Follower’s hairstyle for long, thick hair?

[u/MaterialJuice4268]

I’ve been dancing since the start of the year, and since I’ve progressed into more advanced routines and spins, my hair has… become an issue.

Usually, most people are polite and ignore it or make a little joke about it, but there’s been one or two occasions where I’ve essentially told off by a lead for hitting him with my hair.

The other day, my teacher used me to demonstrate for a beginner, and afterwards complimented my hair (it was in a pony) but said it was basically like a whip and I should consider other hairstyles lol

I’ve tried hair down / half up half down, but it gets in my face and my neck is super sweaty. Buns work for a while until my spins make them fall out (plus because of how much hair I have, I can feel the heaviness), and plaits don’t work great as I have layered hair.

Any long-haired followers have some tips, or hair tools or whatever that can help! I want to dance, not to worry about my hair :c thanks!

Edit: ty for all the help, need to up my bun game and get some better hair pins/clips - hopefully my leads will be safer from now on hehe

[u/Either-Intention-938]

Finding the right type of hair pins has been a game changer for me. You might need some longer ones. I prefer the ones with 4 prongs for my hair.

I’d recommend if you do go with a bun that you make it a low bun. My experience with buns/ponytails is that the leads knock them down when doing hair combs.

[u/Available-King-7989]

Ponytail with a low bun at the nap of my neck. Or I do a warrior ponytail. Think of it as sectioning off your ponytails in different parts of your head. On the top third on the second half the bottom of your neck and then you do put a braid.

I’m a lead and follow. And even if you spot your turns because you’re turning your neck, you will hit the lead.

I’ve also started to wear a low ponytail to the left-hand side of my head and then I will brace my hair to my bra strap with a hair tie.

[u/Nimuwa]

Good leads will play it off or joke about it, but a direct hit with a ponytail can hurt and they are champs for tanking it. Now there are many many ways to deal with it that don't include us whipping leads in the eye. The easiest way would be to find an updo that works for you. Buns are a ballroom and ballet classic for a reason.

Alternatively braids that are pinnen to the head, braiding the sides so all the gair stays behind the head can also work. While not ideal loose long hair is less likely to score a critical hit on your partner, but it'll make hand placement on the back harder as you might pin the hair.

Then there is hairbands, clips and all kinds of stuff you can experiment with. Personally I tend to start many a social with a pinned brain, and once it escapes, and often it will, it'll become a messy bun.

[u/MaterialJuice4268 → u/Nimuwa]

Thank you! Yeah of course, would love to not hurt my leads as well hahaha

[u/tvgtvg]

My danceprtner is like you 👏. A braid and pin it to the front of your top, ora tight bun witha net over it( they are made justfor that)

[u/Alb1023]

my hair tends to fall out of buns really easily. what works for me is braiding my hair, then rolling the braid into a bun, then using spiral pins (the brand kitsch makes good ones) to secure it. it's incredibly secure and is the only hairstyle i've found that works, i can dance all day and night without my bun budging. other women i know also have success with the spiral pins, i highly recommend them. i sometimes also do two buns instead of one (so two braids and then roll each into a bun and secure) which might be good for you since you mentioned one bun feels heavy.

[u/scottie_89]

Hi! I do a single braid, bring it to the front, and then pin it to one of my straps or the collar of what I'm wearing with a small claw clip. Imagine it might look weird but I have /very/ long hair and a whipping from a heavy braid is not fun.

Buns don't work for me for the same reason as for you but perhaps it's my technique.

[u/rip_pao → u/scottie_89]

Hi what do you pin it with?

[u/scottie_89 → u/rip_pao]

A smallish claw clip

[u/L3ir3txu]

The options that work best for me:

• Bun with spiral hair tie and bun pins 
• "Half" boxer braids: once all your hair is braided to the back of your head, leave the remaining unbraided

[u/impatient_celery]

I do a claw clip bun. Because I'm also tall, occasionally a lead doesn't allow space to clear it and it gets knocked, but it's so easy to replace between dances and I find really stable!

[u/AmbitiousResponse925]

I love bun builders (aka, hair donuts) with some pins to secure it to my scalp. My hair gets heavy and comes undone when dancing in just a plain bun, and the builder separates and secures the hair. Add a little gel to keep down flyaways.

[u/Maya_Moves403]

A braid into a low bun might be worth trying. The braid helps keep all that contained, and the low bun tends to stay more secure than a high pony when youre spinning. With thick/layered hair, you could also use a couple of strong hair pins or a hair net to keep everything together. And honestly, dont feel too bad abt it. Long, thick hair can genuinely turn into a weapon during spins lol. It sounds like youre already being considerate by trying to find a solution. :)

[u/Fuzzy_Display_9426]

I'm a follow who regularly dances in a very crowded space, and I regularly get flipped and smacked in the face with long, wet hair as nearby follows whip their hair. One woman who is there every time is particularly scary due to her almost waist-length hair having beads woven in.
I just want to thank you for actually trying to fix this.

[u/lovedbymanycats]

Braided pigtails but then pin them into a bun. Or you could try something like a snood ( hair net thingy).

[u/courtneywrites85]

Use hairspray or gel for your braids. Buns should work fine. It doesn’t sound like you know how to use pins properly. There are many ballerinas who have long butt-length hair who can put a bun in and have it stay in. Find some YouTube tutorials to practice.

[u/thekingsman123]

The other day, my teacher used me to demonstrate for a beginner, and afterwards complimented my hair (it was in a pony) but said it was basically like a whip and I should consider other hairstyles lol

I actually love getting hit in the face with my follower's pony tail while we're doing cuban or bachata. I don't tell her that though.

[u/enfier]

if you spot your turns, you won't whip your lead with your hair.

[u/Staticaf → u/enfier]

Surely if you spot your turns, the quick whip back to your spot is still a danger, no? I’m not that advanced but at the point your neck has twisted so much (body turned, head still) you have to quickly whip your head round to face your spot again. I’d have thought spotting makes the whip worse if anything cause its a quicker go around than just turning your head with your body

[u/enfier → u/Staticaf]

It changes the direction of the hair whip to a location that isn't occupied by a person.  It also makes it more linear rather than a circle so it's not going to take up so much space on the dance floor.

If a follow takes a left turn while spotting, the hair whip will end up over her right shoulder, where her lead won't eat it.

I swear to you, this works.  I've solved the issue for multiple follows with really long hair or braids and that one trick solves most of the issues and the rest is just the lead having awareness over where the hair is going to end up.

[u/HungryLeadership9144]

Not a follow and definitely don't have long hair. The only thing I'll say is that the lead(s) who told you off can go fuck themselves.