secure the bun. Then I add another hair tie. It takes me a minute or two to do now.
Lots of trial and error. I will not ride with my hair loose. I think it looks unprofessional and I was taught to always wear a hair net.
I had the same problem. So long as the nub of my ponytail (where the rubber band is) is outside my helmet, my hair lays fine with the Samshield.
I’ve had the same problem and have yet to find a solution. Back when my hair was the longest, I couldn’t get it up under a helmet, so I braided it and then put it in a bun as low as I could. But, I’m an eventer so i could get away with it.
Since then I’ve cut off 10+inches and am on the hunt for a new helmet. Back in the day I couldn’t get a CO to fit at all. I’m curious now if it will fit without all the hair. But, I can say that especially with long thick hair, the shape of the helmet makes all the difference. Try a few different ones out, you may be surprised to find that what didn’t work with the Samshield may work with a CO or vice versa.
[QUOTE=Kimstar;8176828]
I had a couple of Charles Owens in the last 10 years - two different models. The foam in both of them compressed over a period of time and I replaced them at the three year mark because of it. When I was shopping again two years ago, I tried a size smaller and it was snug but wearable but the foam would have compressed in it as well. It’s a very common problem with the CO’s and one reason why I didn’t go with CO again.
I did try the small inserts that CO makes to help with helmet fit but they really didn’t do anything for my situation.[/QUOTE]
Interesting about your experience with CO. I’ve bought CO because that’s what seems to fit my head the best, irrespective of price.
Did you find that the foam compressed to a lesser extent with other brands?
[QUOTE=arapaloosa_lady;8177361]
I’d go for the less-fashionable choice of not putting all your hair in your helmet than compromising safety with it in there.[/QUOTE]
This. Try different styles to find one that you feel looks professional enough without cramming all the hair under the helmet - if you’re creative with braids and so on I imagine it’s possible to do something where even though the hair isn’t ALL up under the helmet, it isn’t all hanging down and flopping around, either.
I used to have thick slippery hair that was hip length and the same thickness all the way down (no fairy tale wispy ends) and I cannot think of a way where I could have had all that hair piled up under a helmet without feeling like the helmet was just not going to be properly safe and secure if I came off - too much risk of hair slipping against hair and letting the helmet shift, that kind of thing. Some kind of braiding approach that had some of the hair tucked up under but some of it basically fastened right up against the helmet but NOT under it seems like it would work much better.
(Like maybe put the stuff on the top of your head up under the way you normally would, kind of flattened out, and then plunk a helmet on top of that, and then experiment with braiding and pinning up what’s left to distribute it neatly as a sort of ‘crown’ type thing at the bottom edge of the helmet? Once you find something you think might work then you can test it by doing it without the helmet and adding the hairnet and so on - I feel like something decently neat and tidy and professional should be possible, as long as you’re willing to work on your braiding skills and MAYBE get a little bit of bulk taken out of your hair.)
(If you go for having your hair thinned at all I’d probably do it underneath at the back primarily, if you want to keep really long looking hair the rest of the time. With my hair, probably what would’ve worked best is if the hairdresser sectioned off maybe 1/4 of the hair up from my hairline at my neck, left that alone, thinned above that, and then left the top/outermost layers alone. That way the thinned bits would be hidden pretty thoroughly in the general mass of hair, even when I wanted to have my hair up in a braid or ponytail. No short growing out spikey pieces sticking out every which way. )
All of this said - if you’ve grown your hair that long, presumably you care about the health of it. Do be aware that some people find that pinning/pulling hair back tightly in the same way on a regular basis causes hair loss, usually along the hairline. (Like gymnasts and ballet dancers, for example.) So that is something to keep in mind when considering what you’re willing to do to keep the length, and something to keep an eye out for if you’re pinning your hair up tightly regularly.
[QUOTE=SnicklefritzG;8183832]
Interesting about your experience with CO. I’ve bought CO because that’s what seems to fit my head the best, irrespective of price.
Did you find that the foam compressed to a lesser extent with other brands?[/QUOTE]
If you have your helmet fitted by a CO rep, they tell you that this is supposed to happen. Some of the foam is meant to compress, to give you a truly custom fit to your exact head shape. A fitter will have you buy the size that makes the helmet very snug, but not giving you headaches, so that in a few weeks time, it will be a perfect custom fit. Many people don’t understand this and buy the helmet that fits but not very tightly in the tack store, and then it is too loose when the padding conforms to your head as it is designed to do.
This is my exact experience with a CO rep. I would never have bought the helmet she fitted for me because it felt too tight initially. However, after wearing it around the store for 10 minutes, I was convinced. It was the most comfortable and best fitting helmet I’d ever owned.
[QUOTE=Lucassb;8176785]
Try on different helmets/styles. I know many, many people with long hair and they’ve all found comfortable, properly fitting helmets.
The other option you can consider, is putting your hair in a ponytail and - horrors, I know - not putting it all up under your helmet, HP style.
The Helmet Nazis will suggest something to the effect that this is the only “safe” way to wear a helmet (and that putting any hair up under a helmet will compromise safety.) I do not actually agree with that belief personally - and until we have a way to actually TEST under those conditions, that is all it is: a belief. But it’s an option and one that is chosen by a lot of top riders now, particularly jumper riders and europeans.[/QUOTE]
Actually, the fitter is right. Putting your hair up under a helmet compromises where the bulk of the helmet sits across the skull - namely, usually perches the base of the helmet one inch or more upwards and unbalances the helmet… if you have trouble imagining this, imagine how an uneven riser pad would affect the horse’s back and upset the balance of the saddle. Putting your hair up in a helmet that is fitted to you based on your hair and not your skull means there is more uneven space along the inside of the helmet - you want snug and practically no space at all for best protection and less potential jarring movement on impact.
I never understood why people fit helmets with their hair up in it. Unless you are paying to protect your hair and not your skull/brain, and in that case I say go for it, completely intelligent decision.
