Up Your Show Hair Game
All photos by Beth Foster-Hattan
We recently asked our readers:
What do you recommend for those looking to update their method of putting up their show hair?
What do you use with that hair routine? Pins? Hair net? Hair spray?
As usual, our readers were great resources! Read on to see what method might work for you, or what tips you can add to your regimen (all links to readers’ favorite products are non-sponsored):
Shannon Yeaton
The dirtier the hair the better the bun! Makes for tighter buns and no strays! For people like me with a lackluster amount of hair, I add in a premade hair piece that fits right over my baby bun! A few pins and some hairspray and viola! Done and ready in less than two minutes!! It’s similar to a hair extension piece or hair piece that does around a pony tail, rolled up in a hair net. Kind of resembles a very neat birds nest!
Minae Kroeze
Aqua net, scissors, and prayer
Cindy VanVelzen Bakker
Aquanet and a copious amount of Bobby pins!!
Michelle Entorf
I just came here to say Aqua Net.
Lola James
I find it easy to braid my low pony tightly and secure it with a rubber band. then I wrap it around my hair tie pinning it along the way with regular pins and bun pins. then i wrap a thin hair net around my hair and secure it with more pins. lastly I glue my hair down with hairspray!
Heather Susan Duer
Depends on what event.
For my horsemanship bun I ponytail it, Bobby pin it, and hairspray it after wrapping it with a small hairnet.
For huntseat I twist and pin on my head then put a hairnet over it and after I put my helmet on make sure to pin and spray again to contain all of those flyaways
For Trail, I put my halo extensions in and ponytail it low. This is my favorite class and favorite hairstyle.
Amber Daniel
I think dirty hair does help, but if it’s not dirty, I spray extra hairspray in it and brush it through. I start with brushing my hair towards the back, spray the sides with a decent amount of spray, and then brush it back into my pony. I loosely twist my hair and start forming a bun shape. I put on a hairnet and start mushing my hair around into a ball shape then twisting the whole bun in the direction that I wrapped it to tighten it up. Then add another hair net and repeat. I usually use three or four. At this point it kind of stays on its own and only needs a few bobby pins and a little spray to keep it in place all day.
I’ve found that doing it this way makes a round, symmetrical, pretty bun.
I hate it when pins pop out or poke you in the head, so I like that I only need a few with this method.
Side note, when my hair was shorter and my bun was really tiny, I did the same method, but added like 10 hairnets it made it look a lot better and you couldn’t tell I had 100 hairnets in.
Amy Engelskirger
Man Bun!! For years I wore a fake bun for sms. My hair is short in the back with lots of layers. I’d start with wet dirty hair and put it into a rats tail (about all I could make of a ponytail) then attach the man bun and use a regular hair net. Called it my “Fake Tail”. Man buns are only 3” in diameter, making them the perfect size for showing.
For hunt caps and helmets my go it is always Real Women Ride hairnets.
Samantha Nicole
I have a ton of wavy, unruly hair and I SWEAR by a “spin pin” or two. I started using these corkscrew shaped pins in my pageant days, and they’re perfect for a tight and easy bun for showmanship! https://www.amazon.com/…/dp/B0055Y9AIY/ref=mp_s_a_1_4…
AMAZON.COM
Goody Hair Spin Pin, – Mini Corkscrew Hair Pins for Fast Bun Provides All-Day Hold
Allison Pickles-Ott
For those with super long hair, we use a gel on the sides, then pony tail, put in hair pins, then hair net, then the work begins. Push the bun super hard against the head and get the hair to be more flat while I put in pins. When finished, lots of spray and add the ribbons.
Roni Murphy
Lol. When I got close to 50 I gave up and cut it all off so I could just brush it back, hair spray it and put my hat on.
Bailey Ann
Ohgosh – I knew I should have made this video! First, I start with a leave-in treatment to slick everything down. This helps so when I brush it out later it doesn’t hurt and may as well get some healing in. Brush it all back, secure with a pony, make your bun, 2 hairnets, and metagrip Bobby pins! Then go back and spray with hairspray if necessary.
