There is no single right way to wear headphones with long hair: you can push it back behind your ears, split it around them, or wear the cups over it, and then set the headband so it presses less.
In an r/GirlGamers thread, a poster new to long hair asked whether headphones should go over their hair or whether the hair should be moved back. One reply pushes the hair back like a headband because that is what feels comfiest for them. A second thread asked people who wear headphones over their hair to explain why. Here is what people in those threads say each option trades.
Behind the ears, like a headband
Another commenter always pushes their hair back and puts the headphones straight onto the ears, calling it much more comfortable. One commenter who moves their hair away or wears a ponytail says the seal is much better that way, headphone to skin. Another says to move your hair for games, because hair can muffle some of the smaller sounds.
If you go this way, tie the hair back or tuck it behind your ears before the cups go on, so no strands end up under the cushions.
Split around the ears, or a bun in front of the band
One commenter splits their hair so the ears are exposed, leaving hair in front, then the headphones, then hair behind. Another wears a bun with the headphone band sitting in front of it.
Over the hair
In the second thread, the top reply says hair gives the headphones a cushioning effect, which makes them more comfortable for someone pretty sensitive to pressure. Another commenter wears them over their hair and a beanie, saying it cushions the ears and stops the headphones forcing their glasses into their head, and that sound quality is not noticeably compromised. A commenter with curls says they get even flatter if pulled back all the time. Another disliked the swoop left by pushing their hair back behind the headphones, and found the crease from wearing them over the hair bothered them less.
If stray hairs keep getting caught, one commenter said their husband wears a soft wide headband under his headphones to protect his hair.
Set the headband so it squashes less
HeadphonesAddict suggests moving the headband slightly towards the back of your head. It also says to extend the headband to the point where you barely feel it on top of your head. For curls, it suggests raising the adjustable headband above your haircut, but notes that this only works if you listen to music perfectly still. It recommends a gentler-pressing headband, or in-ear headphones if you want to avoid the problem altogether. It also warns that on knitted fabric headbands, hairs poke in between the knitting and get pulled out when you take the headphones off.
EARSOLE’s Series 127 over-ear headphones have an adjustable headband and protein leather ear cups that rotate up to 105 degrees, according to the listing.
For the other over-ear fit problems, such as glasses and cup depth, see when over-ear wireless headphones are the wrong choice, and for how a headset’s weight sits on your head, see what decides the comfiest headset.
Should you wear headphones over your hair?
It depends on what bothers you more. On Reddit, some long-haired gamers push their hair back so the cushions sit on skin, while others wear headphones over their hair because it cushions their ears.
