[at-l] Speaking of hair..

[m_factor@hotmail.com (Mara Factor)]

I got my hair cut short years ago when I started getting active outdoors.  
For my thruhike, I got it cut nearly as short as a buzz cut.  Some started 
out by shaving their heads - men and women.  In general, I wouldn't 
recommend shaving your head if for no other reason than that little bit of 
hair can really help keep the sun off your head.  If you wear a hat anyway, 
then shave away if you're so inclined.

Having short hair was so easy on the trail.  I didn't really have to do 
anything to it.  With long hair, I had to brush it and braid it.  In towns, 
long hair needs a lot more shampoo to wash and it takes a lot longer to dry. 
  On the trail, a quick wipe with a Pactowl after a soaking rain and my 
short hair was nearly dry.  Of I just didn't bother and short hair just 
doesn't hold enough water to drip all over everything.

If you do keep your hair long, consider a style that covers your ears.  No 
matter how much sun screen we used early on, so many of us had hamburger for 
ears.  Even folks with long hair pulled back that didn't cover their ears 
had that problem.  Ouch!

Mara
Stitches, GAME99

>From: Farina6@aol.com
>Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2002 13:00:26 EST
>
>Before starting your thruhike, did you change your hairstyle to something 
>you
>thought would be more trail-friendly, more manageable...

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