Lab-appropriate Hair?
August 25, 2013 9:56 AM Subscribe
Women scientists - how do you keep your long layers and bangs from catching on fire at work?
After years of having a monolength cut, I finally got my hair cut with long layers so I could go out in public. I told the stylist that the layers needed to be long enough to stay up, but they keep falling out of my pony tail, clip, and braid. They're even falling out of a French braid. The longest layers are somewhere around my shoulder blades.
Two part question - how do I keep up these layers in a lab-appropriate way (open flames, biohazards, and volatile chemicals) until they grow out, and how have you solved the problem of hair that works in lab and out? I like the layers and don't really want to go back to monolength any time soon, but I also need fire-safe hair. Do I have to bob? I'd rather not.
I'm in my mid-thirties and need to look like an adult.
After years of having a monolength cut, I finally got my hair cut with long layers so I could go out in public. I told the stylist that the layers needed to be long enough to stay up, but they keep falling out of my pony tail, clip, and braid. They're even falling out of a French braid. The longest layers are somewhere around my shoulder blades.
Two part question - how do I keep up these layers in a lab-appropriate way (open flames, biohazards, and volatile chemicals) until they grow out, and how have you solved the problem of hair that works in lab and out? I like the layers and don't really want to go back to monolength any time soon, but I also need fire-safe hair. Do I have to bob? I'd rather not.
I'm in my mid-thirties and need to look like an adult.
I used a ton of bobby pins when I worked in a lab. I'd put the bulk in a pony tail and then use a bobby pin to secure any stragglers. I'd keep a few tucked in my purse in case any other pieces fell during the day.
posted by julie_of_the_jungle at 10:08 AM on August 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by julie_of_the_jungle at 10:08 AM on August 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
Is it the length or is your hair very fine and "slippery"? Maybe it'll help to put some sort of thickening product in so your hair has more friction and will stay in a French braid more easily?
posted by olinerd at 10:08 AM on August 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by olinerd at 10:08 AM on August 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
I have long layers that are all long enough to fit in a low ponytail (shortest just above shoulder height, longest a few inches below shoulders), so that's easy to keep out of the way. I don't think long hair looks too young, although I guess opinions vary.
I'd go with a ponytail for all hair that fits in that, and then barettes/bobby pins to pin down the hair that would fall out of a ponytail.
posted by randomnity at 10:10 AM on August 25, 2013
I'd go with a ponytail for all hair that fits in that, and then barettes/bobby pins to pin down the hair that would fall out of a ponytail.
posted by randomnity at 10:10 AM on August 25, 2013
2nd-ing bobby pins. If you use two and cross them (like the RHS of this image), they lock against each other and hold very securely without slipping. I pin up my shorter layers on top of my head (kinda like the top barrette in BrashTech's answer, but farther forward b/c my front layers are shorter) and then put up the longer part as usual (low ponytail or french-twist type thing), and I find have much better success with crossed bobby pins than I do with any barrettes/clips. Crossing is key, though.
posted by Westringia F. at 10:13 AM on August 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Westringia F. at 10:13 AM on August 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
Nthing barrettes or bobby pins to clip up all the straggly bits. These work pretty well.
A super-wide headband as ponytail backup works really well, too. It's quicker than barrettes, but it may look a little young/casual for your taste. I have a buff and one of these headbands and really like them both.
posted by Metroid Baby at 10:19 AM on August 25, 2013
A super-wide headband as ponytail backup works really well, too. It's quicker than barrettes, but it may look a little young/casual for your taste. I have a buff and one of these headbands and really like them both.
posted by Metroid Baby at 10:19 AM on August 25, 2013
Also, if you use claw clips, maybe try the kind that are rubberized on the inside (like the Scunci "no-slip grip" ones)? I find the rubber manages to hold in strands that just barely make it to the clip, and the clip doesn't gradually slide out over the day the way the smooth ones do. I find rubberized elastics super-tangly (no better than a rubber band, ouch), but the rubberized claws never take my hair with them.
posted by Westringia F. at 10:29 AM on August 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Westringia F. at 10:29 AM on August 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
It's probably worth noting that most people use bobby pins incorrectly, including the picture linked above by someone else. I work in a lab and a single bobby pin is enough to hold back my thick, heavy bangs. The bumpy side is the bottom of the pin!
posted by ancient star at 10:33 AM on August 25, 2013 [24 favorites]
posted by ancient star at 10:33 AM on August 25, 2013 [24 favorites]
I agree that it sounds more like a problem with the texture of your hair, rather than the length. As someone with very slippery hair, I've found that putting it up or back when it's wet tends to make it stay better. I also use heavy-duty pony tail elastics; thin ones just don't keep my hair in place.
posted by jaguar at 10:37 AM on August 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by jaguar at 10:37 AM on August 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
Tuck you ponytail into you lab coat.
