advice for long hair?

Kyte · Post by **Kyte** » Sun May 02, 2004 7:37 am

Trying to decide what to do about waste-length hair at BM. Not opposed to cutting it beforehand if I have to, but does anybody have any good advice, other than dreadlocks, for managing long hair once you've been playatized?

Zephryus · Post by **Zephryus** » Sun May 02, 2004 8:29 am

I, too, would be interested in the feasability of maintaining long hair on the playa. Does it significantly up the bodily grossness factor? What about temperature regulation? Is it possible to leave the playa without impromptu dreadlocks?

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Sun May 02, 2004 10:17 am

Cut it or just live with the static dust cling. It's called "playa hair".

Silver · Post by **Silver** » Sun May 02, 2004 10:27 am

Well, I have never had my hair waist length I do tend to keep it just past my shoulder blades. I simply brushed it out several times a day and washed it every day (there is a shower thread around here somewhere). I had no problems, as for dreads, that is never a worry for my type of hair.

A lot of people braid their hair and deal with it that way. I probably noticed more long braids than long loose hair.

As for the heat, sometimes during the day I would bun it up on the back of my head.

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Sun May 02, 2004 10:48 am

If you're able to, bring enough water for a good wash every day and you'll have no problems.
I load up my water containers in Cedarville, CA, and only transport all that heavy water the last 100 or so miles.
AAaahhh... daily shower on playa... goood...

Kyte · Post by **Kyte** » Sun May 02, 2004 10:54 am

Bringing enough water to wash my hair every day might be a problem. I think I managed to wash it twice last time...and it was short then

Was thinking of having it professionally braided, but I'm not sure if it would last the week, or how much it would cost. Might be kind of ceremonious and fun to come on out and let my fellow burners hack it off. ;)

Thanks for the tips
Kyte

PurpleKoosh · Post by **PurpleKoosh** » Sun May 02, 2004 11:17 am

Kyte wrote:Was thinking of having it professionally braided, but I'm not sure if it would last the week, or how much it would cost.

I can't advise you re: cost, but a friend of mine had her hair braided the last time she went out (by a friend, so she didn't pay salon rates) and said it was SO much easier to deal with.... I'll ask her how well it held up.

Lydia Love · Post by **Lydia Love** » Sun May 02, 2004 11:52 am

a good leave in conditioner and braids should set you up just fine.

If you're thinking you may cut it off... do it *after* please - playa hair is dead sexy in my book.

gilmore · Post by **gilmore** » Sun May 02, 2004 5:04 pm

If you are thinking of getting your hair cut and you have 10" of it, PLEASE look into this website.

http://www.locksoflove.org/donate_hair.php

You donate your hair, they make it into a wig. They help financially disadvantaged kids under 18 years of age, suffering from long term medical hair loss.

Good organization from what I hear and your hair cut will be free.

Gilmore
P.S. There are some rules you need to follow.......

Kyte · Post by **Kyte** » Sun May 02, 2004 5:20 pm

Actually the last time my hair was long I donated it to them...I'm not sure it's quite long enough now, although I bet it will be by burning man. There's something really cool about the thought of cutting it on the playa though..does that mean I'm selfish? (I'm assuming they wouldn't accept playatized hair in a ziplock bag lol)

Kyte

_tears_ · Post by **_tears_** » Sun May 02, 2004 7:26 pm

I have hair down to my tushie.

Some good tips are

1) Get a spry bottle and keep water with a little conditioner in it [keep it cold if you can it feels SO good] and spray it onto your hair (from the neck down is the part that gets the worst) You will find your hair gets dry very quickly

2) If you dont mind, tie it back somehow be it millions of little braids just a few whatever you are happy with. If you keep it in braids all week i would still do #1.

3) Dont worry about shampooing your ends or your hair much at all, it is so dry there, you dont need to strip your hair any more than it already will be.

Icepack · Post by **Icepack** » Sun May 02, 2004 7:48 pm

Kyte wrote:Trying to decide what to do about waste-length hair at BM. Not opposed to cutting it beforehand if I have to, but does anybody have any good advice, other than dreadlocks, for managing long hair once you've been playatized?

Last year I cut my waist length hair in July, and donated it to Locks of Love. I cut it pretty short, but it's slowly growing back. This year I don't plan to cut it since it hasn't grown that long yet. Still, it should be long enough to put in a ponytail by August.

I agree with the ideas of braids. I would braid it if you can, and then cover it. If not braid, then at least a ponytail. Wrap it in a scarf or a headwrap and try to keep the playa dust out of it. Wear a hat for shade so you won't feel like your head is melting in the sun, and just hope for the best. I think the trick is to protect it BEFORE it gets playatized. Once it has been playatized, get to the hotel after you leave and shower, shower, shower, and condition the hell out of it to bring it back to life. My hair gets really dried out easily, even without the playa sun. So I plan on sucking in as much conditioner when I get back to civilization as I can. Don't color it, don't perm it, you'll just weaken it and add to potential trouble.

My dear Friday went out to the playa in 2000, his first year, with waist length hair and it was very, very windy that year. I think he had to get a haircut when he got home because his hair was just ruined. He showered on the playa, but then more dust came and it just turned to a big tangled muddy mess. He won't go back to BRC with long hair again, I'm sure.

stuart · Post by **stuart** » Mon May 03, 2004 10:26 am

please be responsible. If you are caucasian, avoid the dreadlocks.

Kyte · Post by **Kyte** » Mon May 03, 2004 10:38 am

Am as caucasian as they come (bright red hair). Definitely planning to avoid the dreadlocks.

Isotopia · Post by **Isotopia** » Mon May 03, 2004 11:02 am

please be responsible. If you are caucasian, avoid the dreadlocks.

