[pct-l] Long Hair question...

[Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes]

On Apr 14, 2008, at 7:45 PM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:
>
>
> Okay all, don't laugh. I'm flying to San Diego in six days to  
> start, and have all my packing and such almost done, except for one  
> thing.... Last time I thru hiked, I shaved my head.This time, I'm  
> growing my hair for Locks Of Love...donating a minimum of 10 inches  
> after my hike to help make wigs for cancer patients. (And will be a  
> maid of honor in a wedding in october, so shaving my head wouldn't  
> do this time anyway)Having longer hair this time (brushing my  
> shoulders now)...you folks out there with long hair (men and  
> women)...what do you do? Do you carry a brush? A comb? Braid it and  
> let it be? I feel absolutely silly including a brush in my backpack  
> weight.I'm imagining getting a shower in town and after washing it,  
> not being able to brush it clean without a real brush. I know, once  
> I'm hiking, that I'll just pull it back however and leave it be  
> until my next shower...but what about when you absolutel HAVE to  
> brush it to avoid the solo dreadlock? Any thoughts on this matter w
>  ould be appreciated....MoonPie

With long hair you have no more hat hair! My hair is down to the  
middle of my back, straight and fine so I know what a problem hair  
can be, especially out in such dry air with all that synthetic  
clothing. Can you say static electricity? Also, long hair can be a  
conduit for ticks so keeping it neat is really important (although  
the PCT probably doesn't have you bending over pushing through brush  
like the trails I'm used to.)

What I usually do is usually two braids, sometimes one. I don't take  
them out of the braids until it's time to wash or until the braids  
are coming undone. I have a brush that is just the rubber part with  
the bristles without the handle. It collapses into itself so the  
plastic bristles point inward and don't poke holes in anything in my  
pack.

Diane