I have really long hair (probably 2 1/2 - 3 ft worth. Cutting my hair isn’t an option so I was wondering what ways people have managed it while on the trail. I was thinking of getting micro braids or something similar and just keep getting it rebraided every month or two…has anyone tried that? How did it work? I’m white, so if they wouldn’t work well with my hair texture that would be good to know as well. Thanks in advance for the advice.
Lisa
A white woman I work with got corn rows. Had a head ache the first couple of days, then her head started to bleed at the follicles. We had a good 'ol laugh at that, but she took em out once the blood started flowing.
Since you will be on the trail, how bout a single or double Pocahantas/Sakejaweha braid.
On a semi-related topic…did you know that Japanese Geishas very rarely washed their hair because of the complexity of their hair dos. They would go for weeks and weeks, and it would start to smell. I found that fascinating, considering all the work/skill/ceremony they would go through each day just to get made up in their make-up, kimonos, and obis. Learned that from Memoirs of a Geisha, which was a fascinating book, if you are looking for a good read.
BeBop
Hey Lisa,
I have long hair, too, and it’s also really curly. I’ve been experimenting with different ways to wear my hair several days without it getting dreaded (which it begins to do in about 2 days) because I can only comb through it when it is wet and has conditioner in it.
The best way I have found so far is to pull it back into a ponytail and then add more ponytail bands at about 2-3" intervals all the way to the end. My hair is about down to the bottom of my waist when wet, and it takes me 7 ponytail bands to do this. It’s the only way to keep my hair detangled for several days.
I’ve known people who have gotten micro braids and find it a problem when the time comes to take them out.
Good luck!
:girl
hikintexan
I just pull mine up with a flat, larger clip and, where a bandana or a hat over it. Seems to work. I hate to do anything complicated with it, and I don’t like braids, as they can hurt to sleep on, as well as cause your hair to break off, if its fine like mine.:girl
gumball
I just pull mine up with a flat, larger clip and, wear a bandana or a hat over it. Seems to work. I hate to do anything complicated with it, and I don’t like braids, as they can hurt to sleep on, as well as cause your hair to break off, if its fine like mine.:girl
gumball
I believe the Sikhs never cut their hair, it’s against their religion. These are the Indians you see who are wearing turbans.
If you did the same, you could put a banana in your turban and your trail name could be Carmen…:lol
http://www.classicimages.com/1998/april98/carmenmiranda.html
Too-Dang
This is what I did and it worked great:
I have past shoulder length, blonde, very fine hair that tangles if you look at it. I wore it back in a single ponytail banded, then braided with another band. I would take it out every day or so and re do, brush my hair, get the built up sweat out of my hair line; I slept on it this way easily and it stayed out of my eyes. I wore it down in town after a shower, but this was my trail costume.
I carried a small brush, a small comb for when I washed it, small amounts of shampoo and conditioner. Some will tell you not to bother with any of the last 4. I had to, or else my hair would have turned into dreads and then when I got home I would have had to cut them off (not an option in my line of work), so I had to deal with keeping my hair tangle free while on the trail. This was very low maintenance and has become SOP for any of my backpacks now. I did come home with a bad case of “cradle cap” which was no more than built up sweat in my scalp, it itched badly for awhile but with some dandruff shampoo got better in a few weeks.
:girl
Bluebearee
I’ve always used either one or two braids, although a ponytail with ponytail bands all the way down would probably work too. Depending how you sleep, two braids might be easier to sleep on than one, although if you start the braids at the base of your neck it will probably be okay either way. Or you could take them out to sleep – I find that it works easier if I brush it out and rebraid it every day or two. I also usually wear a bandana to keep any fly-aways out of my face.
