Women Commuters - What about your hair?

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My husband and I are moving back to his native Ireland where I will be, hopefully, finding gainful employment. I've never needed to drive and so I don't even have a permit. There isn't very reliable public transportation in the region we're going and I think I'd rather be on my own schedule anyhow. So the obvious answer is: biking!

I think I've got everything figured out from reading about the guys and how they've dealt with sweaty clothes (just bring a change of em!) and the schtinnk (baby wipes! great tip!) but... my hair?

I have long hair (past my shoulders, not quite down to my armpits) and cutting it is NOT an option. So what do I do about it? If where I work has no shower, I can't very well wash my hair in a sink really. I've never been able to do it and I'd have to be fully nekkid in order to avoid sloshing on my clothes and if it's a public restroom...

Any suggestions, ladies? Men with long hair?


PS if this should go in women's cycling, sorry!

My husband and I are moving back to his native Ireland where I will be, hopefully, finding gainful employment. I've never needed to drive and so I don't even have a permit. There isn't very reliable public transportation in the region we're going and I think I'd rather be on my own schedule anyhow. So the obvious answer is: biking!

I think I've got everything figured out from reading about the guys and how they've dealt with sweaty clothes (just bring a change of em!) and the schtinnk (baby wipes! great tip!) but... my hair?

I have long hair (past my shoulders, not quite down to my armpits) and cutting it is NOT an option. So what do I do about it? If where I work has no shower, I can't very well wash my hair in a sink really. I've never been able to do it and I'd have to be fully nekkid in order to avoid sloshing on my clothes and if it's a public restroom...

Any suggestions, ladies? Men with long hair?


PS if this should go in women's cycling, sorry!
Hi there, washing my hair when I arrive at work is not an option for me so I have a different strategy for summer and winter months. In winter I just blow dry my hair straight the night before, put it in a ponytail for the ride and then leave it out while I'm at work (it dries off within several minutes). In summer my hair is much more damp when I arrive at work so I just leave it in a ponytail or french braids. Occasionally a bandana/headband type thing is useful for covering part of my hair if it's not looking too good that day. Hopefully this helps you if you don't get to wash your hair at work!

How far will you have to ride? Will the weather really get hot enough to worry? Perhaps you may be able to invest in a more ventilated helmet.

My husband and I are moving back to his native Ireland where I will be, hopefully, finding gainful employment. I've never needed to drive and so I don't even have a permit. There isn't very reliable public transportation in the region we're going and I think I'd rather be on my own schedule anyhow. So the obvious answer is: biking!

I think I've got everything figured out from reading about the guys and how they've dealt with sweaty clothes (just bring a change of em!) and the schtinnk (baby wipes! great tip!) but... my hair?

I have long hair (past my shoulders, not quite down to my armpits) and cutting it is NOT an option. So what do I do about it? If where I work has no shower, I can't very well wash my hair in a sink really. I've never been able to do it and I'd have to be fully nekkid in order to avoid sloshing on my clothes and if it's a public restroom...

Any suggestions, ladies? Men with long hair?


PS if this should go in women's cycling, sorry!This is blasphemy, but you could consider riding w/o a helmet. It would be interesting to me to hear if helmets are common among Irish commuters.

Hi there, washing my hair when I arrive at work is not an option for me so I have a different strategy for summer and winter months. In winter I just blow dry my hair straight the night before, put it in a ponytail for the ride and then leave it out while I'm at work (it dries off within several minutes). In summer my hair is much more damp when I arrive at work so I just leave it in a ponytail or french braids. Occasionally a bandana/headband type thing is useful for covering part of my hair if it's not looking too good that day. Hopefully this helps you if you don't get to wash your hair at work!
That sounds quite alright, I'll do a few test runs here. Irish women all wear their hair very similarly (imo) which is: flat irononed within an inch of it's life, often with stripey highlights. I was already going to stick out! :p

How far will you have to ride? Will the weather really get hot enough to worry? Perhaps you may be able to invest in a more ventilated helmet.Well, it won't get too warm really, but a) I have a tendency to sweat a lot and b) it will also be raining quite often so I'll either have the rain making my hair wet or the cover I put on my head making me sweat more. I don't know how far I'll have to ride yet. Thank you for the suggestion though. :)

This is blasphemy, but you could consider riding w/o a helmet. It would be interesting to me to hear if helmets are common among Irish commuters.Oh, thanks for the suggestion but I honestly couldn't. I can't actually ride a bike without a helmet, I've worn a helmet since I was really little and I'm really not comfortable (physically!) on a bike without one. :o Especially as I'll already not be quite comfortable what with switching to riding on the left and all.

options:

1. don't wear a helmet (i don't suggest this one),

2. get a shorter haircut. (i personally like shorter-haired women..ie-my wife)

3. do the best you can in a reasonable amount of time and don't worry about it. the fact that you are industrious and self sufficient enough to pedal to work will make you so attractive that the occassional out of place hair won't matter.

go with #2 or #3 and you will be fine.