Hair Extensions and Riding

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starry23

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This might be an odd post but here goes

Just wondering if there is anyone out there who has hair extensions and rides and how they deal with it!?

I've been thinking about getting extensions (for a number of reasons) but have been put off because I think that wearing a riding hat will tangle them up at the roots and be a nightmare. I'd obviously have my hair tied up and out of the way when at the yard but do the roots end up tangled under a hat. I only ride once or twice a week just now so not every day. I know you have to be careful not to get them tangled up near the roots where they are put in and I don't want to end up with a matted head! Would wearing a hairnet help? I was thinking of a weave rather than the glued in type as I think they are a bit hardier and easier to deal with than the glued in stuff.

I just want to have a look at all the pros and cons and speak to the hairdresser about it all so I can make an informed decision!

Sorry for the odd post!
 
Not that odd, I did think about it before I got mine, and I'm pretty sure that I stopped riding full time before I got mine in the end, anyway, but I had them for about four years and ride reasonably frequently, they never got tangled but you do need to be careful and look after them. to be honest you just treat them as normal hair - about three of four months in they will tangle at the base a little anyway, so you need to be careful.

I do recall sitting in my friends salon one day, and there was a young girl who hadn't looked after hers (laziness, apparently, she wasn't wearing a helmet or anything) and the back of her head was matted, and it looked an awful job fixing it.

However, as a rider, I found I always had to choose between the horse and the hair, I've never been able to afford both at the same time!!

ETA - mine were bonded, not a weave, I'm not sure how a weave would cope, really? But the bonds are pretty strong, I had great lengths. I'm not sure if I have the patience for a weave, as they need to be redone quite frequently.
 
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Thanks.

Yeah I couldn't have even considered it if my horse wasn't out at grass now due to injury.

That was what I was worried about - a big matted mess!

My friend has a salon that does them and I've spoken to her about them before, she said the weave would probably suit me better (not in respect to the riding but just what I want from extensions in general) and I have to say I've heard bad things about the bonded ones although I trust my friend to do things properly and I know she wouldn't put them in my hair if she thought it would cause problems.

Glad to hear they didn't get tangled though!
 
Ive worn extensions for about the last 5 years now and ride at least one of mine a day if not both and have never had any problems with them getting tangled or matted. i just treat them as normal hair and generally keep them tied up loosley when i have my hat on :)
 
Brilliant, thanks! I'm thinking about getting them over winter at first when I'll be riding much less anyway but I don't want to get them and come across problems straight away so thinking everything through and will have lots of questions to ask my friend !
 
You could always consider a Halo instead of bonded extensions? Then you can just take it off when riding.
 
Mines were fine. The recommened not to wear a helmet for the first 24hrs until the bonds fully harden. I never had any problems with 200+ bonds.

As long as they are done properly and are little bonds, not those huge big ones or coils then the bonds will be fine.

If it is good hair, then it is just the same as your own to look after. Cheap hair tangles and gets matted easily.
 
I had 200+ bonded in my hair a few years ago.
I was advised that when sweating when wearing my riding hat it could soften the bonds because obviously it gets hot and damp in there! I just put my hat on as late as I could and took it off as soon as my feel touched the ground. Real, quality hair is just that... real hair. It's the naff cheap stuff that tends to tangle.
I ended up having mine taken out. 25 minutes blow drying is just not for me!
 
They don't get tangled at all, make sure the bonds are fully secure and in your head for AT LEAST 48 HOURS. believe me, if you put a helmet on them before hand you will cry, ever had a Spanish braid on holiday? remember the headache when they pulled your hair tight? well all good extension should be this tight for the first 48 hours.]

After that treat it like normal, they wont knot but do tie them back, and if the bonds are done properly then you should still fit your normal helmet size :)
 
also main reason for tangling is going to bed with wet hair, I always recommend my clients blow dry their hair on a low heat or let them dry naturally, and also tie loosing at the base of your head overnight and they should be fine for 3months+

I had 200 bonds in for 6months once and no problems at all as I looked after them well :)
 
I had extensions for 6 months. Be warned that if you have fine hair as it is, and don't look after them they can ruin your hair! My hair was so thin when I had them out my friend (who didn't do my extensions) had to do a nice job of giving me shorter hair cut to get rid of all the split ends! Boo! Invest in good extensions- not cheapies which will look naff and will tangle and fall out easily.

They didn't make a difference to riding, just tie in a low pony tail and make sure that you keep hair tucked up on the way when not in a hat. Take care when you first get them done as your scalp is likely to be sensitive.

Also you can get special brushes for extensions so that they dont ruin or pull at the bonds- worth an investment- pretty cheap off ebay or somwhere- best bit was it looked my like the shape of a brush I would use on my horses haha!
 
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