How do you avoid helmet hair?
02-28-11 | 04:31 AM
#51
Vegan on a bicycle
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,235
Likes: 23
From: wellington NZ (via NJ & NC)
helmet-hair is one of the reasons i've been keeping my hair buzzed short. saves money (DIY with a buzzer); low maintenance; quick drying; most of my social circle seems to be hare krishnas, so no one cares.
if i didn't ride a bike my hair would probably be longer... but form follows function.
if i didn't ride a bike my hair would probably be longer... but form follows function.
02-28-11 | 05:08 AM
#52
Senior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
02-28-11 | 06:12 AM
#53
Thread Starter
Chases Dogs for Sport
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,289
Likes: 147
In cold weather, wear a light wool cap under your helmet. In warm weather, use a hair net.
I have longish hair for a guy, and helmet hair is a constant for me, but I don't care. I mean, really: you're on a bike wearing a stupid-looking helmet to begin with. In my case, I also have panniers and filthy yellow rain gear. Sometimes I show up at pubs or restaurants in full commuter regalia and dripping wet besides. I'm pretty sure no one notices the helmet hair, and in fact, no one actually cares what I look like. My employer is primarily concerned with my performance. My friends at social events can look beyond the bad hair, etc., and the business I frequent is very happy just to have some of my money. Yes, I look a bit stupid, but not stupid enough to be ostracized, and at 49, I'm too old to give a sh*t about the occasional raised eyebrow on the part of a random stranger.
I have longish hair for a guy, and helmet hair is a constant for me, but I don't care. I mean, really: you're on a bike wearing a stupid-looking helmet to begin with. In my case, I also have panniers and filthy yellow rain gear. Sometimes I show up at pubs or restaurants in full commuter regalia and dripping wet besides. I'm pretty sure no one notices the helmet hair, and in fact, no one actually cares what I look like. My employer is primarily concerned with my performance. My friends at social events can look beyond the bad hair, etc., and the business I frequent is very happy just to have some of my money. Yes, I look a bit stupid, but not stupid enough to be ostracized, and at 49, I'm too old to give a sh*t about the occasional raised eyebrow on the part of a random stranger.
02-28-11 | 07:12 AM
#54
Señior Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 13,748
Likes: 10
From: Michigan
Bikes: Windsor Fens, Giant Seek 0 (2014, Alfine 8 + discs)
buzz cut. Acceptable in almost any situation, and cutting my hair means 5 minutes in the bathroom before a shower once a month or so, not spending $20+ and taking an hour of my time.
__________________
Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
02-28-11 | 10:02 AM
#56
Senior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
From: Living in the Great State of Confusion
Helmet Hair? What is this? Mostly bald here, what hair I have gets cut with clippers without any attachments and wish it would go closer. Shaving is to much of a PIA and requires attention to often. I get my wife to give me a haircut about every two weeks. Shaving would require about every three days.
02-28-11 | 02:09 PM
#60
Vegan on a bicycle
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,235
Likes: 23
From: wellington NZ (via NJ & NC)
when i had long long hair, i met girls who liked long hair. with short hair, i meet girls who like short hair.
03-03-11 | 05:35 AM
#62
2 Fat 2 Furious
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,996
Likes: 2
From: England
Bikes: 2009 Specialized Rockhopper Comp Disc, 2009 Specialized Tricross Sport RIP
Seriously, I keep what's left of my hair sufficiently short that wearing a helmet makes little difference to it.
03-03-11 | 09:21 AM
#63
born again cyclist
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,412
Likes: 88
From: Chicago
Bikes: I have five of brikes
+1 or +2 or +3 or +47 or +whatever number we're on about keeping the hair clipped short with DIY clippers at home. i'm usually a 1 or 2 in the summer/3 in the winter.
it's quick. it's easy. you save money. it looks good. and no helmet hair. the quintuple win!
it's quick. it's easy. you save money. it looks good. and no helmet hair. the quintuple win!
03-03-11 | 09:24 AM
#64
2 Fat 2 Furious
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,996
Likes: 2
From: England
Bikes: 2009 Specialized Rockhopper Comp Disc, 2009 Specialized Tricross Sport RIP
That said, if the OP is female it might not work quite so well.
03-03-11 | 09:33 AM
#65
Godbotherer
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,255
Likes: 0
From: Hermitage, TN
Bikes: 1986 Cannondale SR300 (full SRAM Apex) 1996 Cannondale R800 (Full SRAM Rival), 1997 Cannondale R200 (Shimano Tiagra), 2012 Cannondale CAAD 10-5, 1992 Bridgestone RB-1 (SRAM Force)
So the consensus to avoid helmet hair is to avoid hair altogether.
03-03-11 | 09:34 AM
#66
avoid mirrors
03-03-11 | 10:15 AM
#68
Godbotherer
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,255
Likes: 0
From: Hermitage, TN
Bikes: 1986 Cannondale SR300 (full SRAM Apex) 1996 Cannondale R800 (Full SRAM Rival), 1997 Cannondale R200 (Shimano Tiagra), 2012 Cannondale CAAD 10-5, 1992 Bridgestone RB-1 (SRAM Force)
and helmets?
03-03-11 | 10:18 AM
#69
2 Fat 2 Furious
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,996
Likes: 2
From: England
Bikes: 2009 Specialized Rockhopper Comp Disc, 2009 Specialized Tricross Sport RIP
03-03-11 | 10:33 AM
#71
03-03-11 | 10:55 AM
#72
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 67
Likes: 1
From: Baltimore, MD
Bikes: 1980 Schwinn Expensinental, 2013 Surly Disc Trucker, 2011 Mercier Kilo WT5, 2011 Dahon Speed D7
I use something my barber gave me called hair wax. You can put it in your hair when it's wet or dry. I personally apply it dry. As long as you don't put too much in at the start, it's very easy to re-style the hair when you get to work.
03-03-11 | 11:19 AM
#73
Godbotherer
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,255
Likes: 0
From: Hermitage, TN
Bikes: 1986 Cannondale SR300 (full SRAM Apex) 1996 Cannondale R800 (Full SRAM Rival), 1997 Cannondale R200 (Shimano Tiagra), 2012 Cannondale CAAD 10-5, 1992 Bridgestone RB-1 (SRAM Force)
No, I meant and.
03-03-11 | 11:34 AM
#74
multimodal commuter
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 19,810
Likes: 597
From: NJ, NYC, LI
Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...
As I approach 50 my golden hair gradually goes silver (how's that for a euphemism?), but not uniformly. Specifically, I'm getting a silver "skunk stripe" down the middle that corresponds to one of the vents in my helmet. Whether that's a coincidence or not, I won't speculate. But when I get helmet hair (4x daily) it makes for a pretty cool look, and I wear it proudly.
