# Motorcyclists: How do you deal with helmet head? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 6, 2006, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcyclists-how-do-you-deal-with-helmet-head/359603 "2006-06-06T13:18:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcyclists-how-do-you-deal-with-helmet-head/359603/1 "2006-06-06T13:18:07Z")
When I wore a Shoei helmet I’d have three ridges in my hair when I took it off. With the Arai, I have one. It’s worse with short hair (which is how I prefer to wear my hair) than with longer hair. So when I get to work I head straight for the restroom and dampen my hair at the sink. I muss it up and brush it (a comb doesn’t work as well). Works well enough. So how do you deal with helmet head? ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcyclists-how-do-you-deal-with-helmet-head/359603/2 "2006-06-06T14:07:34Z")
Thanks to genetics and a very low cut hairstyle, that’s one thing I don’t have to worry about! ---
**Author:** ![caveman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caveman/32/7242_2.png) [@caveman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caveman)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcyclists-how-do-you-deal-with-helmet-head/359603/3 "2006-06-06T14:24:47Z")
I shave my head, so I can’t suggest anything from personal experience. However, I have seen helmet liner/do-rag type [things](http://www.newenough.com/product_group_helmets_accessories.htm) that, while they’ll still squash your hair, will at least do it uniformly. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcyclists-how-do-you-deal-with-helmet-head/359603/4 "2006-06-06T14:27:30Z")
I don’t actually worry about it. Then again I work in a pretty easy going office. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcyclists-how-do-you-deal-with-helmet-head/359603/5 "2006-06-06T14:40:35Z")
Back when my hair was long it helped tame it, it usually wants to stick out on the sides and back. Now with short hair it’s not a big deal. ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcyclists-how-do-you-deal-with-helmet-head/359603/6 "2006-06-06T15:38:06Z")
A lot of riders carry a hat or cap to wear when the helmet is off. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_the\_Turtle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_the_turtle/32/2926_2.png) [@Fear\_the\_Turtle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_the_Turtle)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcyclists-how-do-you-deal-with-helmet-head/359603/7 "2006-06-06T16:47:08Z")
[QUOTE=Johnny L.A.] …when I get to work I head straight for the restroom and dampen my hair at the sink. I muss it up and brush it (a comb doesn’t work as well). Works well enough. So how do you deal with helmet head? [/QUOTE] This what I do. I try to wash it the night before and put gel in it. If I shower in the AM and the hair is wet or damp when I put the helmet on, it is unfixable. With dry hair and gel a little water puts almost anything back in place (I’ve found the shorter the hair the better). Today was funny as my hair looked a little funky when I woke up (probably a damp brush would have fixed), but since I was bringing the bike I decided to not wet it and wait til work. When I got in, I found the helmet had “fixed” my hair, and it looked a lot better even w/out damp brush. Shoei RF-1000 for the record. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcyclists-how-do-you-deal-with-helmet-head/359603/8 "2006-06-06T20:09:32Z")
You can always get a “hairmet”, like JD on Scrubs. It keeps your hair perfect. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcyclists-how-do-you-deal-with-helmet-head/359603/9 "2006-06-06T20:26:46Z")
[QUOTE=Kevbo] A lot of riders carry a hat or cap to wear when the helmet is off. [/QUOTE] Yup. I keep one baseball hat in one of the hard saddle bags. I can wear them at work, which helps. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Jet\_Jaguar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jet_jaguar/32/3562_2.png) [@Jet\_Jaguar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jet_Jaguar)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcyclists-how-do-you-deal-with-helmet-head/359603/10 "2006-06-06T21:43:10Z")
I keep a comb in my jacket pocket, that works good enough for me. I’ve heard some riders like to wear those silk do-rags like the ones **caveman** mentioned.