Looking for suggestions on how to keep long hair from matting and tangling while on the trail. My first attempt at a thru hike, I cut my hair shoulder length and that worked fine. Since then, I’ve done section hikes using pig tails and bandanas; however, I didn’t go more than a few days without a shower and that worked. I’m planning another thru hike in March 2011. Any ideas/solutions so I can keep the hair long?
Stylin
Braid it. Have a friend french braid it to start. You should get 6 weeks before you need to redo it and you can wash it braided when you get the chance. After that if you can’t find someone to redo it then I would just say braid it the best that you can. Start practicing now!
Miriam
What worked for me: Once it was long enough I would put my hair up in a ponytail during the day and just before day’s end, I would finger comb it all out in the attempt to let it dry. I tried using a comb but, because of tangling I would loose a lot of hair through snags. Once in a while during a planned zero, I would use a hot oil treatment to help keep it healthy and moist. Why so much effort some may ask? Well my end goal was to grow it long enough to donate to the “Locks of Love” organization and did just that at the end of my TC. Peace.
WB
Miriam,
Perhaps if I run into you on the trail, I’ll let you and your daughter braid it…ha ha. Oh, and I meant to ask you, was wondering how old you daughter is.
WB,
Yep, that’s about what I have done…Was just out primitive camping for 6 days…reminded me about the hike. And very good for you for your donation.
Stylin
In 09 I decided to donate my 11" ponytail while on the trail, and then had the guys I was hiking with shave my head… it was the BEST decision (other than hiking the trail of course) I made that summer. Once all the hair was gone, I never got tangled in my pack or clothes, never had any knots or dreads starting and best part I never found any dead bugs in my hair and had to wonder how long they had been there!
Phoenix Risng
I agree…shave it. In the woods let your vanity and locks go. you will be more comfortable without the heat from the hair not to mention keeping it out of your eyes. Yes it is easier to care for short hair than long hair. I never saw a person with a crew cut who had split ends.
If you can not part with the locks just persever. In the long run being a long distance hiker will differentiate you from the crowd not the lenght of your hair. :cheers
stealth
I agree…shave it. In the woods let your vanity and locks go. you will be more comfortable without the heat from the hair not to mention keeping it out of your eyes. Yes it is easier to care for short hair than long hair. I never saw a person with a crew cut who had split ends.
If you can not part with the locks just persever. In the long run being a long distance hiker will differentiate you from the crowd not the lenght of your hair. :cheers
stealth
Back when I was working, I got a perm every three months. Then I had to have eye surgery about the time I was due for another one, so got my hair cut really short in a “boy cut” instead. Not only was it more convenient, but my “hat head hair” problem disappeared. I also got lots of compliments! I get it trimmed every 2 months, and that’s it.
If you want to keep your hair long, braiding is the only solution. That’s what I did when my hair was long. My mother french-braided hers every summer (for a 6-8 weeks’ trip). My daughter (waist-length hair) puts hers into a single braid most of the time (she’s a veterinarian and needs the hair out of her way). It’s easy to comb out braided hair and then re-braid.
For the easiest trip, if you have really long hair, I’d cut it short and donate it to “Locks of Love” before the trip and keep it short until after the trip!
grannyhiker
Thanks for the advice and the chuckles. Even my boyfriend is telling me to go short. We have been talking about keeping a journal on here…so perhaps you guys will get to see before and after pics. Thanks again.
Styling
I used the fro pic back in the day when I used to do perms…so yes, they do work. However, I’ll need to take some hormones to grow that beard.
Stylin
Hey Stylin! My daughter is 24 I’m 49. She is basically doing our hike because of me but it promises to be an adventure. We are planning to be at the AT parade in May! We are doing 9 days. I’m thinking of getting a room to surprise my daughter, if we do and you meet us there you can use our hot shower and then we will braid your hair! I’m having so much fun planning! Then we will order food and drink beer and probably start out late the next morning. We are far from purists (I’ve been reading some of their posts/discusions) Hah!
Miriam
My daughter is 25 and I am 44…so who wins…lol. Lucky for you, your daughter will hike with you. I’ve tried to get my daughter to camp with me…no dice, what so ever. You are very lucky. Depending on me, I tend to be the slow one since I’m with a young buck (41)…our timing may be a little ahead of trail days. But, who knows…I’m really considering doing the shorter hairdo on the onset as I did on my first attempt. And you said “we” will braid your hair…who’s the “we” expert…lol…
Stylin
Miriam…
I forgot to say thank you for the pre-shower offer…they are wonderful when on the trail. My first attempt at a thru, the first shower was absolutely blissful. If your daughter is like mine…a hair wash is a definite must!!! So, remember…tell her she looks beautiful every day out there.
S
Miriam,
I like giving trail names…so if you and your daughter age a year before the trail…she can be Quarter Cent and you can be 50 Cent…practice up on your rap…lol
Stylin
I found this on Paul’s Page. Built one, works great. make it from a 1lb coffee can and it is free. See paulharmony.com under hiking.
X-Man
I like it! We will use those names if she agrees. The parade is called Traildays and is in Damascus May 13-15. We are thinking sat the 14th. I’m getting a cottage …so serious if you want to hook up we would love to meet you there. Oh, the expert would be me…I have 2 girls now 24 and 25 so I did lots of french braiding over the years. We will see how your timing turns out. Will you be taking a cell phone?
Miriam
50 cent and 25 cent! My daughter likes it that way. I told her what you said about me being lucky to have her want to hike with me and she said “aww mom, I’m lucky to have you” so I just wanted to thank you for that mother daughter moment.
Miriam
Miriam,
I like you new names better too!
I have to tell you, until your last couple of threads, my boyfriend and I thought you were a father - daughter team. Don’t ask me why. We just thought you were an extra generous, nice man. I’m thinking, oh, that explains a lot! I’m not familiar with the name I guess. You gave us a good chuckle. (Thinking of dad french braiding…lol).
We are familiar with Trail Days. I really can’t say where we will be on the trail during mid May since we are doing a thru and anything can happen. As of now, we are planning on keeping a journal on here (so you can keep tabs of our whereabouts and at what month/day), and yes we will be carrying a cell phone.
Again, thanks for your generosity and will keep in touch.
Stylin