Have you tried putting it in a ponytail, and then adding more scrunchies or bands down the length to keep it contained?

Your hair sounds absolutely wonderful!  I can't imagine having the problems you have...long thick, and heavy hair!  Mine is thin and fine although waistlength.  I would so desire to have thick hair like yours!  Please post a picture for us sometime....I don't remember ever seeing you hair pic on here.  A ponytail should help with your problem of heavy hair in my humble opinion!

Jim

No experience of buns of course but just a thought from distant schooldays and boring physics' classes as far as sticky summer heat goes. Something to do with conduction and evaporation (?) of heat I think.

When it gets really bad I’ve always got around most of the irritation by wetting with water all exposed skin areas, especially my hands, arms, face and the back of my neck (!) every hour or so until dry, or until it starts getting too hot and sticky again. Most important of all the inside of one's wrists as this is the most exposed area on the whole body where major blood flow systems are closest to the skin !  

Depending on the situation and subject to each individual’s reactions of course (chills or stiff necks ?) the greater amounts of surface water left on to begin with the longer lasting the benefits. So for a classroom perhaps it might be worth trying the idea out with a wet sponge and lightly dampening the underside of the bun closest to the neck every hour or two, especially as this area always takes ages to dry anyway ? Then again if it’s really hot how about a backless dress and damp hair !!  

Imagine doing this in winter and (shiver !!) you’ll soon realise what I mean ! It never fails, in fact I’ve actually had to warm up on several occasions I got so cold !

Hope this helps  

Arcadian is right about the wrists.  I get great relief with ice or cold water on my wrists due to the heat causing major problems with my MS.  Just an fyi,don't forget the backs of the knees.  Those are the biggest pulse points in the body.  Ponytail at the nap of the neck or higher and then scrunchie down every couple of inches is how I do it when it's not ultra hot.

Thanks for the suggestions.  My headaches have stopped.  I think I was twisting a couple of hairs wrong or getting them caught in hair clamp thingy.  Anyways, now that all of the abuse is gone, and my hair is thick all the way to the ends, my ability to keep my hair in a bun is harder.  The weight pulls the bun out.  So, since I lost my job today, I now have some time to experiment with braids.

Debr