(For what its worth, all hair fire incidents I have witnessed have been male coworkers lighting their arm hair on fire, so ultimately I think its a matter of paying attention to your movements.)
posted by florencetnoa at 10:48 AM on August 25, 2013
(For what its worth, all hair fire incidents I have witnessed have been male coworkers lighting their arm hair on fire, so ultimately I think its a matter of paying attention to your movements.)
posted by florencetnoa at 10:48 AM on August 25, 2013
I've used bobby pins or an elastic head band. Not an athletic headband, but the thinner ones that look kind of like a thicker and bigger pony tail elastic. The elastic head band is more casual looking, but when nothing else works, it will. And it usually doesn't leave a weird bump in your hair, so you can take it off at the end of the work day and look cute once more. You could also try a little hair spray on the french braids. Also, styling when wet is the way to go for braids and/or barrettes.
posted by bluefly at 10:48 AM on August 25, 2013
posted by bluefly at 10:48 AM on August 25, 2013
Most of the females I work/have worked with just let it hang all over the place and peer through it at what they're doing, open flames be damned.
Otherwise a tight pony tail with bobby pins if needed and hair product to keep it flat, or a barrette or clip of some kind at the top (or another hair tie I guess) as BrashTech's image shows with another clip or a pony tail or braids or french braids whatever for the rest. And more product to make it stick (I use mousse personally, hair spray is also good).
I use clips with a spring thingy on the bottom to give a really tight hold, the slidey barrette things do nothing for my hair. Kind of like this but nicer. What works for your hair may vary, but having it be slightly sticky from hair product first goes a long way.
posted by shelleycat at 10:52 AM on August 25, 2013
Otherwise a tight pony tail with bobby pins if needed and hair product to keep it flat, or a barrette or clip of some kind at the top (or another hair tie I guess) as BrashTech's image shows with another clip or a pony tail or braids or french braids whatever for the rest. And more product to make it stick (I use mousse personally, hair spray is also good).
I use clips with a spring thingy on the bottom to give a really tight hold, the slidey barrette things do nothing for my hair. Kind of like this but nicer. What works for your hair may vary, but having it be slightly sticky from hair product first goes a long way.
posted by shelleycat at 10:52 AM on August 25, 2013
Oh also, when I clip the top up then tie the rest back in some way, I can untie the rest at the end of the day and go back to having neatly clipped back long fluffy hair without a problem, and don't look so obviously lab-ey. Whereas when I tie it into a pony tail it stays tied and stuck down (and looks like crap when it comes out). Which is fine because I like wearing it like that in general, but sometimes it's just easier to decide between well tied back and safe lab hair or long pretty fluffy hair for the day and plan on a shower or whatever to change between.
posted by shelleycat at 10:58 AM on August 25, 2013
posted by shelleycat at 10:58 AM on August 25, 2013
Seconding the buff headband; other headbands just slide off my hair. They stay put through jogging and dancing. Plus they're wide enough to hold both shorter and longer layers back from my face. Then put the rest of your hair in a bun or ponytail. I'd also recommend using a slide proof ponytail holder if your hair is slick. They're the only things that hold my thick hair. Another option (aka how my hair has looked allll summer) is to twist your bangs/near face layers like this and put the rest back in a bun.
posted by Empidonax at 11:02 AM on August 25, 2013
posted by Empidonax at 11:02 AM on August 25, 2013
Oh I love those slide proof pony tail holders. They don't pinch or pull at all and really work.
posted by shelleycat at 11:09 AM on August 25, 2013
posted by shelleycat at 11:09 AM on August 25, 2013
I'm not a scientist but when I'm dealing with fire or moving parts I wear a handkerchief, a la Rosie the Riveter. It's fashionable enough if you get cute ones. I still have to clip or bobby pin it.
