Skip to content

Cart

Your cart is empty

Champion’s Guide to

Helmet Fitting for Textured Hair

At Champion, we’re committed to helping every rider enjoy a helmet that fits securely, comfortably, and safely, whatever your hair type or style. We understand that hair volume and texture can vary day to day, and this guide is designed to help you maintain the correct helmet fit throughout these changes.

Why a Proper Fit Matters

A helmet must fit snugly to provide the protection it’s designed for. If it’s too loose, it can move during a fall and may not offer adequate protection. That’s why achieving the right fit, and adjusting it when needed, is so important.

To recap our general fitting advice:

  • Your helmet should sit just above your eyebrows and feel secure enough that you can gently move it up and down without it slipping.
  • It should never cause pain or pressure. A good way to check this is by gently clenching your teeth, if you feel discomfort at your temples, the fit is too tight.
  • If you're trying on a helmet in-store, you can ask to keep it on for 5–10 minutes to see how it feels over time, comfort over a longer period is key.
  • Be aware that the materials in the removable crown pad liners will naturally bed down slightly with wear, so make sure the helmet isn’t already feeling loose when new.

Taking the time to get the right fit now means more comfort, confidence, and, most importantly, protection every time you ride.

Adapting to Changes in Hair Volume

Changes in hair density or style, whether from braids, curls, twists, or day-to-day variation, can affect how a helmet fits. To change your helmet’s fit, a range of  Champion helmets feature interchangeable liners, allowing you to adjust your helmet to suit your hair’s volume or styling changes, within safe limits.

It’s important to note that some hairstyles may not be compatible with a properly fitting helmet, for example, high ponytails or styles with thick or hard fastenings close to the head. If a style prevents the helmet from sitting correctly and securely on your head, it may not offer the protection you need. In these cases, we recommend seeking guidance on how to achieve a safe fit, a solution may be as simple as purchasing a second, larger liner.

How Our Helmets Adapt

We offer three helmet shell sizes, with interchangeable liners available in a range of sizes and head shapes (both round and oval), creating a full size range from 51 to 63 cm.

With this system, in most cases, customers can purchase one shell size and two or more different interchangeable liners to adjust the fit of their helmet on a day to day basis.

For example:

If you would like one liner for braids and one for natural curls, if you wear the Insight Peaked Helmet in a size 58 cm, you could also purchase a 59 cm or 60cm liner. This gives you the flexibility to adjust your fit by a whole size or more when your hair volume or style changes, or for the time in between style changes, all within the same shell size.

In some cases, riders may benefit from two different shell sizes if the difference in fit is more significant. However, for many riders, one shell size and a couple of liners are enough to maintain a secure fit.

Please note: Interchangeable liners are designed specifically for each helmet range and are not interchangeable between different models or brands.

Support and Fitting Advice

If you’d like help choosing a helmet or liner based on your hair or head shape, our friendly customer service team is here to support you. You can contact us at hello@championequestrian.com or visit one of our trusted retail partners for an in-person helmet fitting.

A safe fit is key, and we’re here to make sure you find it.