Ideas for very low bun suitable for wearing with riding helmet?

[Intransigentia]

Hi all, it's been a long time since I've visited, but I'm back because I need ideas: my hair is currently butt-length and medium thickness. When I wear a nautilus bun starting right at the nape of my neck (my go-to style), the bun extends up the back of my head a bit past the apex of the back of my head. This is a problem since I've recently taken up horseback riding, and the helmet comes down further than the top of my bun. A single braid down the back is ok-ish, but not ideal because it thwacks me, and gets sweaty on the back of my neck, and in a couple months the braid is going to be long enough that it will get caught between the cantle of the saddle and my butt.

Can anybody recommend a type of bun that will work for me? It has to be really stable, preferably just need one or two sticks or a fork not a handful of pins, and sit low and wide at the nape of the neck.

Thanks for your help!

(note: my avatar is about a year old, from when I was more like MBL. There is a lot more hair there)

[Quasiquixotic]

Orchid bun?

[neko_kawaii]

Try Spidermom's, L-finity, and Chinese Braided Bun.

[Intransigentia]

I've never heard of L-finity bun before?

[meteor]

My favorite is a form of milkmaid braids - but instead of 2 braids going on top of head, you place them at the nape, near your neck.
I think some people call it "horseshoe" bun. It's very easy and holds like a rock.
I found a good picture here:
http://rapunzelsresource.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/horse-shoe-braid.jpg?w=600

[Sarahlabyrinth]

Make a French braid and fold it up upon itself and hold it together at the nape of the neck with a scrunchie or similar?

[meteor]

I've just found a tutorial for "horse shoe braid". It's pretty good for helmets.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GC5urovoTjY

[Intransigentia]

Thanks for the input, ladies! The horseshoe braid looks like a bit of a PITA but might be good if I start showing, and I just tried the L-finity while sitting here at my desk and it feels super-secure plus I was able to get it to sit a bit lower. I'll have to try my helmet on with it next.

[sparkle'n'bling]

Low buns generally don't hold for me, especially if I'm doing much trotting. I go for a high flat bun which fits under my helmet. It does require pinning rather than sticks though. Also, I've always wondered if a stray stick might stab me if I fall off...

[cathair]

How about one of those hair nets horse riders sometimes have with the clips? That's how I remember riders putting their hair up. Like this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/151119703807?limghlpsr=true&hlpv=2&ops=true&viphx=1&hlpht=true&lpid=108&device=c&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=108&ff19=0

or this:

http://www.equestrian.com/p/womens-riding-accessories/hair-net-with-clip-brooch/901041196?gclid=CjkKEQjw8YSdBRChhPXJvPvMztABEiQAkn 893lXO4LJ64B6G9GuLHyvSJavaAdV3BmdrMbVMdLCie_vw_wcB

Or this video shows how to use a large hair net:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w90P9JRTkPc

[Intransigentia]

I hadn't thought about that as a safety issue before, but now I'm wondering.

Do you wear a larger size of helmet than you would if you had less hair? I'm just trying to imagine getting even the flattest of flat cinnabons into the helmet without it sitting way high.

[Anje]

Infinity buns have decent potential to stay below hats. That's usually my go-to. Otherwise, you might be stuck doing bee-butt buns.

[Imalath]

Do you wear a larger size of helmet than you would if you had less hair? I'm just trying to imagine getting even the flattest of flat cinnabons into the helmet without it sitting way high.

Please stop and consider before you buy a larger helmet to fit your bun in it. The owner of a local tack store stopped me from doing that several years ago and explained that helmets are designed to fit snugly around your head; getting one large enough to fit around a bun often means that it fits too loose in other areas. If you fall and hit your head in an ill-fitting helmet, the results can be disastrous.

When I was young and long-haired and rode daily, I was very foolish and didn't wear anything more than a ballcap (or even braid my hair). Now that I'm older and wiser and more wary of having my brain scrambled, I wear a helmet. I am just brushing MBL atm, and usually ride in a single braid. If I'm going to be doing anything more than a leisurely ride, I think I would try dropping it down the back of my shirt to help keep it contained.

[Sharysa]

I'd say a crown braid, milkmaid braids, or what the previous poster said to just tuck your braid into your shirt. Aside from the crown braid (depending on your braiding skills), those are all relatively easy and much easier to fit under a riding helmet than most buns.