And no, one bobby pin won't stay in my hair no matter how I put it in- I have to do the 2 crossed ones. I have fine, very slippery hair, unless it's filthy like right now.
posted by small_ruminant at 11:16 AM on August 25, 2013 [2 favorites]
And no, one bobby pin won't stay in my hair no matter how I put it in- I have to do the 2 crossed ones. I have fine, very slippery hair, unless it's filthy like right now.
posted by small_ruminant at 11:16 AM on August 25, 2013 [2 favorites]
Would you wear a snood?
posted by windykites at 12:02 PM on August 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by windykites at 12:02 PM on August 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
Oh and for bangs: plastic headband with little teeth. If it's roughly the same colour as your hair, it doesn't look young.
posted by windykites at 12:05 PM on August 25, 2013
posted by windykites at 12:05 PM on August 25, 2013
Mini-french-braid down the left and right sides of your head. I started doing this when my bangs were growing out. Bonus: it looks kind of cool.
Braid. It works. Really really well.
If you have super-slippery hair, you can help the process by putting some product in your hair before you start braiding - it makes it easier to grip and braid, and also helps the braids stay together.
You can also start by braiding your hair when wet, but it can affect the way the hair looks afterward.
example pictures here. You can move your braid closer to the front of your head and be a little more contained about it if you're not going to be on the red carpet :).
posted by amtho at 12:06 PM on August 25, 2013
Braid. It works. Really really well.
If you have super-slippery hair, you can help the process by putting some product in your hair before you start braiding - it makes it easier to grip and braid, and also helps the braids stay together.
You can also start by braiding your hair when wet, but it can affect the way the hair looks afterward.
example pictures here. You can move your braid closer to the front of your head and be a little more contained about it if you're not going to be on the red carpet :).
posted by amtho at 12:06 PM on August 25, 2013
When I need to wear a labcoat and gloves (meaning I can't touch my face in any way) I wear a stretchy cloth headband to keep stray little hair of my eyes, and a French braid. It's not very stylish, but it drives me CRAZY to be in lab (which is always super dry and slightly breezy due to the ventilation systems) and have dry little hairs tickling my face and not be able to do anything about it for a whole 15 minutes or whatever.
posted by Cygnet at 12:17 PM on August 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Cygnet at 12:17 PM on August 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
> It's probably worth noting that most people use bobby pins incorrectly, including the picture linked above by someone else.... The bumpy side is the bottom of the pin!
Mind. Blown.
I still need to do the crisscross thing, but it looks a hell of a lot better without the angled ends sticking out of my head like little antennae. Why didn't I ever think of this?!
posted by Westringia F. at 12:21 PM on August 25, 2013
Mind. Blown.
I still need to do the crisscross thing, but it looks a hell of a lot better without the angled ends sticking out of my head like little antennae. Why didn't I ever think of this?!
posted by Westringia F. at 12:21 PM on August 25, 2013
Bobby pins. Also get some good kick ass hair spray or product to put in your hair to help it hold, or don't wash your hair every day. It tends to stay in braids etc easier if it's not freshly washed. Headbands are also your friend.
posted by wwax at 12:23 PM on August 25, 2013
posted by wwax at 12:23 PM on August 25, 2013
This slightly different version of the ubiquitous snap clip works miraculously well: Vidal Sassoon Clix Contour Clip. It's the only hair hardware that doesn't slide out of my slippery hair, and also doesn't hurt, get tangled or cause breakage.
posted by Corvid at 1:10 PM on August 25, 2013
posted by Corvid at 1:10 PM on August 25, 2013
Oh, and careful with "product." Some of that stuff is enthusiastically flammable.
posted by Corvid at 1:11 PM on August 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Corvid at 1:11 PM on August 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
I have slippery hair. I don't use hair spray. IANAScientist.
Instead of one french braid, try two french braids and then tuck/pin them under (googled example). Pinning the ends of the braids underneath usually takes 3 or 4 bobby pins per braid. Crossing the bobby pins helps when one of the bobby pins is directed up into the braid and the other is directed up perpendicular to the first. The third and fourth bobby pins hang on to the hair elastic that is holding the end of the braid and make sure the end of the braid is secured to your head.
I found that two french braids are much more likely to hold my hair in place than one. My guess is that since the braid has slightly fewer pieces of fine slippery hair to deal with, it holds it better.
