Longhair beekeepers, what hat/veil combo or hood works best for you?

Honeytree · March 13, 2012, 05:39:52 PM

I ask because I have only personally tried on a helmet with slip-over veil, and it only worked with a braid straight down my back, tucked into my shirt. If I have to do that every time, so be it, but I'm wondering if I have other options. I mostly wear my hair up in a bun, and ideally I'd like to be able to fit something like this:

under a covering so I won't have to think about re-doing my hair every time I want to go look at my bees.

Thanks!

Rich V · March 13, 2012, 05:50:16 PM

Give the hoodie style a try.

beyondthesidewalks · March 13, 2012, 05:57:10 PM

I'm a male and my hair certainly isn't as long as yours but it is pretty long for a dude most of the time. I have always worn a zipper veil. When my hair is longer it just rests on the back of the veil, helping keep the net off my neck. Sometimes the netting on the bottom of the veil will rub against my neck and a bee can sting through it. My beard helps keep the net off the front of my neck but I don't think that's a good look for you! :-D

I like the security of the zipper veil when I'm working particularly hot bees. Every once i a while the old drawstring veil let me down. There are so many options out there, it's hard to know which one is best for you until you've tried them all. Hopefully you'll get better input than mine.

Kathyp · March 13, 2012, 07:44:20 PM

jacket/veil combo. better protection than hat and veil anyway.

luvin honey · March 13, 2012, 10:10:24 PM

Beautiful hair!

I have a Dadant Alexander-style veil, and it works fine for me. I usually have mine up in a bun also and have had no problems.

Country Heart · March 14, 2012, 12:03:06 AM

I wear my hair in a high ponytail with a zippered veil - it helps keep the netting off the back of my head and neck.

JP · March 14, 2012, 12:16:22 AM

Quote from: kathyp on March 13, 2012, 07:44:20 PM
jacket/veil combo. better protection than hat and veil anyway.

Ditto on the jacket/veil combo.

...JP

Michael Bush · March 14, 2012, 09:49:37 AM

Mine is as long as yours... I wear a jacket with a zip on veil. The English hood kind. The hair is always braided, which helps keep it out of the zipper...

JP · March 14, 2012, 09:52:05 AM

Quote from: Michael Bush on March 14, 2012, 09:49:37 AM
Mine is as long as yours... I wear a jacket with a zip on veil. The English hood kind. The hair is always braided, which helps keep it out of the zipper...

How about a picture of that Mike? :-D

...JP

T Beek · March 14, 2012, 08:42:49 PM

Yep, there's still a few of us out here 8-)

I just tie it back, put on a veil and go :) They (veils) all work as well as others I've tried. Never worn mine in a bun though so have little to compare with ;)

t

BlueBee · March 14, 2012, 09:48:23 PM

I can't make much of a bun out of my hair :(

This is probably why I'm not a great bee keeper; I don't have long enough hair :-D

Lone · March 14, 2012, 10:16:41 PM

I want to know how you long beard blokes keep your beard in the veil, and is having bees tangled in the beard as bad as having them in your hair, or does the beard provide some protection against chin stings?

Lone

beyondthesidewalks · March 14, 2012, 10:42:03 PM

The beard inside the veil has never been a problem for me. In fact, like I described above, it keeps the netting off my neck and prevents those stings you can get on your neck under the veil. When working bees without the veil I have, more than once, had a bee get caught up in my beard, have a tough time getting out and then let me know about her displeasure.

JP · March 15, 2012, 12:18:19 AM

The only problem with the beard is locating/removing stingers. Sometimes I just can't seem to locate them dang things & they stay in for several days! :shock:

...JP

BeeMaster2 · March 15, 2012, 12:28:38 AM

Quote from: JP on March 15, 2012, 12:18:19 AM
The only problem with the beard is locating/removing stingers. Sometimes I just can't seem to locate them dang things & they stay in for several days! :shock:

...JP

OOOUUUCCCHHH.

I once carried around a boa constrictor tooth from my 3' snake in my finger for 3 days. I kept ignoring it figuring it wood heal. When I finally got around to picking at it, imagine my surprise to find a whole tooth embedded in there. I was holding up a dead mouse, wiggling it to make him think it was alive. I guess he was only after live food.
Jim

JP · March 15, 2012, 12:36:45 AM

I use a long tweezers when feeding my snakes, the ones they sell for the reptile trade. I couldn't imagine my Argentine boa getting a hold of me. Sucker's got an extremely aggressive feeding response!

...JP

hardwood · March 15, 2012, 01:14:03 AM

What is this thing y'all keep referring to "long hair"? :-D

Scott

Michael Bush · March 15, 2012, 03:03:18 AM

>I want to know how you long beard blokes keep your beard in the veil, and is having bees tangled in the beard as bad as having them in your hair, or does the beard provide some protection against chin stings?

The only good think about one in your beard is you can tell where it is better... a comb would be handy, but it stays in the veil fine...

CapnChkn · March 15, 2012, 06:12:58 AM

Multiple hair ties, very short beard.

T Beek · March 15, 2012, 09:31:20 AM

Quote from: BlueBee on March 14, 2012, 09:48:23 PM
I can't make much of a bun out of my hair :(

This is probably why I'm not a great bee keeper; I don't have long enough hair :-D

:lau: :lau: That's too much BlueBee; A very good morning laugh. Thanks! (yours is just on the 'inside' ;)

I too wore a similar cut on and off between stints with the GOV over a 30 plus year career, with each break between positions amounting to just letting it grow out and now that I'm officially retired....well.

My wife still has a few old 'pony tails' in one of her drawers ;) marking the time period going from dark brown to mostly white ;).

t