How do you wear your hair when driving?

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We've just bought a car and haven't had one for many year. I'm trying to remember how I used to wear my hair while driving, because now I can't seem to find a hairstyle that works with the headrest/roof.

E.g. I almost always wear it as a messy bun (when not at work or going somewhere nice), but I can't then rest my head on the headrest, and the headrest keeps pushing my head forwards uncomfortably because of my bun. So then I tried it as a top bun, but this then touches to roof and annoys me as I can't freely turn my head (small car and lots of hair!).

I don't want to wear it out, as it restricts my vision and I like having the window open at lot.

So what do you do if you have long hair while driving? French Plait??

I had never given this a second thought until I drove my husbands car to work the other day with my hair in a chignon and it was awful. So annoying. Had to take it out at the traffic lights. But his car doesn’t adjust electrically so it was quicker to charge the hair than adjust the seat!

Do you need to change the angle of your seat back so the headrest is a bit further back?

I'm aware my cheap, plastic, 2 inch claw clips that snap their own teeth off are going to imbed in my skull (or ears more likely as there's one on each side) in an accident on the rare occasions I wear them. My necklace is going to throttle me. The stuff in my boot (including the jack) is also going to crash through the back seat because I don't fasten the seat belts across the empty back seats.
My sunglasses or anti glare glasses will be shattered by the air bags. There's no projectiles on my parcel shelf though at least.

Maybe I shouldn't drive 🤔

I fashion mine into Princess Leia side buns. Time consuming but worth it.

What a bizarre post. I wear a large claw clip and have never had an issue.

What sort of car do you have op. I have a volvo and the headrest is the worst feature of it. It pushes my head forwards. I have thick hair and if its in a ponytail I get excruciating neck ache. Other cars I've had didn't do this and my dh's BMW doesn't really. I always have my hair down as a result and put it up when I arrive.

This. Is. Fascinating.

Ever since Monday, when on a longer drive and I realised my head and neck were really uncomfortable, I've been meaning to google driving posture. I realised the headrest was wrong for me, but couldn't fix it on the motorway while driving...

Now I realise it was somewhat about my bun.

And this is apparently how we should be driving, but it doesn't account for buns.

www.motorfinity.uk/blog/ergonomics-in-car/#:~:text=Position%20the%20headrest%20so%20the,on%20the%20headrest%20when%20driving.

Head and Neck Alignment
Position the headrest so the top is level with the top of your head, and it's as close to the back of your head as comfortable. This helps prevent whiplash in case of an accident.
Ensure you can rest your head on the headrest when driving. Neck pain is a common problem often caused by driving with your head forwards rather than upright. The headrest position should still allow you to turn your head fully when needed.



I started reading this thread thinking, 'well, this is something that I have genuinely never put any effort into considering'.

Then I remembered that while my car is a 2011 plate and never gives me any problems, bless it, I got really irritated when recently driving a friend's much newer car (21/22, I think) and constantly having to adjust my hair, which I also tend to wear in a messy bun.

So do modern cars have very differently fixed headrests, then? Bloody hell, yet another example of how the world is designed for men... 🙄😄

OP, I don't have an answer but just wanted to say I get you! I sometimes wish that old school headrests with a hole in the middle were still a thing as it would be much more comfortable!

I wear my hair however I styled it in the morning.
But, my drivers seat is adjusted properly so that it doesn't matter - it sounds like you need to adjust yours. Tilt the back more and lower the seat.

Goodness, never given this a seconds thought.

I tend to wear a claw clip to put my hair up in, so would take that out when in the car. It pushes my head a bit too far forward to be comfortable.

I always wear a messy bun and get in the car and I’m like FFS it pushes my head forward and hurts my neck. So I always take my hair down (long and straight) and wear it down. But if I had curls or Afro etc it would be harder I get that OP

Mid 40s now, had long hair all my life, have never once thought about needing a particular hairstyle for driving. I don't wear buns to be fair but either loose, high or low ponytail or plait(s) would be my normal hairstyle, not ever had an issue. My head does not touch the headrest when I drive.

For longer drives I have to take my hair down, but when I'm working I'm frequently in and out of the car and need to keep my hair up and this is a real problem. I tilt the seat further back if I am driving with my hair in a bun. I have very thick hair so my bun is probably bigger than average.

Not with a claw clip after a rear shunt. That really hurt.

Its not really a headrest you know, its there to protect your head in the event of a crash - so your head isnt swung back breaking your neck

Im so short I dont even reach mine :)

If I had started driving again after a break of many years there would be many things to concentrate on before how I wore my hair.