If your hair is too long to tuck the ends under with two firm french braids, you can wrap the ends in a bun. (googled example)
posted by donut_princess at 1:15 PM on August 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
Instead of one french braid, try two french braids and then tuck/pin them under (googled example). Pinning the ends of the braids underneath usually takes 3 or 4 bobby pins per braid. Crossing the bobby pins helps when one of the bobby pins is directed up into the braid and the other is directed up perpendicular to the first. The third and fourth bobby pins hang on to the hair elastic that is holding the end of the braid and make sure the end of the braid is secured to your head.
I found that two french braids are much more likely to hold my hair in place than one. My guess is that since the braid has slightly fewer pieces of fine slippery hair to deal with, it holds it better.
If your hair is too long to tuck the ends under with two firm french braids, you can wrap the ends in a bun. (googled example)
posted by donut_princess at 1:15 PM on August 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I used to be a bench chemist, and could not do my hair to save my life (ie. no braids). Most times ponytails are perfectly serviceable, and the occasional strand of hair (mine were chin-length side-parted bangs) wasn't a big deal.
If you don't mind a bun, the Goody Spin Pins are basically corkscrews for your hair and can get your hair into a very neat, sturdy bun very easily. My hair is slippery (hairbands with rubber bits for traction still slide right off) so I cross my spin pins, but a lot of people can secure their hair into a bun with only one pin. You can secure any loose strands with bobby pins used correctly per above. If you want to be a little fancier, the Goody Modern Updo Pin is also a good bet. That one makes the hair look a lot nicer - nice enough that I'm comfortable wearing it to my company's Christmas dinner - and is also very secure, but is somewhat more finicky to use.
I would not use hair products - they made my hair feel gross very quickly, and as mentioned above, lots of hair products are cheerfully flammable (although if your hair is pinned back, it shouldn't make much of a difference).
posted by Zelos at 2:40 PM on August 25, 2013
If you don't mind a bun, the Goody Spin Pins are basically corkscrews for your hair and can get your hair into a very neat, sturdy bun very easily. My hair is slippery (hairbands with rubber bits for traction still slide right off) so I cross my spin pins, but a lot of people can secure their hair into a bun with only one pin. You can secure any loose strands with bobby pins used correctly per above. If you want to be a little fancier, the Goody Modern Updo Pin is also a good bet. That one makes the hair look a lot nicer - nice enough that I'm comfortable wearing it to my company's Christmas dinner - and is also very secure, but is somewhat more finicky to use.
I would not use hair products - they made my hair feel gross very quickly, and as mentioned above, lots of hair products are cheerfully flammable (although if your hair is pinned back, it shouldn't make much of a difference).
posted by Zelos at 2:40 PM on August 25, 2013
Not a scientist but a dutch braid on either side of a center part coming together into one ponytail at the back keeps my growing out bangs and layers back all day. I use one bobby pin on each side at the bangs.
posted by waterlily at 2:45 PM on August 25, 2013
posted by waterlily at 2:45 PM on August 25, 2013
Spin pins! I had no idea what they were called, but yes! My slippery hair and I love spin pins!
posted by jaguar at 3:14 PM on August 25, 2013
posted by jaguar at 3:14 PM on August 25, 2013
Chignon in an octopus clip (which can be done securely but not screwed up so tight that it looks bad if you take it down) and a snood to hold the front bits back. All commercial headbands are too tight on my gigantic noggin, but I've found that looser, wider snoods are comfortable and don't let hair escape.
posted by Lyn Never at 3:37 PM on August 25, 2013
posted by Lyn Never at 3:37 PM on August 25, 2013
What about a wide, stretchy fabric headband for the flyaways? It's gentle on your hair, and you can take it off when you're just working at your desk. It's a pretty common solution in clean rooms.
posted by you're a kitty! at 6:03 PM on August 25, 2013
posted by you're a kitty! at 6:03 PM on August 25, 2013
Best answer: I used to teach microbiology labs for undergrads as a TA,
If you use product, which is not necessarily a bad idea, BE SUPER INCREDIBLY CAREFUL NOT TO HAVE A LOT. Lots of product, particularly with longer more fine hair, can mean really big fast terrifying fires with tragic aftermaths rather than an unpleasant smell and some burnt ends.
