A hairy situation: Hair in survival

Two of my friends were arguing the effects of hair in survival. I didn't catch all of the arguements but I got the fact that one was talking about letting hair be left to naturally grow. The other was suggesting keeping everything shaved for hygein.

Which do people think is better? Do you have other suggestions for other hair styles? Etc.

It all depends on cleanliness and convenience - eg, it's harder for things to nest in your hair when it's shaved, but longer hair will keep your head warmer. I think it would probably end up being personal convenience.

If you do have long hair, the most convenient style is always a ponytail. Any sort of thread or elastic can be used to tie it.. Braiding is always good too.

I have actually bought lots of hair remover products for my survival kit. I have waxes and lotions, razors and tweezers, if I am to be in some internment camp I would HATE to be as hairy as the partial bigfoot I am.

Sheeze thats just too much information, I hope this thread stays private...

Originally posted by antar
I have actually bought lots of hair remover products for my survival kit. I have waxes and lotions, razors and tweezers, if I am to be in some internment camp I would HATE to be as hairy as the partial bigfoot I am.

Sheeze thats just too much information, I hope this thread stays private...

In all the seriousness of ATS, you gotta love posts like this one.

Thanks for the giggle.


I'm going hairy, I hate the cold.

Dang, I hadn't thought of that.

The thought of not shaving is not a good one for me. Although I doubt they'd let us have hair removal products in an internment camp, but out in the woods we can take what we want.

I prefer to keep my hair long though, so a ponytail or braid will be in order.

reply to post by furzball


How about balance the two?

If you get into any hand to hand combat with long hair then your toast. Your opponent can just grab it and sling you to the ground and commence curb stomping you.

A clean dome shines. A wooly head camoflauges.


Depends on what your prefrence is. If you have to stay hidden you can either keep mud on your head or let your hair grow out.

Personally, I wouldn't want to keep mud on my head.

I've been shaving my head for more than ten years. I can tell you, with absolute certainty, that a smooth skull invites injury. Little head bumps that most of us would think nothing of, involve a cut for me. Head wounds REALLY bleed, you know?

For many men (and *gasp* a small percentage of women), not shaving the face can cause ingrown hairs, infections, and other potentially dangerous conditions in a Sit X.

Now, if TSHTF, I can imagine that some women might want to go "natch", in that hairy pits and legs might make them less of a desired "object" for those neandertals that are governed by their lower extremeties.

I would probably choose to just let it all grow. By the way, I don't really think that men loose their hair. I just thing it grows inward and pops out somewhere else -- the back, the ears. I'm convinced this is the case.

edit to add: a person as myself has to either cover their head or expend an unnecessary amount of mosquito goo to be protected.

[edit on 13/8/09 by argentus]

I would probably choose to just let it all grow. By the way, I don't really think that men loose their hair. I just thing it grows inward and pops out somewhere else -- the back, the ears. I'm convinced this is the case.

Now, if TSHTF, I can imagine that some women might want to go "natch", in that hairy pits and legs might make them less of a desired "object" for those neandertals that are governed by their lower extremeties

reply to post by argentus


That's just too funny!

Thought the same thing...just didn't wanna go there. Didn't figure it was too lady like.

I recommend keeping your hair and researching shampoo 'recipes' and a good nit comb LOL .

Seriously I would consider it a major hassle to worry about having to removing hair all the time. Don't survival situations require a little caveman-esque fashion sense? Plus natural women are quite sexy...woops TMI I'm afraid, TMI.

You survivalist need to be ashamed of yourselfs, how dare you say you would rather be clean shaven in the wild. Look no further than the Cavemen, they survived under the most extreme conditions and the hair added padding, warmth and solace under the stars.

I'm a Canadian who grew up in a place where it can get pretty friggin' cold in the winter. Yes, all hair helps and you should not be afraid to wash your balls in ice water

reply to post by Dimitri Dzengalshlevi


Euuuwww! I hope you wash more than just your, *gulp* testes.

Hey, I used to live there. Now I'm in a city where it's so warm that I can't even wear a jacket in the rain

The good news is... for those of us that will let our hair grow...if you have access to yucca plants (they grow all over in the wild around here)... you can use the root or tuber...slice it...add a little water and shazammm you have an all natural lathering shampoo and soap!!!

I guess that is just one of those little luxuries we'd have to learn to live without. Yes, it's petty...thats one letter shy of pretty. It won't be pretty.

Tea tree oil would be good to use to repel bugs and nits and has many other uses. Already have that anyway.

So, off topic, I was watching something on TV, I think a National Geographic, the other week and it was a special on some tribe in Africa or somewhere, they didn't wear any clothes. It occured to me that neither the men or women seemed to have any body hair, and if they did it wasn't much. Climate (most likely) or do they have some way of getting rid of it?

reply to post by Greenize


Wow I am going to have to try that. Grow organic soapwort too. I bought some this year from Baker Creek but never got around to growing that or my tobacco seeds.

and the hair added padding, warmth and solace under the stars.

Ok...I'm normally a fairly open minded kinda guy...but their hair provided SOLACE?

I suppose maybe they were a lot more into fashion and a lot more vain than I would have thought.

Somewhere in the middle for me. Long hair becomes a tactical disadvantage and can get caught in things...it also requires a lot of upkeep if you don't want to be nappy headed. That means more supplies to worry about.

Kept shorter, but not bald, it's insulating, camouflaging and just freakin' stylish. I have a feeling that post-apocalyptic chicks aren't gonna be diggin' on the sasquatches.

It IS all about the repopulation, right?