Reddit mentions of Soft 'N Style Bronze Hair Pin Box, 1 Lb

No problem! So girls who had pixie-type cuts were generally fine. They didn't really get in trouble. It was really the girls with hair between shoulder length and a pixie. They would get in trouble because hair would fall out of place and touch their face/eyebrows, or even because it had gotten too long (and they either had to cut it, or they had to try to get it up in a ponytail somehow). In our squadron, the girls with shorter hair had to gel it back, then use bobby pins or clips to keep the hair out of their face. A lot of them would struggle with it staying in place when it was windy, rainy, during PT, while marching, or whatever various activity. Some of them also had issues with their hats staying on their heads when it was windy. I was in band flight, so we played at a number of graduations before our own. We had to wear blues, and the flight cap for it doesn't stay on very well, especially when windy. Girls with hair in buns could just bobby pin those caps to their heads. Most of the girls with short hair had to go searching for theirs afterwards. Obviously not a daily situation, but it happens!

Again, there are pros and cons to both long and short hair. I will say, I have similar hair. Mine is suuuuper thick, and at the time it was fairly long. It's also wavy, which makes it even less cooperative. I usually get charged double at hair salons (or at least more than a single cut) because it takes so long! So I totally understand. But I am so glad I left mine long. I learned how to do my hair (and quickly), and I didn't have to worry about growing it out in tech school. I was able to wash my hair pretty well at night. During the first weeks of basic, I put my hair up at night, which didn't let it dry out. During the last weeks, I let it dry overnight and put my hair up in the morning, which helped a lot. Again, it's ultimately your choice, and you'll survive no matter which choice you pick :)

As for the bun thing, nobody showed me either. There are a ton of youtube videos that you can watch though! Here is a good one, and there are plenty more on there! I do the same thing she does. Basically, put your hair in a ponytail. Slide your hair through the donut, and push it against your hair. Bend forward and brush your hair over the donut so it covers it completely, then secure with a hair tie. After that, you can section off the loose hair and braid it, or you can do what the girl in the video does and twist it around. Either one works :)

One thing that made a HUGE difference with my hair - hair pins! These funky looking things. They can be stuck directly into those mesh buns, so they keep that hair at the base of the bun secure.

I'm not sure when you go to basic, but if you have time, I'd encourage you to try a sock bun before you decide if you want to cut it or not. Conair makes those mesh buns (called hair bun makers on the box), and they're sold at Walmart/Target/Walgreens/anywhere, or you can get generic ones at Sally Beauty. Hair pins are also sold at most stores with a hair aisle. It won't be perfect the first time, and that's fine. It's just to give you a general idea of what it's like and if it works for you.

Another thing, there will always be someone to help you! So I didn't even do my hair for the first week or two. The girl next to me did my hair every night, which was super awesome! My hair is difficult, and I had issues getting it to stay up, so I asked for help. That's the thing about basic - you have 50-ish other people in your flight who can help you! If you're bad at something, you can find someone to help you. Hair, rolling shirts, folding towels, whatever. Just ask, or look around to see who has what on point and talk to them. You'll all be in it together, and you'll all be able to help each other.

So yeah. Again, pros and cons to both, and it's your decision. But if you love your long hair, why cut it? Most of the girls in my flight had long hair. You can figure it out. I highly recommend you watch a few videos and try a sock bun a few times. If you happen to be in GA/SC, I could totally help you :p If you try and decide that's not something you want to do every day, then yeah, cut it off! Whichever choice you make, you'll learn to manage it, and you'll survive. I promise :)

Like [these](http://www.amazon.com/Soft-Style-Bronze-Hair-Pin/dp/B000NJJBTE
)?

Conair Firm Hold Bobby Pins are my go-to - they're longer and much stronger than normal bobby pins and they never slip in my hair (I also have very thick hair that can get slippery). I also use these hair pins for updos - they're better when you're trying to hold thick hair together in something like a bun.

As for styles:

• My failsafe is a braided bun. One braid from the nape of the neck down, wrapped into a tight spiral and pinned. I can have it hold up with only four Conair pins and maybe six or eight of the hair pins if I can't find the Conairs.
  
• If I want to dress it up a little, I do a French braid starting on one side of my head, but only taking hair from the "outside" of the braid (so the right if I start on my right side, or left if it's on the left). If you keep adding hair all the way around your head, you get a crown braid; if you do this only up so that it's parallel with where you started (generally I start right at one ear and end at the other) and then just finish the braid straight, you can wrap that in a spiral and then pin it. Now you've got a cool rose-shaped thing on the back of your head.
  
• Cheating! I make my own snoods, but you can buy them online (here's a cheap set). Snoods are basically bags to keep your hair in. They're easier for me than hair scarves (I always feel like I have to do origami to make them work), they can be pinned in place if you're really worried about them not staying up on their own, and they can be coordinated with your outfits.