Stormy Vaughn Bowers
For short to medium length hair, I love hair donuts! The smallest one works great for my just above shoulder length hair. Put in back in a low pony, roll the donut in the hair from the ends to roots, shove a couple of Bobby pins in, hair net, secure it with a couple more pins at the root and it’s done. Mousse and firm hold hair sprays are always a must. I don’t recommend using the larger donuts, because the bun can be too big to fit with a hat. Rolling ends to roots in a thin sock works well for longer hair. Also, I’m a hair stylist and makeup artist, so look for me at the shows!
AMAZON.COM
Jennifer Sell
No matter what discipline you ride, neat and tidy hair is a must!
We show primarily on the Hunter circuit and we use the Real Women Ride No Knot Hair Net. We suggest placing your hair in a low pony tail and then bring the hair net up and over the pony tail, which puts everything nicely under the helmet. No pins or hair spray needed and works well with all types of hair. You can purchase these in a shade close to your natural hair color, which produces a nice, professional look.
Gillian Grace Chant
For those who don’t have naturally straight hair: gel first, then a boar bristle brush (or any brush with fine bristles), followed by lots of hair spray. If you can have your hair somewhat straight the day you need to have it in a bun, that’s a bonus. And definitely clean up the baby hairs at the base of your neck for a clean look. Go to Sally’s beauty to find a wide range of hair nets that will match your hair color for an extra polished finish.
Jourdan Shrontz
Hair gel to slick back everything around the face, good strong hold hair spray, sturdy Bobby pins, matching hair net and good string elastics.
Jen Gabriel
No knot hair net.
AMAZON.COM
RWR No Knot Hair Net in Five Colors (Light Brown)
Caitlyn Uehling
Got 2 b glued hairspray, regular bobbie pins, the fine hair nets, a bristle hair brush, and a good low ponytail.
Maddie Rippeon
Wax stick to slick back any and all fly aways!
Renae Wesenberg
The Hat Lady 4 pin bun is the way to go.
https://fb.watch/l7oFWhIzo2/?mibextid=Nif5oz
My other notes. If hair is thin you may need to tease the base of the pony tail to get a fuller bun. If hair is extra thick or in a layered cut you may need to put the top section up in a “top knot” on top of the head under the hat.
Buns for Western Horsemanship, Showmanship and Saddle Seat.
Bun or pony for Western Pleasure and Western Performance classes.
Hunter hair for hunt classes.
Adriana R Grimm
Dirty hair, good hair spray, Bobby pins, hair pins for thick hair, we even use wig caps too. Bands also! Remember to match to your hair color, don’t forget hair nets
Kerrie-Lynn Christie Raymond
Mousse hair, place in low ponytail. Then half the pony, wrap one way and pin. Wrap the rest of the hair the other way, pin. The half and half wrap both directions is key Wrap entire thing in net, then spray with Tres Emme Extra Hold lol.
Eleanor Harowicz
For my felt hat, it’s the lowest ponytail I can manage, wrap it and pin it, then hair net over the bun to keep it neat, then add my ribbon and go. For my helmet, it’s a no knot hair net, hair over the ears throw it all in the net and tuck it away under the helmet and go. I try to keep it simple so I’m not panicked trying to get in the ring. There’s enough else to worry about.
Katie Jean
My trainers would take the clippers to get all the little curls that escape the low pony and you cant pin up. I have a TON of long curly hair. I get it wet to help contain it to start then pins and hairnets and lots of hairspray to keep it all together.
Elise Guerra
One of the best tricks that helps me successfully get my thick hair into a bun is wetting my it all before pulling it back into a ponytail. It helps keep my hair manageable throughout the whole process. When it comes to fly aways, I always put styling gel on the sides and bottom as I’m pulling it all together behind my head. This gives me another opportunity to make sure my hair will look neat from all angles and that the hair tie will hold as much hair as possible. I only ever use MetaGrip hairpins (not bobby pins) These have been a total game changer! I used to need what felt like a hundred bobby pins to contain my hair. I only need a few of these hairpins to hold everything in nicely so I can put the hairnet on. Once that’s on, I use a few shorter ones to secure the hairnet and reinforce the bun and pin down any random strands that may be sticking out a bit.
Carianne Rawlings
Gel, lots and lots of hair gel!
