Why do bikers wear doo rags?

What the heck is a doo rag, you ask? A doo rag/Hoo Rag ® is material placed over the forehead and over and around your head and secured in the back, either by tying or Velcro. A Hoo Rag® is one piece of material which has many uses and ways in which you can wear it. You will find a link to Hoo Rags® at the end of this blog. Bikers wear doo rags/ Hoo Rags ® for a number of reasons: skin protection, style, comfort, and protection from the elements.

If you ride a motorcycle and don’t wear a helmet, a doo rag/ Hoo Rag®, keeps the sun and wind from burning your forehead. Prolonged exposure to sun and wind can result in skin cancer. Now, more than ever, we are all looking for ways to protect ourselves from the long-standing effects of sun damage. The doo rag/Hoo Rag® helps bikers do this. Over the course of a day of riding, sunscreen or sunblock will wear off.

Even though frequent stops are made (gas up, bathroom breaks, eating, drinking, and socializing), it’s easy to forget to reapply your favorite sunscreen.
The doo rag/Hoo Rag® is put on in the morning, and it stays on for the entire day.

Over the years, style has come into play as manufacturers and marketers have seen the increase in doo rag/ Hoo Rag® use. Now you can get them in many styles and colors to fit the needs of your business, wardrobe, or personality. There are brightly colored rags, blingy rags (my favorite), and personalized rags. Some are stretchy, some are stiff cotton, some are made out of bandanas, and some are a combination of all.
Rhinestones, decals, embroidery, and a combination of these can all be found in the many selections available.

If you attend any biker event, you will see booths selling doo rags/Hoo Rags®. Another style element is for helmet wearers. Throughout the course of a day, the biker will make frequent stops, and on these stops, the helmet is removed to reveal hat head. Hat head is not flattering—I don’t care how good-looking you are!

So now you can remove your helmet and replace it with your doo rag/Hoo Rag® and--Voila`!--no more hat head!
The necessity for comfort is important as well. If you are a helmet wearer, a doo rag/Hoo Rag® under your helmet can keep itching at bay. Sweating will more than likely occur when wearing a helmet in warm weather. Some doo rags/Hoo Rags® are moisture wicking and pull moisture away from your scalp.

Last, but certainly not least, is being protected from the elements. Besides the sun, which I previously discussed, there are many other elements we bikers encounter—rain, wind, dirt, road construction, and so much more. If you have never ridden on a motorcycle, this may be news to you. Rain hurts. Yes, when I’m riding down the highway and it starts to rain, trust me, raindrops hitting your face, or any exposed skin, feels like being poked with little needles. A Hoo Rag® or a bandana can be pulled up over your mouth and nose to help prevent needless pain.

Riding through road construction creates an enormous amount of floating dust and debris, necessitating the use of a Hoo Rag or a bandana. There isn’t an element I haven’t ridden in over the years, and I always carry extra Hoo Rags® or bandanas in case someone I’m riding with doesn’t have the protection.
So, now you know that bikers aren’t trying to look like old Wild West bandits with a bandana over their faces. We actually need the protection, but looking like a bandit can cause one’s imagination to soar!

Check out interesting ways to wear a Hoo Rag®: http://www.hoorag.com/whats-a-hoo-rag/