Rapunzel
i had longer hair… mine got dreaded from Damascus to Atkins… I liked it… A built in pillow… I would suggest ponytail, banadana, no worries…
aswah
Aswah
I had long hair on my 2001 GA-tN section. Really tight and curly. I tried my hardest to look after it but only got the chance to give it a good wash while in town. You did’nt say your hair was curly so it probably won’t dread. Mine did and there was nothing i could do about it. I hadto keep the beast leashed under a bandana and pony tailed. Worst part was i got lice…real bad…I had to cut it all off when i got back to England as it was so bad. If your hair does strat to knot and dread, keep an eye out for those little b*****ds and apply the ointment straight away.
Ross
Who once had long hair but now has short hair (not through choice)
Ross
I tried braids on my thru-hike and that worked pretty well, though now that I am back in civilization, I notice I did have some hair break off so now I have frizz (shorter strands) around my face. It’s probably all that wind and sun, etc that damages the hair. I usually ended up wearing my hair in a huge bun on the top of my head, though braids are better when you must wear a hat or hood. I liked the braids, but often I would lose my hair bands and end up with one- then I had to move to plan b- the bun.
Also, I lost a LOT of hair on my hike. Other women did too, so I’m not sure if it was nutritional or stress, or what. WHen I did try to comb it in town I would shed a whole lot and was often forced to groom outside so the boys wouldn’t get grossed out.
Cross Country
My hair is curly and thick…though I don’t know that I’ve ever had dreads. My husband took me “camping” when we first got together…my first time and it was freezing…so I didn’t shower for those three days! Even then my hair didn’t dread. It just starts falling into clumps of ringlets…is that the way dreads start? Do they hurt!? I’d like to know the warning signs if they will! I teased my hair one Halloween and cried getting it out…definetly not trying to go through that again! :bawling
Also, forgive my ignorance, but I thought lice were passed person to person…like the epidemics I never seemed to escape in school. I haven’t had to go through that ritual since elementary and would like to avoid it if at all possible…so how exactly do you avoid lice on the trail…short of washing in lice shampoo every 2 weeks!? Is it a real problem or was Ross just really unlucky?
Lisa
Here is a funny picture from Trailjournals of a bunch of dreadlocked 2002 hikers:
http://www.trailjournals.com/photos.cfm?id=10074
Pushing Up Daisies '02 and '03 had hair down to her butt, and had it professionally dreaded before hiking in '02. She said if it started to get nasty, she’d chop it all off.
From the musical “Hair”:
I let it fly in the breeze and get caught in the trees,
Give a home to the fleas in my hair,
A home for fleas (yeah)
A hive for bees (yeah)
A nest for birds,
There ain’t no words
for the beauty, the splendor,
The wonder of my
Hair, hair, hair, hair, hair, hair, hair, hair.
Flow it, show it, long as God can grow it, my hair…
jitterbug
I found that keeping my hair braided was the best solution for me. I would just rebraid it every couple of days. I also rinsed my head whenever I needed to cool off or remove sweat. A bandana also helped keep my hair a bit cleaner and protected my head from ticks and sun. It worked great - by the time I got to Katahdin my hair was much longer and healthier than when I started 6 months earlier. That was back in the 80’s, but I still do that today - except now I wear a hat instead of a bandana. Also, I noticed that Kimber (PCT 2003) started out with her hair in dreads. She took it out part way into the hike and talks about it in her journal here at trailjournals.
katy
The thing I saw work the best for most females was two braided ponytails. Me I personally shaved my head in Virgina, no regrets!!! I was thinking of dreads in the beganing, but you would have to cut them off. :girl
Buttercup
i think dreads are the way to go, not a whole lot of maintenance, and they look cool, i have a beard in 3 dreadlocks, beads add a nice touch,
:boy
clong27
You don’t really lose more hair when you’re hiking, but it seems that way when you brush it. Remember that you’re only brushing your hair once or twice a week now, when you would normally brush it on a daily basis. The loose hair just builds up; it isn’t brushed out every day like pre-hike grooming.
As far as what to do with your hair, simple braids would probably work the best. It does, however, usually mean carrying a brush with you, and combing it out every night. If you want to keep your hair in good condition, though, with it being so long, you’ll almost have to do some kind of maintenance to it on the trail.
If I do it again, I’m cutting my hair off.
bearbait