race hair

For reasons i will never understand, more than one person has asked me how i do my hair for distance races, because it always stays intact, and looks stylish.  While i can't agree with the stylish part, i can agree that my hair does, in fact, stay put during half and full marathons.  And i assure, you i am out there for a fairly long time.  

So, while i would best describe my race hair as "ginger yeti" meets "refugee",  here are the steps to do it yourself!

***please excuse the eyebags, i have not been sleeping well!

Step one, take a bunch of selfies in the bathroom mirror, because no one will help you do this.

2. Take the front section of your hair, which is usually shorter than the rest of your hair.  (or if you have bangs)  Pull them back to one side, and twist the hair as you go.

 3.  Secure it with a bobby pin

 4.  THIS IS THE KEY! put a second bobby pin in to secure it in place.  One bobby pin will betray you half way through the race...

 5.  To be honest, a lot of days i just wear my hair like this.  It keeps my bangs out of my eyes, and is super easy, and looks like i care more than i do about my appearance.  

 6.  Pull the rest of your hair back into a high pony tail, and MAKE SURE YOU ARE USING TWO HAIR TIES!!

7.   Wrap the hair ties around the pony tail twice (or three times if you have thin hair) Sorry for the blurry photo - this process is super intense.

 8. Pull the pony tail through for your third (or fourth) time, but stop half way.  You should be left with a peacock fan on your head, and a little tail sticking out the back.

 9.  Back shot.  Notice the tail.  If you have short hair, you probably won't have much of a tail, and can stop here.  As you can see, my rapunzel hair still has about 8 inches of tail hanging out...

 10.  Take the leftover tail...

 11.  Wrap it around the base, covering the hair ties....

 12.  And tuck it in the back into one of the hair ties!  It should hold - i promise!

 13.  You are done at this point, but feel free to accessorize!

 14. In the summer, i tend to add a BIC band.  It helps keep the fly-aways in check, and also acts as a barrier to keep sweat out of my eyes.  And they are sparkly.  In the winter i usually don't sweat so much, or its so cold i wear a headband that covers my ears.

 15.  Congrats, you look like a hot mess, and we can be TWINSIES!!!

***Disclaimer.  I have no background in fashion or cosmetology or hair.  I do have a masters in industrial design though, so we will pretend that my structural expertise certifies me to post about marathon hairstyles that won't budge.  Also, keep in mind i am not running 6 minute miles, so this hair-do has not been speed tested.  And, at the rate i am going, it will never be.