Best advice this week.

robbidobbs · Post by **robbidobbs** » Mon May 03, 2004 11:05 am

Do NOT cut your hair!
My hair is past my butt, I've been to 5 Burns, have LIVED at the Work Ranch for 2 mths, and here's my strategy.
BTW: my hair is straight, and ever so silky, even on-playa.

1) bring enough water to wash your hair every day, perhaps you can go 2-3 days w/o washing as I often do, but too much is better than not enough.
2) bring a plastic tote that you can wash your hair in like a basin. Pour 5 gallons of water into the tote, dunk your hair, wash. Even though the water does get soapy, it's diluted enough that you won't notice. Dirt is a way bigger issue than residue any day. Hemp shampoo or Dr Bronners is excellent for this method.
3) massage cheap conditioner into your hair, and let it sit & soak while you attend teeth brushing, armpit scrubbing, etc.
4) use the same (or more) water to rinse off the conditioner.
5) use a big tooth comb, and braid TIGHTLY. I have one braid in the back. I'm big on efficiency, and work 16 hour days & don't have much patience with grooming.

Your hair will be wet inside of the braid, and it will be happy and soft when you unbraid it at the end of your "day". Moisture good, dreadlocks bad. The tips of your hair will get a bit fried, but just postpone trimming until you return from the Event.

I have a special, intimate relationship with my hair. The agreement is: it stays out of my way, and I stay out of it's way.

Miss Bunny · Post by **Miss Bunny** » Mon May 03, 2004 12:00 pm

I've got loooooog hair (down to the back's of my knees), and i was also worried about my hair making an independent life of it's own, and dreding.

However, every time i've been to BM, i've just plaited (braided in US speak!) it back and then pinned it up, and used a long length of cotton (about 4 foot or so) to make a turban.

It works pretty well, but it does get hot in the day, so then i switch to a thinner scarf instead :->

Hope this helps, Love Miss Bunny

Alpha · Post by **Alpha** » Mon May 03, 2004 12:10 pm

stuart wrote:please be responsible. If you are caucasian, avoid the dreadlocks.

Ouch, Stuart! Didn't you see the picture of my wife that I posted just three days ago?? She's got dreads and I love 'em.

stuart · Post by **stuart** » Mon May 03, 2004 1:31 pm

well, uh... that is...

Alpha · Post by **Alpha** » Mon May 03, 2004 1:33 pm

no sweat... everyone's entitled to their opinion. I think goggles are stupid. :-)

Icepack · Post by **Icepack** » Tue May 04, 2004 8:24 am

Miss Bunny wrote:I've got loooooog hair (down to the back's of my knees), and i was also worried about my hair making an independent life of it's own, and dreding.

However, every time i've been to BM, i've just plaited (braided in US speak!) it back and then pinned it up, and used a long length of cotton (about 4 foot or so) to make a turban.

It works pretty well, but it does get hot in the day, so then i switch to a thinner scarf instead :->

Hope this helps, Love Miss Bunny

That's what I was saying. Braid it, and then pin it up, and cover it.

Tiara · Post by **Tiara** » Tue May 04, 2004 8:47 am

Braids or buns are where it's at for long hair.

Ponytails or any style that leaves the ends free to tangle will most likely result in a heinous snarl.

If you don't want to take the time to braid, pull your hair into a ponytail, wrap it around itself, cover the whole shebang with a small piece of cloth (a bandana would work) and put a rubber band on the outside of the cloth to hold it in place. That method has the added benefit of keeping your hair clean under the cloth.

Simply Joel · Post by **Simply Joel** » Tue May 04, 2004 8:49 am

The 60's are over... cut your f*cking hair.

Zephryus · Post by **Zephryus** » Tue May 04, 2004 9:03 am

Hey man, quit, like, harshing my mellow.

Ivy · Post by **Ivy** » Tue May 04, 2004 9:37 am

<snort!>

robbidobbs · Post by **robbidobbs** » Tue May 04, 2004 11:46 am

Oh, I forgot to mention: wear something over your head, Girl! Fabric, hat, whatever, both for hair management and sunstroke prvention.

If you squint, you can make out on my picture that I'm holding a scarf. I wear one of these squares of unbleached muslin wherever I go, at all times. This is 1000's of years of technology. Not only can it keep your hair out of your eyes in a dust-storm, but it can be instantly wrapped over your face as a dust-mask. Hey, it works well, and the fabric is only 99 cents a yard!

(now for the pitch...)
And if you join up with the Poop Patrol &/or adopt a pottie cluster, I'll give you one with the Pooping Man logo on it.

Way sporty gear.

(Hee)

Simply Joel · Post by **Simply Joel** » Tue May 04, 2004 1:23 pm

Zephryus wrote:Hey man, quit, like, harshing my mellow.

"Life is not an easy matter ... You cannot live through it without falling into frustration and cynicism unless you have before you a great idea which raises you above personal misery, above weakness, above all kinds of perfidy and baseness." (Leon Trotsky)

and by the way... get a f*cking haircut!

Simply Joel · Post by **Simply Joel** » Tue May 04, 2004 1:28 pm

Life is an endless struggle full of frustrations and challenges, but eventually you find a hair stylist you like. ~Author Unknown

Zephryus · Post by **Zephryus** » Tue May 04, 2004 6:02 pm

I gotcher f*cking haircut right here, pal.

_tears_ · Post by **_tears_** » Tue May 04, 2004 6:37 pm

Speaking of hair...

Does Anyone have any tips on how to get hair to grow LONGER. My hair is waist length and i want it to be past my tushie, but i cant get it to grow. Would cutting it do the trick.. ? I ahve had long hair my WHOLE life.

--Tears--

advice for long hair?

advice for long hair?

If you have 10"....

Locks of love

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Re: Coping with looooong hair

Scarves are the bomb!