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Looking good off the motorcycle - motorcycle hair

Karen Boyd's photo
Spokane Motorcycle Travel Examiner

With many of us hitting the road for Labor Day weekend events, what can we do to look good when we get off the bike?  I’m not high maintenance by any stretch of the imagination, but I hate looking as if I don’t care about my appearance when I’m off the bike and in a restaurant, or walking through town.

The easiest thing to deal with is clothes that look nice when the gear comes off.  Around Spokane, and in a lot of the rest of the country as well, it is too hot to wear jeans under gear right now.  My solution is REI convertible pants.  These pants allow me to wear shorts under my gear, but wear long pants if it is cool in the evening, or if I go someplace where I want to feel a little more dressy.  With a coordinating microfiber shirt, I am comfortable on the bike and off regardless of the weather.  Microfiber is preferable to cotton for a number of reasons, it doesn’t wrinkle as easily as cotton and it washes and dries quickly and easily.  Both pants and shirt will dry by morning if washed and hung up at night.

The bigger concern is helmet hair.  Although easier than long hair, even people with short hair can end up with helmet hair.  One solution is carrying a small spray bottle of water.  When you remove your helmet you can dampen your hair and comb out the worst of the lumps and bumps.  Travel size spray gel can also help gain control over hair that has gone wild.

Long hair is a challenge for both men and women.  It tangles if left loose in the wind and looks completely out of control when the helmet is removed.  The first step in keeping it manageable is to maintain control on the bike.  For people with thick enough hair to hold them, ponytail wraps look good and do a great job of keeping hair in control.  Ponytail bands, especially in multiple, also keep long hair in control. 

Either of these options can be left in place, or easily come out when you are off the bike.

French braided hair works well for some people and looks very nice without the helmet, but a person with a sensitive scalp may get hot spots from the braid.  French braiding is also an alternative to fix long hair that has gotten out of control during the day’s ride.

Herringbone braids are also a good choice for both men and women.  They last well even in the wind, and lay flatter against the scalp than French braids making them more comfortable for a lot of people.

In cold weather it is easier.  I put on my liner then put on a fleece neck gaiter  and put my outer jacket and helmet over that.  It holds my hair inside the jacket and keeps it tangle free even with a full day of riding in a cross-wind. 

Finally there is the fallback position that a lot of us rely on.  Wear a hat!

Have fun and ride safe!

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, Spokane Motorcycle Travel Examiner

Karen Boyd is a motorcycle enthusiast who lives near Spokane, Washington. She spends as much time as possible on her motorcycle exploring back roads all over North America. She is passionate about supporting women who ride motorcycles. You may reach her at ridingAK@twowheelfemales.com.

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