gonehiking
Trail Wise!
Traveler, Hiker, Kite buggyist and Blogger: https://travelslovelife.wordpress.com/.
Posts: 99
|
Post by gonehiking on Jan 2, 2017 0:35:11 GMT -8
I think this is an issue quite some of us ladies face while hiking. The issue of having hair but no showers is what I am talking about.
I sometimes struggle with the fact that after 3 - 4 days of hiking I start to look like someone planted a lump of butter on my head and let it melt, not so pretty nor comfortable.
So far I have been coping with this by making braids and wrapping my head in scarves of hats.
I would like to hear if any of you have any bullet proof ways of surviving the horrors of trail hair on long hikes? Do you use dry shampoos or go completely naturally with grease and all?
|
|
Deborah
Trail Wise!
Yes, that's me.
Posts: 1,115
|
Post by Deborah on Jan 2, 2017 5:21:41 GMT -8
|
|
gonehiking
Trail Wise!
Traveler, Hiker, Kite buggyist and Blogger: https://travelslovelife.wordpress.com/.
Posts: 99
|
Post by gonehiking on Jan 2, 2017 5:49:27 GMT -8
Thank you Deborah!
I've been using dry shampoos, but those do not work after a few days. Will have a look where they sell those things here in Europe.
|
|
tarol
Trail Wise!
Redding, CA
Posts: 582
|
Post by tarol on Jan 2, 2017 7:18:36 GMT -8
I have long curly hair so I braid it when I go backpacking. With two pig tail braids I can go a week without washing my hair. I wear a hat 99% of the time when I'm hiking, so no big deal. In the summer I'll dunk my head (or my whole self) in a creek or lake if available and that helps.
|
|
rebeccad
Trail Wise!
Writing like a maniac
Posts: 12,667
|
Post by rebeccad on Jan 2, 2017 9:58:26 GMT -8
I have long straight hair, so it's easy to just braid it every day. But I find that a week with no washing doesn't so much make it nasty looking (I don't care about that; I can't see it ) as it makes it itchy. A quick dip in a lake every 2 or 3 days does a lot to mend that, without adding any soaps or anything. I have considered hauling some kind of no-rinse conditioner, though, since it can get hard to comb after 3 or 4 dunkings. I did manage to survive 2 10-day treks in Peru in 2014, no hair washing, and only maybe 1 or 2 rinses each time. It really helps if it's cold--less sweat. It also helps if you don't wash your hair every day at home. I've read that daily washing increases oil production, and that seems to bear out in my sample of one. I let it go 2-3 days even at home, and that makes it easier to go longer on the trail. And yeah, I'm usually wearing a hat--a sun hat all day, then a warm hat once the sun goes down.
|
|
Semi
Trail Wise!
Posts: 22
|
Post by Semi on Jan 2, 2017 18:54:24 GMT -8
It also helps if you don't wash your hair every day at home. I've read that daily washing increases oil production, and that seems to bear out in my sample of one. I let it go 2-3 days even at home, and that makes it easier to go longer on the trail. And yeah, I'm usually wearing a hat--a sun hat all day, then a warm hat once the sun goes down. I can definitely attest to that! I have oily hair and thought that I NEEDED to wash it everyday. After I started only washing once every 3 days (it was horrible the first few times) my scalp seemed to have gotten used to the increased time gap so it's not as clumpy as it used to be back when I only missed 1 day.
|
|
snappypepper
Trail Wise!
www.alltheadventures.com
Posts: 208
|
Post by snappypepper on Jan 3, 2017 12:01:52 GMT -8
I use baby powder or Anti Monkey Butt Powder in lieu of dry shampoo, as it has other uses while backpacking. I also have a method that helps: Day 1- start with clean hair and wear however I like (I usually start out with it straightened, as it just keeps it more manageable in general). At night I sprinkle roots with baby powder, brush it, then sleep with it in a loose bun or ponytail, because for some reason that seems to keep it less oily. Days 2-whatever I wear it up in a bun or ponytail. After day 4, nothing really helps other than a rinse or washing, but I can usually get 4 full days without looking like a complete greaseball using this method, lol.
|
|
gonehiking
Trail Wise!
Traveler, Hiker, Kite buggyist and Blogger: https://travelslovelife.wordpress.com/.
