Ahh. Thanks.
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Wow, imagine how bad that answer might have been!
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They just released the findings a few months ago on that big helmet study at Virginia Tech, or wherever it was. I don’t know if part of that involved things like hairstyles under the helmet.
The helmet companies have been telling us for a decade+ that putting our hair up is less safe and we shouldn’t do it. It shocks me that it is still on trend for anyone.
In dressage, where I am now competing, we don’t put hair up but do a low bun. If I go back to HJ I will keep it. Safety first. But it is troubling that option isn’t available to some.
But it would be really hard to even design a helmet that seems like it would inherently be less safe…those headlines aren’t great either. “Equestrian helmet companies sell helmets that are less safe to black equestrians“…that doesn’t look good! I absolutely think an effort should be made to accommodate all hair types, but at the end of the day the safest helmet will be one that is closely fitted to your head sans hair considerations, whether it is a style, dreads, beads, or your ponytail flipped up.
Not sure what the solution is here.
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I think that there was something in the VT report or webinar or Q&A that indicated, contrary to previous reporting, at least some hair up under helmet might be OK, or even slightly beneficial in some cases as it may provide a slip plane. But, of course, I can’t find it.
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Emily quoted Dr Miller’s comments on hunter hair in a post on this thread. Announcement of Helmet Study Result Release Date
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Yeah, essentially we need more research. Hair up vs down may make no difference, which is contrary to what we have been being told the past few years.
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Yes, there have been several podcasts now that have spoken to experts in the study and referenced hair as being an additional “slip plane” that may provide some benefit to overall helmet study. Sort of like a built in MIPS system.
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Back On Track’s James Ruder has published a statement regarding the article that reads:
My comment was as follows: “Back on Track provides helmets for all shapes of heads; hair is an extension of the head and must be taken into consideration for proper fit to ensure proper safety. Our helmets fit those with Afros and dreadlocks that are quite common.” I went on to say; “My daughter, who was forced to wear a bun on top of her head for dance, or someone that has a Mohawk cut where all the hair is down the middle of the scalp, or some other odd or weird hairstyle; that person might have to make a choice between hairstyle and helmet fit and safety.” I also went on to talk about our complete helmet line designed for round, oblong, or head shapes somewhere in the middle as well as the variable size liners available to help a helmet fit properly. None of this helpful information was printed.
I have spoken to the New York Times editor and expressed my disappointment in the whole article and in particular, the out of context, and misrepresentation of my comments.
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Dear god he’s a disaster 
. The NYT, if what he said is true, is at fault some what but dang apologize and shut up! Even his examples don’t exactly relate.
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Yeah, as a PR professional, he’d be one of those people I’d never allow to speak to the press without a handler.
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Oh, boy.
Thanks for finding it.
Yeah I don’t buy this. He tried it though.
My mohawk fits just fine in my helmet. One wouldn’t expect to wear a bouffant in a helmet either - those are styles that are removed by water or taking out the pins.
This guy must love the taste of his own feet.
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Coming from road cycling land when I lived in a diverse area (as sadly my equestrian communities have had far less diversity), the helmets that were designed to fit a range of sizes and had a dial fit system seemed to work best, although I have not personally known anyone to choose a beaded hairstyle where frequent helmet wearing was a regular part of their life. I imagine that would be uncomfortable at best. A lot of very serious cyclists who spent a lot of time wearing a helmet would adjust their hair to something they found to be best for them. But the above comment is right that there needs to be a reasonably accessible option for people who may not feel that altering their hair for the sport is a priority, including because they are just testing out the sport.
I do think there are some helmets for equestrian use that have the same features as common bike helmets, so while it might not be the most trendy or expensive helmet, I think there are some reasonable options out there perhaps with going up a size. Maybe they aren’t front and center in the tack shops or tack shops need more education on the subject. I can’t imagine carrying the weight of a motorcycle style helmet while riding a horse.
IIRC, Charles Owen has said that hair up is ok with a properly fitted helmet for hair up wear. It is interesting that the issue is starting to be researched for real now. There are some safety risks as well to having too much hair out of the helmet and not neatly secured that could come into consideration same as impact if we are thinking about scenarios where your head winds up somewhere it shouldn’t be.
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Bike helmets have basically no liner in comparison, but the dial fit system is a bit different than what I’ve seen on equestrian helmets. So long as the helmet is deep enough (which I sometimes struggle with without a lot of extra hair due to my head shape), I don’t think you need much of a liner. You need to be able to take a shell that might be on the roomy side alone and have a dial fit system that secures it well at least along the sides and rear of the head. And one that isn’t going to sit up too high or tip back or side to side.
Also agree that the material used in liners can be rough on hair even if good for sweat or other considerations.
Oh I see now what you mean. Maybe a memory foam type thing?
For years and years and years, I always kept my ponytail up under my helmet with a barrette.
Then I went to an actual Charles Owen store, and the person there told me to stop using the barrette since it could get jammed into my head if anything bad happened.
I would have to think the same thing would apply to beads or any other hard objects under the helmet.
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This is sound advice - and lines up with car accident safety. Sure, not the same as a horse related fall, but for example, safety experts are currently yelling about people wearing claw clips in the car. Anything on your head in an accident is likely to end up very much IN your head. I would assume the same with anything hard that is under a helmet, maybe even moreso because there is nowhere else for it to go.
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Oh, for heaven’s sake. One more thing to worry about! Lol.
