I must be retarded, but it seems I alwyas have my hands too full and as I throw my purse over my shoulder, it invariably gets "stuck" on my hair. It is not yet long enough to put over the other shoulder completely . . . And I usually have my other hand busy trying to close the car door, carry the keys, grab the groceries, etc? Am thinking it will get better as it gets longer, but in the mean time it is driving me nuts!
Shari

We had a discussion about that ages ago on the N54 boards (could have even been Shawnee's old boards).

There were serveral options people came up with: using hand/underarm-held purses only, tossing the hair over the opposite shoulder when using a shoulder strap (my hair never stays there, still too short and too lightweight) - for a backpack, part hair into two at the nape, cross both sections once and bring forward (doesn't work for me either, too short and too lightweight, LOL).

What I usually do if I'm about to load up with stuff so I won't have a free hand to deal with my hair: Put it up in a quick fix (I always have some hair toys in my purse or pocket, a plastic fakkare, claw clip or just a cheap plastic hair fork - only takes ten seconds to get it out of the way), or leave it down inside my coat or jacket.

I struggled with this one for a while. I hated that pulling sensation when the handbag strap would catch my hair. I finally gave in and quit carrying a handbag. I now use a small fabric bag with a long string/strap that I can cross over my chest. Although it is small (5" x 7"), I can still get my phone, calendar, credit cards, money, pen, 2 hairsticks, 2 hairties, and my clip on sun glasses in the bag. I found I no longer need the kitchen sink with me at all times and my neck and back are not as sore from being weighted down.

I have never in my life had a purse which weighed less than 20 pounds; it is too much trouble to carry that much weight without a shoulder strap.

I always move my hair over my right shoulder before I put my purse on my left shoulder. Then I move my hair back behind me and pray it stays there.

I have found the best purses at Target! They are make of a slick but not shiney waterproof material. It seems not to catch my hair as badly as leather or fabric. I don't see the brand on it anywhere, but it is black, and comes in about 20 different styles (all $25 or under.) I have a collection of this brand ::grins::

My current purse is about a foot long, a foot high, and about 8 inches wide. It has plenty of large compartments, and contains about 40 pounds of junk. It doubles as a briefcase for me, b/c it can hold my planner (+ plenty of other stuff) in the middle compartment, and the back zipper compartment is exactly the right size for file folders.

--Cheryl

LOL at Cheryl

40 pounds of junk
sounds just like my purse

working 2 jobs, i end up carrying a lot of stuff with me

Maybe this doesn't help, but I have quite a small purse, and when I go dancing I change the length of the strap and wear it like a belt around my hips. This might not be fashionable all the time (I've gotten a few remarks), but at least I have my hands free, and I know where my purse is too, since I wear it in front of me all the time. I can even rest my arm on it if I like. And it never interferes with my hair :)

I have found the best purses at Target! ..................
My current purse is about a foot long, a foot high, and about 8 inches wide. It has plenty of large compartments, and contains about 40 pounds of junk. It doubles as a briefcase for me, b/c it can hold my planner (+ plenty of other stuff) in the middle compartment, and the back zipper compartment is exactly the right size for file folders.

--Cheryl

Hee-hee!! Sounds like a purse I own - is it a Cherokee brand?

I switch off; right now I have the backpack version of a purse. I find different features on each purse that I like; how come I can't find ALL those features on one purse?

To answer the original question, I hold my hair out of the way, put my purse on my shoulder, then load up the other things I need to carry.

I use a purse with a long strap that I cross diagonally across my chest. It's small, but holds my wallet, keys, PDA, and a few hair pins, hair elastics, and usually my fakkare or a set of hairsticks. I have to lift up my hair to put it on, but once it's on and my hair is free, I don't have any problem.

Personally, I think it looks kinda cool, worn that way, but I'm not a huge fashion maven, so YMMV.

Cheers,
Jonobie

I'm pretty bad at that. I'm always getting my hair caught in my purse strap! :rolleyes: I try to move my hair to the side so that it rests on top of my shoulder but it doesn't always work. It probably is a good idea to put your hair up if you are planning to carry a lot of things. It also might help to put the purse strap over both your shoulder and neck so it can't move around too much and catch your hair. That does help me when I wear my hair loose.

I suffer from strap attack too. I can't give up a purse, and I rarely remember (or sucessfully) get all the hair out of the way. I switched to a purse with a really wide strap so that any pressure it does exert is better distributed to lessen breakage. Actually it was my BF idea, he bought it for me for Christmas :D

Hi Share801, and welcome! :)

When I put on my purse, it is an entire body movement! I tilt way to my right, so I can sling my purse over my left shoulder. It has become SUCH a habit, that I do it when I have my hair in a bun, too! hahahahaaha

HTH

That is a problem for a lot of us long hairs. I kind of lean one way and then sling the bag over my shoulder as I flip my hair the opposite way. Its second nature now. When I buy a new bag I give it a sling over the shoulder test in the store. I have dozens of bags so I keep changing all the time. SOme work great and some really annoy me. The best one I have is a 24 year old Coach Stewardess bag. I love it. Purses are just one of the things we have to learn to deal with when we have long hair. I am wearing my hair up more and more so it's less of a problem now.

LOL, I DON'T! I have to finally put it up. I can't go anywhere with my purse and not have it get pulled in the strap!

my hair is normally tied up! so it doesnt get caught. ugh cant stand that pullig ouch!