I recently got my hair cut pretty darn short from almost to my elbow long. As a test, I tried to put it in the bun I was doing before with the net over it, but the net was not very full so just hung down my neck a bit oddly. Looking for suggestions from other ladies with short hair on what to do with my hair for showing.
I french braid my hair and fold the end of the braid (or the 2 braids) to its “inside” like I do my horse’s mane. 
You could do a little pony tail or do “hunter” hair.
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I keep mine more or less chin-length - if it’s on the longer side I make two stubby french braids, pull a hairnet on (I use the no-knot kind), cross the tails and tuck under the hem, twist any excess net, and pop on my helmet. Shorter it’s just pull on the hair net so I get a sort of pouch of hair at the base of my head, twist the excess net and tuck into the pouch. I have a lower harness so you can’t see the twist. It’s not cute but it works and with a helmet no one can see. Even with a baseball cap on it’s not too bad.
It’s not fully hunter hair but it’s the same silhouette (without anything over the ears, but I always found that silly.)
Cut it shorter. Put helmet on. Done.
When I had a bob and rode western pleasure, I would pull the sides up as described above, to keep them under my hat, Under a helmet, I would taking the remaining hair at the back and pull it back into a small pony or bun, whatever looks tidy. I think as long as the hair hanging out is behind your ears and above your collar it will look fine.
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I have hair just to the collar bone. I use a No Knot hair net (basically a tube), like lots of H/J people do. It looks nice and tidy and I don’t have a bun to push my helmet up and down onto my eyes. But the best part is that I yank it off after I ride and it does not give helmet hair or pony tail hair, etc. Love it!
What I did with shoulder-length (and very thin) hair:
Pulled the hair into a “ponytail” if it was longer, into two “pigtails” near the nape of neck if I’d just had it cut. Attached a fake bun with those little jaw clips. Amazon has lots of fake buns available. Even the “messy bun” types work. Just tuck in the loose ends. Put a hairnet over your noggin, covering the fake bun, too. Clip on a bun cover and you’re good to go.
No one could tell it was all fake with the helmet on.
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Or as others have suggested, go even shorter! I don’t mess with hair at shows any longer. Even my horse has a crew cut!
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I have thought about it, but I am also the type of person who doesn’t even own a blow drier. I literally just wash my hair with plain ole shampoo, let it air dry, then throw it up in a pony or a bun (well,except not so much the bun any more). I am worried that going super short will mean I will have to actually…do something…with my hair!
My mare’s mane is roached too! So much easier to get her ready for shows!
I haven’t had hair longer than my chin in about four years and what I do is if it’s around pixie length I just don’t worry about it at all and throw my helmet on like a man would, if it’s a little longer where it starts to slip out the sides or is too hot and sweaty I use a hunter hair net and just pull it all back in that and make a teeny tiny pony tail, mostly consisting of hairnet, and tuck that under the back of the helmet. Super easy!
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Define short?
If long enough to mostly reach a ponytail, hairnet over the top of your head and captured in the ponytail holder to hold it snug and catch all flyaways which may not reach the ponytail holder or just not stay in, then a hair net folding in half - tease the hair that is in the ponytail if it is not full on its own, scrunchy over that hairnet to hold in place. Voila, bun.
If shorter, the no knot hair net mentioned is lovely.
Get this crazy hair net that’s all the rage with jumpers: https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/rwr-no-knot-hairnet-11761
My hair is long and I usually do the low bun but this thing saves time and is MUCH more comfortable. There are some videos of it on YouTube–check it out.
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Good thing you came along to suggest it, no one else would have possibly suggested it if you hadn’t!
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Please make sure your helmet still fits properly after you cut your hair. You may need a smaller size!
OMG - that is… Interesting!
I have always worn my hair in a bun at the base of my neck while riding, so no worries there. Plus there are recent studies suggesting that wearing your hair under your helmet increases your chances of a brain injury during a fall, so really none of us should be doing that.
Oh netg, your snark is always predictable. You are the original. LOL
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Ooooh that looks pretty cool!
Another good use of the No Knot (which I use every ride)–if you use a comm system for your lessons (I clinic with someone every other week who has a system with an earpiece) you can pull the net over your ear and cover the earpiece and it secures it for the ride. 
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My hair ranges from short short pixie to shoulder length. When it’s short short, I just pop the helmet on (and enjoy the additional benefit of being able to hose my head off after a ride and have my hair look decent) . Longer and I use the No Knot. I pull it down around my chin, flip my head upside down, and pull it up. All the length gets twisted up into a thin bun on the top of my head, helmet goes on. If it’s really long, I’ll add some hairpins but for the most part, the No Knot and my helmet keeps everything in place. Love them and won’t use a normal net again unless my hair is just too much to fit under the helmet.
