I’ve always had short hair, but recently I realized that girls (or guys with long hair) have some real problems while training to box. when boxing, you’ll need to keep your chin tucked in, and this is where long hair can present a challenge.
If you have long hair that isn’t secured, it can fall into your face and block your vision. Also, it’s not so great to be a sparring partner with someone with long hair because it can flutter around and get in your face and mouth.
So I did some research and talked to some pro boxers with long hair and here are my 7 tips for boxers with long hair:
- wear multiple hair ties at the same time
- use mousse or gel to keep hair loose
- gather your hair into a tight bun
- Gather your hair into a bun on top of your head
- braid your hair tightly on top of your head and pull it into a bun
- avoid using hard pins
- use a hairnet
- Divide your ponytail into two sections.
- wrap one section of hair around the other and tie it into a knot.
- Pull harder on the knot to secure it.
- Take the two long sections of hair and tie them back together to form a second knot. now you have a double knot.
- Now, wrap the rest of your hair around the bun and secure with a hair tie. use a second hair tie to make sure your top knot is stronger.
- short hair is generally easier to care for and maintain.
- some believe it is a way to become more aerodynamic and contributes to weight requirements.
- short hair can sometimes appear more aggressive or threatening.
Below, we take a closer look at each of those 7 tips and other important things to know if you want to box with long hair.
but even if you follow them, your vision can be blocked a bit during combat, not because of your hair but because of your helmet. most helmets block your peripheral vision, which really sucks because you take a lot of unnecessary hits to the head.
To make sure that doesn’t happen, I recommend you check out my article on the 7 Best Helmets for Good Vision (opens in a new tab). You don’t need to read everything, just check out my top recommendations.
Now, back to the tips!
boxing training with long hair
training to box with long hair is quite simple. you don’t need to cut it; you just need to learn a few techniques to secure your hair away from your face. one of the first things you should do is make sure you always carry spare hair ties. this is probably one of the best tips that can be shared with you.
Pack a few spare hair accessories in your training kit to make sure you’re always prepared. If your hair tie falls off or breaks, you don’t want to waste time looking for it, so having spares on hand makes more sense.
1. wear multiple hair ties at the same time when you tie your hair up
Some boxers like to tie their hair up into a high ponytail and braid it to keep it under control. this is a great strategy, except it doesn’t always work. the only problem encountered with this is that the headband can slip off and let the hair fall onto the boxer’s face. it is important to secure the hair with more than one hair tie. wearing multiple hair ties can help eliminate the problem. two or three hair ties at the base of the ponytail braid should be enough to hold the hair in place.
2. use hair mousse or gel to keep hair loose
one of the biggest problems when training to box with long hair is that it is difficult to keep the hair in place when you move. strands of hair often fall out of the hair tie. One way to make sure the hair stays out of your face is to style it with some hair mousse or gel before you tie it up. make sure you use enough hair product to hold your hair firmly in place.
3. pull your hair up into a tight bun to keep it in place, out of your face
a high bun is extremely strong. When you use a top knot for training, you should find that it doesn’t slip out of place easily. You can tie a firm double twist top knot for boxing by following these steps:
now your hair is safe and shouldn’t fall out during training.
4. twist your hair into a bun on top of your head and secure
a traditional bun on the back of the head is not a good idea for boxing. it’s best to have all your hair pulled back and out of the way so your movements feel completely free. To tie a tight bun on top of your head, bend over and gather all of your hair on top of your head. Secure your hair in a ponytail with a hair tie. make sure you tie it tight enough so it doesn’t slip out. wrap your hair around the hair tie several times, until it forms a bun. secure the bun in place with two hair ties.
5. braid your hair tightly on top of your head and put it in a bun
A braid is a firm favorite, especially for female boxers. If you opt for a braid, it’s best to start at the top of your head and make it as tight as possible. Braid it very tightly, to the base of the skull (the nape of the neck). if you have any hair left, braid it to the end and secure with a hair tie. then you can twist the bottom of the braid into a bun and secure with an additional hair tie. your hair should not move anywhere during training.
6. avoid using hard pins in your hair
It is important to use only hair ties and barrettes made of soft, non-abrasive material to hold hair in accordance with the standards established by the Association of Boxing Commission & combat sports. Of course, the reason for this is to ensure that none of the boxers get snagged, scratched, or hurt by the boxer hair accessories. accidents can happen during a fight.
7. wear a hairnet
If you’re still worried about your hair falling out or your hair ties coming off, you can choose to wear a hairnet. wearing a hairnet provides a second layer of protection. you can find this in most toiletries and personal care aisles in the supermarket. simply wrap your hair into a very tight bun and secure with a hairnet.
competing with long hair
according to the boxing commission association & in combat sports, boxers may train with long hair, as long as it is pulled and secured away from the eyes and face. its regulation establishes that “the hair must be secured with soft, non-abrasive materials when an official of the supervisory commission considers it appropriate.”
why it is important to secure long hair when boxing
There are obvious reasons why you should secure your hair when boxing if it is long. First and foremost, you want to keep your hair out of your eyes, so you can see what you’re doing. you also don’t want your sweaty hair coming into contact with your opponent. These facts are true, but there is more to it than that. Another reason boxers with long hair are concerned about securing their hair carefully is because of competition judges.
In competition, judges will closely watch how a boxer responds to blows. if his hair is not secured and falls off and falls onto his face, it may seem like he is being hit with a much stronger force than you are. Judges will notice more when the boxer shakes his head when he gets hit (or not).
short hair is more common among professional boxers
If you don’t plan on becoming a professional boxer, you may not want to cut your hair for the love of the sport. that’s fine because there are ways you can secure your hair so it doesn’t negatively affect your technique or effectiveness as a boxer. Most professional boxers cut their hair very short or even shave it for the following reasons:
last word
Your boxing training doesn’t have to be delayed or frustrated just because you’re attached to your long hair. By effectively securing and tying your hair, you can box long hair with ease.