Those of us who have long hair and ride motorcycles know the feeling of nervous anticipation after a trip. You’ve arrived at your destination, but suddenly you feel torn between confidently whipping off your helmet or desperately seeking an isolated spot where you can remove your helmet to review the hairstyle damage privately.
Having long hair and wearing a motorcycle helmet is possible if you know how to arrange your hair before putting on your helmet.
Here are eleven ideas on how you can wear a motorcycle helmet if you have long hair:
- Use a hair sock
- Get a doo-rag
- Pile your hair up on top
- Use a scarf
- Wear a bandana
- Make a ponytail
- Wear a modular helmet
- Don’t use hairspray
- Add layers
- Braid it
- Use your face mask
Motorcycle helmet-hair is a real challenge. The last thing you want to arrive at your destination with your long hair either flattened to your skull or tousled on the top like you have a terrible case of bed hair.
Safety comes first, and wearing proper head protection when riding a motorcycle is vital, but knowing how to fix your long hair before you put on your helmet can mean the difference between a relaxing and enjoyable journey or an anxiety-ridden trip.
How To Wear A Motorcycle Helmet When You Have Long Hair
While riding a motorcycle, your long hair mustn’t blow around. It needs to be secured to feel comfortable under your helmet while you are traveling and still looks good at the end of your journey. Let’s look at some ideas to keep your long hair in shape when wearing a motorcycle helmet.
1. Wear A Hair Sock
A hair sock, also known as a ‘loc-soc,’ is a must-have item for bikers with long hair. This handy long tubular sock is popular with those sporting dreadlocks and is available in many colors. Besides holding dreadlocks back, they also work perfectly to control hair under motorcycle helmets. You can find loads of designs and ways to wear your hair at https://soclocsoc.com/
2. Get a Doo-Rag
Raci-Babi has a fabulous range of doo-rags that you can use to keep your long hair out of the way and feeling comfortable beneath your helmet. They are more stylish than regular hairnets and are easy to put on. Best of all, they prevent the dreaded ‘helmet itch.’ Find out more about this attractive option at https://www.racibabi.com/Doo-Rag-and-Helmet-Liner.aspx
3. Pile It Up
We have all seen bikers doing a low bow and guiding their long tresses into their helmets before standing upright again and securing the chin strap. It’s kind of like making your helmet into a bucket to hold your hair. This is an excellent way to ensure that your hair is all stored out of the way, but it works best for people with long, straight hair that will cooperate and fall neatly into the helmet. If you have a beautiful curly mop of hair, you may need a stretchy band to hold it together before pulling the helmet over the top.
If you have cooperative hair, the great thing about this style is that when you remove the helmet, you can usually flick your head around a few times or run your fingers through your hair, and voila, you are good to go.
4. Use A Scarf
Scarfs are good at keeping your long hair under control when wearing a motorcycle helmet. You can match a scarf up to fit in with what you are wearing. Tie it to cover the front of your head, and then wrap the two loose ends around the long hair at the back to form a ponytail. Just be sure to tuck any loose hanging ends into your jacket so that nothing is flapping in the wind while you are riding.
When you reach your destination, you can either remove the scarf and drape it around your neck as a fashion accessory or turn it around and make it into a bow on the side that hangs on the side of your head. No one will ever guess that you were recently wearing a motorcycle helmet.
5. Wear A Bandana
A biker’s bandana is the perfect way to keep your hair back, and you can keep it on after you remove your helmet, so there is no need to worry about what your bangs are going to look like after a long ride. There are a variety of colors and designs to select from, so matching your outfit or even adding a touch of glam with some sparkly rhinestones is easy.
A bandana that fits low over your forehead also reduces the chances of having any visible red pressure lines from the helmet on your forehead if you wear your hair off your face. Open Road Girl has a range of headwraps specifically designed to wear under a helmet that are trendy and sure to keep your long hair neat.
6. Make A Ponytail
A single ponytail in the nape of the neck is the classic go-to hairstyle of bikers with long hair. Use a scrunchy or elastic hairband to make a low ponytail in the nape of your neck below the helmet. Since everyone thinks of this option first, here is what NOT to do when making a quick ponytail with your long hair. Do not be tempted to use any old rubber band that you find.
Only use a band specifically meant for use on hair. Using a rubber band you find in the office or from a piece of mail will tangle into your hair, and they are often difficult to get out without ripping out clumps of hair. Also, cheap rubber bands may hold your hair too tightly and give you a headache if you are going on a long ride.
7. Get A Modular Helmet
If you have long hair and ride your motorcycle frequently, it may be worth the expense to invest in a modular helmet. The design of this helmet will give you the safety factor you need, but the design offers more flexibility when putting the helmet on and taking it off compared to other helmets.
If you have thick, long hair, increasing the diameter of the opening when pulling the helmet on and removing it is less likely to flatten out your hair.
8. Add Some Layers
If your long hair tends to look flat and squashed when you remove your motorcycle helmet, you should consider adding a few layers to your current style. That does not mean you need to cut it all off, but rather, just adding some shorter parts. A motorcycle helmet tends to push down on the top of the head and pull hair towards the neck, so by adding some layers to the sides, you can retain the overall long length, but your hair may appear fuller even after a long time under a helmet.
9. Hairspray And Motorcycle Helmets Do Not Mix
Hairspray sets hair into a particular position. Applying hairspray before you put on your motorcycle helmet will end in disappointment when you find your hair has is set in a helmet-hair style when you take it off. If you have a particular hairstyle style in mind for an event, take a few small bottles of styling products along with you and give your style a quick spritz after you have arrived at your destination.
10. Add Braids
Braiding your long hair is a neat way to keep your long hair feeling comfortable and looking good no matter how many times a day you put your helmet on and take it off. You can use a single braid at the back or two side braids.
11. Use Your Face Mask
The global pandemic has not been fun, but we have all learned to adapt. If you ride a motorcycle and have long hair, a face mask can be pulled up and work as a makeshift hairband under your helmet. Keep it hooked around your ears and pull the wide part that usually covers your nose and mouth to keep your bangs down and the sides of your hair off your face.
Conclusion
Many options are available for people who have long hair to look good and stay comfortable while wearing a motorcycle helmet. Arriving at your destination on your motorcycle does not necessarily have to result in the dreaded helmet-hair style. With some planning and a bit of preparation, you will be able to show off your lovely long locks, even if they have recently been under a helmet.