I used to keep a cardboard thing of bobby pins that you can get for a buck or two at any pharmacy chain in my lab coat, and that seemed to always work after a bit of effort.
posted by Blasdelb at 6:33 AM on August 26, 2013
If you use product, which is not necessarily a bad idea, BE SUPER INCREDIBLY CAREFUL NOT TO HAVE A LOT. Lots of product, particularly with longer more fine hair, can mean really big fast terrifying fires with tragic aftermaths rather than an unpleasant smell and some burnt ends.
I used to keep a cardboard thing of bobby pins that you can get for a buck or two at any pharmacy chain in my lab coat, and that seemed to always work after a bit of effort.
posted by Blasdelb at 6:33 AM on August 26, 2013
Best answer: You can make a hairspray that works pretty well with one cup warm water and about 2 tsp sugar (really, not that much sugar). Put in a really good spray bottle for misting your hair.
There are a lot of recipes for homemade hairspray - this one works fine for braiding. You'll note it has no alcohol in it, and no scent to annoy your coworkers (or, in my case, cause headaches).
posted by amtho at 8:59 AM on August 26, 2013
There are a lot of recipes for homemade hairspray - this one works fine for braiding. You'll note it has no alcohol in it, and no scent to annoy your coworkers (or, in my case, cause headaches).
posted by amtho at 8:59 AM on August 26, 2013
Response by poster: Micro is my home field... and I've had students with product catch their bangs on fire. Some students learn by listening to the professor and some students learn by doing.
After working through recommendations:
Concerns about texture were duly noted. My hair is very thick and not washing it for a day didn't help with slippage. Product is not an option for the reasons detailed, but the home made hairspray is a useful trick to have in the utility belt. Bobby pins kept turning perpendicular to poke me in the head. I haven't made it to spin pins yet. French braids worked well enough for home days but didn't stay low maintenance long enough to wear to work. I might deal with the problem in future hair cuts by making the bangs shorter.
For anyone looking for help in the future: A bandette comb works better than a claw clip to hold the front layers back and can be done up to do the same sort of flat pony tail updo. Plain combs, which can be picked up for cheap on amazon, work fairly well for rolls and twists.
posted by arabelladragon at 3:10 PM on August 30, 2013
After working through recommendations:
Concerns about texture were duly noted. My hair is very thick and not washing it for a day didn't help with slippage. Product is not an option for the reasons detailed, but the home made hairspray is a useful trick to have in the utility belt. Bobby pins kept turning perpendicular to poke me in the head. I haven't made it to spin pins yet. French braids worked well enough for home days but didn't stay low maintenance long enough to wear to work. I might deal with the problem in future hair cuts by making the bangs shorter.
For anyone looking for help in the future: A bandette comb works better than a claw clip to hold the front layers back and can be done up to do the same sort of flat pony tail updo. Plain combs, which can be picked up for cheap on amazon, work fairly well for rolls and twists.
posted by arabelladragon at 3:10 PM on August 30, 2013
Quick tip, at least for my hair - if you ever get to the Goody Modern Updo pin, you'll find that the instructions almost mirror the spin pins (i.e. make a bun and stick in). Whereas the spin pins are pretty intuitive and you just screw them in from somewhere on the bun, the modern updo makes you stick it in from the bottom and then flip up and push down.
When sticking the modern updo pin in, don't stick it in at the base of the bun. Do it from middle or 1/3 of the way up, push through the knot of hair, and then flip and push down. Pushing it in from the very bottom of the bun makes an updo so tight it gives me headaches and make my scalp hurt.
I also use a ponytail holder to make a ponytail before twisting it into a bun (both for spin pins and modern updo); I find that it helps with staying power (my hair is like teflon, everything slides off).
posted by Zelos at 7:57 PM on August 30, 2013
When sticking the modern updo pin in, don't stick it in at the base of the bun. Do it from middle or 1/3 of the way up, push through the knot of hair, and then flip and push down. Pushing it in from the very bottom of the bun makes an updo so tight it gives me headaches and make my scalp hurt.
I also use a ponytail holder to make a ponytail before twisting it into a bun (both for spin pins and modern updo); I find that it helps with staying power (my hair is like teflon, everything slides off).
posted by Zelos at 7:57 PM on August 30, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by BrashTech at 10:02 AM on August 25, 2013