Women, and even some men, know all too well that long, flowing locks have their blessings and curses. For scuba divers, this can be doubly so. Not only can it be a hassle to tame during and after a dive but it can get loose and obstruct your vision while underwater. Saltwater is also rough on your hair, so you can end up with much drier and damaged tresses after every dive.
While it certainly is a challenge, it is not impossible to manage long hair when you’re a scuba diver. Below are tips that can help keep your hair healthy and beautiful no matter how much time you spend in the water.
Scuba Diving Hair Protection Tips
Use leave-in conditioner
Healthy hair is moisturized hair; salt dries out hair significantly However, this doesn’t mean you should completely avoid swimming in the ocean, of course! There are several ways that you can protect your hair from the ravages of salt water.
One way is to avoid shampooing before your dive. This way, the natural oils in your hair can act as a protective buffer. Another trick that’s popular among scuba divers is to use a leave-in conditioner or any other spray or cream that is designed to prevent the hair from getting damaged.
Should you decide to use non-natural hair moisturizing products, apply it not less than 20 minutes before your dive so it won’t easily come off and pollute the waters.
Keep your hair moisturized
While there are products that you can use to protect your hair from salt water, it’s not going to do much if your hair is already pretty damaged. So on days that you won’t be diving, make sure you’re treating your tresses well and keeping them moisturized.
There are certainly a lot of ways to do this, depending on your preferred method, lifestyle, and type of hair. You can consult your hairdresser or regularly use trusted hair care products that will help reconstruct, restore moisture, and protect your mane from future damage.
For best results, look for products that are made for swimmers—like the Triswim Shampoo by SBR Sports, which can be followed by the Triswim Conditioner by SBR Sports. These hair care products have been formulated to remove salt water and chlorine from the hair, leaving it clean and moisturized.
Wear dive-appropriate hairstyles
It sure is easy for short-haired divers. All they need to do is put their hair up in a mid-length bob and be done with it. But for long-haired divers, it can be a struggle. First of all, keeping your hair in place using the mask skirt is a no-no as it can cause the mask to slip around or not seal completely, potentially leading to a leaky mask.
Ponytails are the easiest, but it may not be enough because the tail section can still get in your way or get tangled. As you move about, the ponytail can loosen and slip out or break, leaving you once again with hair floating in your face and obscuring your field of view.
If this is true for you, you can try securing your hair in a bun, a French braid, or two side braids as these are less likely to slip out than ponytails. Try each style to see which works best for you, but make sure you style it very securely above your mask so you can freely adjust the strap.
Wear hair-protective clothing
Perhaps the best long hair care tip for scuba divers is to don a neoprene hood when diving. A hood will keep your hair secure and protected from saltwater damage, as well as offer a little extra warmth—something that’s almost always welcomed on a dive!
If you have a stretch bandana that you use for workouts, you can use that. It’s thin enough to not interfere with your mask while still keeping your locks contained. A snug-fitting swimming cap can do the trick as well.
But when diving in warmer climates, you can use a mask strap cover instead. Not only will it be a lot more breathable than a hood, bandana, and swim cap, but it will also prevent your hair from being pulled by the silicone strap.
Wash right after the dive
Because saltwater can leave your hair a dry, stringy mess, remember to also take care of your locks post dive. The longer you let the ocean brine soak into your hair after you dive, the worse the effects, so you should try to rinse your hair thoroughly with fresh water as soon as you finish the dive. Wash with a good moisturizing shampoo and conditioner to ensure you restore as much lost moisture as possible.
Keep a small bottle of conditioner (a reef safe or eco-friendly one is a great investment) and a wide-toothed comb in your dive bag so you don’t forget to give your hair some post-dive TLC.
If you wore braids for the dive, leave them in until you’re ready to wash your hair to help avoid tangles. Don’t rush—take your time loosening the braid and spray a detangler or apply some conditioner to help with knots.
Hopefully, these tips will help ease your worries about diving with long hair. Even if your hair’s a little messy after your dive, remember that some women pay a lot of money to get artificial “beachy waves” while you can proudly sport the real thing!