Posts: 99
|
Post by gonehiking on Jan 3, 2017 23:32:23 GMT -8
I have also resulted into washing my hair more seldom at home, currently at every other day - every third day. Using silicone free shampoo seems to help a bit also. That indeed seems to be helpful on the process of looking more humane on the trail too.
Baby powder is a good tip! Easier to transport if you board a plane etc.
Someone told me to try kind of afro style braids to survive a long hike. My hair just happens to be extremely slippery and I worry it won't really keep braided for too long... Has anyone tried that out?
|
|
snappypepper
Trail Wise!
www.alltheadventures.com
Posts: 208
|
Post by snappypepper on Jan 4, 2017 8:48:23 GMT -8
I haven't tried the braids, mainly because I'd have to get someone else to do it to me, and also because I think they would give me a headache.
|
|
rebeccad
Trail Wise!
Writing like a maniac
Posts: 12,667
|
Post by rebeccad on Jan 4, 2017 9:09:44 GMT -8
Someone told me to try kind of afro style braids to survive a long hike. My hair just happens to be extremely slippery and I worry it won't really keep braided for too long... Has anyone tried that out? I've also got straight hair that doesn't stay in a braid that well. I guess the little braids might hold it better--I know that 2 pigtails work better than a single braid. I leave it in the pigtails while I sleep, then comb out and re-braid every morning. Instead of baby powder I'd recommend using corn starch the same way. It doesn't have scents, and I understand there are some issues with baby powder (I can't recall exactly--I think it's about inhaling the powder, so probably not a huge issue used this way). But I've read of using corn starch when you can't wash your hair, presumably to absorb the oils. I've never tried it, though. Using less conditioner (none, if your hair is short and you don't really need it to be able to comb it) will also slow down the rate at which it becomes oily.
|
|
mk
Trail Wise!
North Texas
Posts: 1,217
|
Post by mk on Jan 4, 2017 11:25:52 GMT -8
Having not gotten the thick, naturally curly hair that I've always wanted (yeah, I know, if you have that hair, you probably spent many formative years hating it ...) my go-to solution for nasty trail hair, which happens by the end of day 2, is to never ever let anyone see it. Brimmed cap while hiking and a buff while in camp. I comb it out in the tent before bed and then the buff goes back on. I tried the no-rinse shampoo on my bangs and was reasonably happy with the result. I'm considering the corn starch idea -- I'm just not sure I'm willing to carry the additional weight of either of those things.
Bangs don't hike well so I usually just wrap my anemic ponytail into some version of a bun and headband the bangs. It's always good for a laugh when I finally remove the buff and look in the mirror just before the out-of-the-backcountry shower.
|
|
|
Post by Campfires&Concierges on Jan 4, 2017 12:03:28 GMT -8
I'm glad I'm not the only one straightening my hair before a trip, snappypepper! It feels silly, but straight hair really is more manageable. I use dry shampoo at home, but haven't lugged it on the trail yet. I've found a french braid is usually the easiest. And after a few days, a Buff or headband becomes part of my daily wardrobe
|
|
|
Post by paula53 on Jan 4, 2017 18:45:10 GMT -8
I wash my hair after setting up camp,washing my clothes that I have been hiking in. I enjoy a swim after the camp duties are done. I use a small blue foldable bucket, warm the water and shampoo. Rinse well. When I am done, I start cooking my dinner. My hands and fingernails are clean, I am refreshed and can look forward to a restful nights sleep.
|
|
Semi
Trail Wise!
Posts: 22
|
Post by Semi on Jan 7, 2017 8:02:54 GMT -8
I have thick straight hair and I'll put my hair into 2 french braids. When we did the Kalalau Trail (overall 3 days), I only undid them once that trip. With the extreme humidity, I was definitely thankful to wash my hair in the hotel room! I heard about the cornstarch thing...I'll definitely try that for longer trips.
|
|
|
Post by bpackgirld on Feb 6, 2017 10:18:54 GMT -8
I have thick, curly hair that comes just below my shoulders. I wash and deep condition my hair before a trip, and then I use an argan and hemp oil serum to sweep my hair into a high bun on the top of my head. That typically lasts me about 3 days and then I add a headband for the stray edges/baby hairs that tend to frizz up. 5 days is my max for not washing so by then I am home or at a hotel or somewhere where I can shower.
|
|