[Jumper]

I used to wear a size larger helmet to show in order to have perfect hunter hair. However that involved a pony tail twisted a little and flipped flat on top of my head, so not quite the same thing as buying a larger helmet to fit a bun under (because my hair would fan out under the helmet and the helmet was rock solid on my head. And in reality that larger size is what I need for a snug/not moving but still comfortable fit, but the more affordable helmet I bought came in a 1/4 size smaller and I just live with life being a little pinchy. I have what can be most nicely described as a bizarre shaped head.

I'm no help really - I just braid mine to ride still. And I can say if I started showing again (no money = no worries about showing) my hair would probably take a backseat to riding and I would probably keep it trimmed. I have wondered though, what I'll do when it gets too long to comfortably keep braided while riding.

I can't imagine a bun fitting under a properly fitted helmet for anyone (under being between helmet and head, not the nape of the neck like you're talking about).

[MandyBeth]

NEVER WEAR YOUR HAIR UP UNDER A HELMET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That means your helmet isn't fitting right. So it can slip and not protect your head. If my daughters would dare try such a stunt, their butts wouldn't be near a horse until I am not paying anything for their insurance. They know I am dead serious on that.

View helmets like infant car seats. If there's anything between the helmet/car seat and you - same thing happens with your hair there as a bulky snow suit on a baby. Also, single hit means you replace it. These are not reusable. Your brain is worth far more than $100. The helmet is supposed to absorb the trauma so you don't scramble your brains.

My youngest wears a few braids, then I bundle them into a hair net similar to the snood. Works pretty well. I'm not really thrilled with the mass of hair on her neck but nothing else to do. Her braids easily drape over her ponies and then some, on Marsh if we lay her braids down his spine, her braid reaches to his tail.

[CurlyCap]

I ran into a similar problem with bike riding, and finally just started wearing a silk cap under my helmet. The silk breathes well, my hair is protected from my helmet, and the extra fabric at the back holds up my hair so doesn't cover my nape.

Adorabellababy will actually make a tighter fitting, looser, or lower profile silk cap for you if you message her and tell her what you need the cap for. For me, she put in a thinner ribbon so that I could knot it without causing a bump or movement under my helmet.

[Zebra Fish]

Could someone post a link for the L-finity bun? Or is that the same as the infinity?

I usually wear and simple braid while riding, but would rather have a bun if possible, so I'm following the proposals here carefully :)

And also - don't wear a bigger helmet! I used to ride without anything at all, but as I am older now, I know there's a reason for the helmet (I just don't think it fits in dressage outfit, hats should really stay there).

[Intransigentia]

Well, bad news: the L-finity bun is cool-looking, easy, and still rides too high to pull my helmet all the way down. I will add it to my everyday repertoire, but not for riding. (Folks wanting to find a tutorial, use the search function for "L-finity" and it will come up.)

Right now I'm thinking two braids instead of one, to keep the back of my neck clear and non-sweaty - I hate having a sweaty back of my neck. Makes me feel all icky and sticky.

Maybe something like this to keep the length of the braids manageable:

http://youtu.be/8Enfy9ru5_Y
(just without the ribbons since I am a Woman of a Certain Age)

[meteor]

I've done that style, Intransigentia, and I'm not too sure about the safety of those loops - they were bothering me a lot, and the hair distributed at the sides (near ears) becomes way too bulky for me to fit under helmet properly. It's the same problem as with crown braids for me. But try and see! Depends on the bulkiness of your braids, I guess.

If you choose to wear a braid and simply want to shorten it, something like this might work:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTnA0EvueCM

[Intransigentia]

Ooh, here's another one that looks worth a try: link bun (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=123612)

[Paranda Belle]

Torrin Paige has a gibson tuck variation where you just keep flipping the ends through. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8u4neDtqsDk

Her Victorian updo might work as well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N7_7_NlnF0&list=PLF3508F6411A91FDE&index=77

[Anje]

Finally found it. The L-finity bun. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mlyaRdVq40)

One of the only instances where the LHC site search has been more useful than Google! :D

[Intransigentia]

That Gibson Tuck variation looks promising too!