Last Updated on August 4, 2025 by Jonathan Javid Au.D.
For individuals with long hair, selecting the right hairstyle, accessories, and products is a familiar part of daily life. But if you wear or are considering wearing hearing aids, have you ever thought about how your hair might affect their performance and comfort? Long hair can interact with hearing aids in surprising ways—impacting placement, functionality, and even how often you use them. Since the goal of a hearing aid is to improve communication and quality of life, ensuring compatibility with your hair is more important than many realize.
Hearing aids come in various styles—Behind-the-Ear (BTE), Receiver-in-Canal (RIC), In-the-Ear (ITE), and Invisible-in-Canal (IIC)—each with its own pros and cons. For those with long hair, the ideal hearing aid must work well with hair length, thickness, and styling habits. Devices that constantly tangle, shift position, or cause feedback may end up unused in your nightstand drawer, defeating their purpose entirely.
This is where working with a skilled audiologist becomes essential. Audiologists are trained to evaluate hearing loss and recommend solutions tailored to each patient’s unique needs—including physical considerations like long hair. As a clinical audiologist who has fitted thousands of patients through the VA health system, I have seen the impact of hair-related hearing aid issues firsthand—especially for female patients or men with longer hairstyles.
In this article, we’ll explore how long hair affects hearing aid selection, how to overcome common challenges, and which hearing aid styles might work best—all based on professional experience. Plus, we’ll cover wet hair considerations and strategies to ensure your devices remain secure, comfortable, and effective in daily life.
See also our guide for short hair with hearing aids.
Hearing Aids and Long Hair: Key Considerations
When selecting a hearing aid, those with long hair should account for how hair may physically and acoustically interact with the device. Here are the top factors to keep in mind:
- Hair Length and Thickness: Thick or long hair can get caught in RIC or BTE models, leading to discomfort or sound distortion. You might benefit from smaller-profile devices or consider styles that fit inside the ear.
- Hair Texture and Style: Curly, coarse, or layered hair might interfere more with certain devices. A custom earmold may provide a more stable and secure fit, especially when hair presses against or pulls on the wire or tubing.
- Ear Shape and Device Placement: Ear anatomy affects how well a device stays in place. The receiver wire length, for example, must be appropriate to prevent slipping. A hearing aid should sit high on the pinna, with no slack that can be pulled by hair movement.
- Hearing Loss Type and Tech Level: Some hearing losses require features that are only available in BTE or RIC devices. Talk to your audiologist about balancing technology needs with physical comfort.
- Personal Lifestyle and Preferences: Do you often wear headphones, hats, or play sports? These activities can add complexity. Choose features like Bluetooth streaming or external mics that integrate better with your daily routine.
The best part of having long hair while wearing hearing aids? They become practically invisible—perfect for users who prefer a more discreet look.
These physical and cosmetic factors play a huge role in daily satisfaction. The good news? With a customized fitting and the right hearing aid style, people with long hair can enjoy clear sound and worry-free wearability.
Practical Tips for People with Long Hair
Here are some expert-backed tips to improve the comfort, retention, and performance of your hearing aids if you have long hair:
- Choose sleeker, low-profile hearing aids: RIC models often provide the best mix of power and discretion. However, if hair interference becomes a persistent issue, consider ITE or invisible hearing aids as alternatives.
- Use Bluetooth accessories to minimize contact: Remote mics and streaming devices can help you hear better in noisy environments—without relying on mic placement near tangled hair. This is especially helpful during sports or physical activity.
- Secure your hair before inserting devices: Use styling products like gel or hair spray, or opt for clips and headbands to keep hair clear of the device. This prevents movement, feedback, and microphone obstruction.
With the right setup, long hair can even be an advantage—hiding devices from view while maintaining a stylish look. Just be sure to work with an audiologist to ensure your device and hairstyle coexist comfortably.
Wearing Hearing Aids with Wet Hair
It’s a common question: What happens if your hair is wet while wearing hearing aids? Whether you’ve just showered or got caught in a rainstorm, here’s what to know:
Most modern hearing aids come with ingress protection (IP) ratings—typically IP67 or IP68. These indicate resistance to moisture and debris. An IP68-rated device, for example, can typically survive full submersion in water, though prolonged exposure is still discouraged. That means your wet hair likely won’t damage newer models—especially if you towel-dry your hair promptly.
If you’re using older or budget models with lower water resistance, moisture can cause temporary failure or distortion. If your hearing aid gets damp, remove it and dry it thoroughly. A drying kit or dehumidifier can accelerate the recovery process and prevent corrosion or mold growth inside the tubing.
Final Thoughts: Hair-Friendly Hearing Solutions Exist
Long hair shouldn’t prevent you from hearing your best. With help from your audiologist and an understanding of how hair interacts with different hearing aid styles, you can confidently choose a device that works with—not against—your look and lifestyle.