Rachel Keeler
I have very thick very curly hair! So I personally French braid the top half of my head (pulling it up to about my ears) and then braid down like normal, wrap it up and pin it to hide it under my hat. This creates less hair to go into my bun, making it look neater and smaller. We then do a low ponytail and twist it around the bun. Securing it with hair pins and bobby piba as we go to create a tight bun. Once I feel like it is tight, we use a hairnet I get from Sally’s Beauty Supply, and wrap it around twice, securing that with bobby pins. I then use hairspray and pin up my baby hairs that try to fall from my ears. Put my hat on and tada!
Whitney Romanoff
Copious amounts of hair spray for any event, except maybe the English because that can make getting the hair over your ears challenging if you do it that way.
Starting with hair half up half down I feel gives more control of stubborn fly aways. Especially if you have thick hair. Then pull it all together into a low pony, with more hair spray of course.
For buns I like the half up half down concept again for the same reason of taming the fly aways. Then I like to use a hair net to scoop the hair up, and layer the hair net around the bun it creates, re-encasing the entire bun with the net, then a hair tie to help secure that, followed but hair pins (not bobby pins). Stick those suckers through the hair ties and it’s good and snug. Doing it this way I’ve found makes it so the bun doesn’t get huge and bulky but still has a nice shape.
Marcie Lynn
I watched you tube videos for ideas and products our women Military use to keep their hair at regulation standards.
It works! Lots of gel.
Lori Banker Bowers
We do a low pony tail, then twist the hair and wrap it around the base of the ponytail and secure with hairpins first, then add Bobby pins for the outside edges. I like to use bun sized hairnets that I buy at Sally Beauty Supply. They still need doubled up but make for a lot less extra hairnet. Then we use Helmet Head hairspray both in pump bottle (super sticky) and the aerosol can (to finish). If you have super long or thick hair, start by pulling part of it up into a ponytail on the crown of your head and then do the bun with what is left. This makes the bun less bulky. I’m a former competitive dance mom and a horse show mom/competitor and we’ve done many buns over the years!! Both areas of competition want no flyaways!
Elisabeth Cox
I used to use the donuts but switched to the snap and roll tool which I prefer, it’s a more uniform bun without the pieces twisted around. For layered hair like I have, it can be really tough to get a nice bun shape without some kind of tool.
AMAZON.COM
Jessica Marie Woolsey
Lots of hair spray! Bobby pins and a hair net. And then some more hair spray.
Paige Everly
I have thin hair, so I use a donut the size I want my bun to be (a small/medium ish donut) roll it all into the donut with a ton of hairspray, Bobby pin it till it doesn’t move, finish with a hairnet and more hairspray.
Stacey Chase Jividen
It depends on your hair. I’m a dance mom, too, so I try to make sure the hairstyle is appropriate. I’m not a fan of big buns or bun makers for showing. It needs to be small, neat, tidy and most importantly fit under your hat for showmanship and horsemanship. As a previous hunter convert, I like to put all the hair under the helmet for HUS events: hair net with hair over the ears and then put in a low pony, followed by putting all of it under the helmet for a very neat look.
Hair nets, pins, sometimes Bobby pins are all a must with good hairspray to stay all day.
Janel Marie
I have shoulder-length hair with many layers; I take my bangs, make a half-up-do, and then take the back from the bottom and make it a ponytail for a full-up-do. I braid the remaining length and pin it around the top. I then use a lavender-scented braiding wax from Spot On Braiding Wax around my whispies and ensure they are all tamed – and then I use it in my horse’s forelock for her bands, too. This works well until I get into my sms jacket, which has a lot of sequins inside the collar. Trying to figure out how best to lay those down – Does anyone have any ideas?
Cindi Madej
Hair Spray, then brush into low ponytail. Twist tight & as you twist, it will wrap around the band. Use Bobby pins to hold. More Hair Spray. Wrap hair net around bun, add additional Bobby pins to secure. Spray & use hair clips to secure any hair not long enough to contain in bun. Hair Spray again…… Being an ‘80’s girl, you can never use too much Hairspray
Tracy Dalman
I have really long hair and swear by these:
