If you’re someone with long hair, then you know that it can be a real challenge to keep it under control while scuba diving. The focus of many of the existing articles assumes that it’s mostly women who have to deal with managing log har while diving. However today many young men are sporting longer hairstyles and have to deal with similar issues. The saltwater and humidity can cause your hair to become frizzy and matted in no time. Fighting to keep your hair out of your mask. In this article, we will discuss some tips for dealing with long hair while scuba diving, as well as share some products that can help make the process a little bit easier!
My 14-year-old son scuba dives with me often and he has a longer hairstyle. No matter, if you are a man or a woman if you have longer hair keeping that mane under control, can be a real chore when scuba diving. We spend all sorts of time getting hair out of my dive buddy’s mask at the start of a dive and after a dive, his hair is a tangled mess.
Here are some tips we have learned. about taming that tangled mane, and how we work to try and keep his hair out of his mask.
Rise your hair with fresh water first and after
Get your hair wet before a dive. Rinsing your hair with fresh water before a dive does a couple of things for you. The first is to make it more manageable – pulling the fly-away strands together and sticking them together which is great for helping to move the hair away from your mask area. The secondary reason is fresh water helps act as a barrier to your hair absorbing salt or chlorinated water. Since hair is permeable, by saturating it in fresh water first we limit the amount of salt or chlorinated water the stands can absorb – thereby helping to protect it.
Once you are done with the dive get another freshwater rise done as soon as possible to help remove salt and other contaminants from your hair. This will help protect it and help prevent some of the matting and tangling that has occurred from getting worse.
An important tip is to make sure that you tie your hair back before you put on your mask. This will help to keep your hair out of your face and away from the seals on your mask. You can use a regular ponytail holder or invest in a product specifically designed for scuba diving, like a hair clip or headband.
Another common trick/tip that many divers recommend is using some leave-in conditioner to pre-treat your hair. Then add the leave-in conditioner again after your dive. Please make sure that the leave-in conditioner you are planning to use is reef/marine safe and biodegradable.
Coconut Oil to protect your hair
Another popular recommendation is using coconut oil. There is support research that shows the oil is more resilient in a marine environment than products such as conditioners. Astudy in the International Journal of Cosmetic Sciencethat coconut oil as a pre-treatment is protective to hair and penetrates the hair well preventing other substances from entering the hair and causing damage. Coconut oil will help keep your hair moisturized and healthy.Furthermore, some environmental scientists have noted that emulsified products such as conditioners break down faster in a marine environment than pure oil. Also, it is important to note that coconut oil is widely considered to be marine and reef safe.
Control it – manage your locks while you dive
After pre-treating your hair before going diving we need to explore the options around managing your locks underwater. To do this there are a number of readily accessible options from standard hair ties – like elastics, or scrunchies to other choices like hoods or buffs. Let’s explore some of these options.
Hair Ties
Hair ties like elastics, barrettes, scrunchies, or even headbands are all simple ways to manage your hair and will largely depend upon the hairstyle you choose. Using these simple accessories to keep your hair secure will help prevent damaging tangles and frustrations while you dive.The choice of dive-appropriate hairstyles will be largely based on personal preferences and the length of your hair. Pony tails – with multiple elastics down the length of the pony tail or braids are two fairly common hairstyles for those with long hair who dive.
Buff
Buffs come in lots of different sizes, shapes, colors, and even styles. They are incredibly versatile pieces of gear that have several uses. One of those is as a way to manage long hair. When selecting a buff to use for your dive keep in mind that you will want one made with a fabric that can wick away moisture and will dry quickly.
Dive Hoods
In cases where the water is cooler, it is very common for those who dive to wear a hood. This is a great solution if you have a lightweight hood for warmer water or a heavier one for cooler waters to help tame your mane.
Neoprene Mask Strap Cover
For those with long-hair, another great option is to use a neoprene mask strap cover. This helps to prevent your hair from getting tangled in the silicone mask straps and also provides some protection for your hair from the sun when you are surface swimming between dives.
Relax and Enjoy the Dive
Managing long hair while scuba diving can be a challenge, but with the right tips and products, it can be done. We have provided some helpful tips and products in this article that should make the process a little bit easier. So long as you take care of your hair before and after diving, it will stay healthy and looking great.