Abstract: A protective helmet suitable for safe use by a person having long hair is disclosed. The helmet includes an outer dome-shaped shell of impact-resistant material configured to fit on the head of a wearer. A liner affixed to the inside of the shell snugly positions the helmet on the head and dissipates impact forces received by the outer shell. A hair-entraining passage formed in the rear portion of the helmet is sized to enable the wearer's hair to be gathered and controllably guided thereby. The passage may be defined by a bulge in the helmet shell or by an aperture formed therethrough. The aperture is sized small enough to prevent harmful impact penetration of an object such as a ball, hockey puck or the like with the wearer's head.