Tips for Dealing With Long Hair on a Dive
Let’s face it, scuba diving and long hair don’t always go well together. Long flowing locks look gorgeous on land but can be a hassle to tame during and after a dive. Loose hair often gets caught in the mask, causing it to leak, or floats in front of your field of vision (and gets horribly tangled in the process). Rubber mask straps and snorkel keepers tend to rip off parts of the hair, while saltwater can leave it dry and brittle. As a result, the lucky owners of those gorgeous locks often come back from a dive with their hair tangled into one big mess.
While it certainly is a challenge, managing long hair on a scuba dive is not impossible. So, let’s look at a few tips on how to keep your hair out of the way during the dive and make sure it stays healthy and beautiful no matter how much time you spend in the water.
Hair Care
There are several ways that you can protect your hair from the ravages of salt water.
Rinse your hair with fresh water pre- and post-dive
Fresh water helps to close the hair cuticle and acts as a barrier between your hair and chlorinated / salt water, reducing the drying effects. As soon as you finish the dive, rinse off the chlorine and salt thoroughly with fresh water again.
Apply ocean-safe leave-in conditioner with UV protection
This is the trick that many divers swear by. Applying a good coat of leave-in conditioner before every dive adds yet another barrier preventing chlorine and saltwater damage. Just make sure you buy a marine-friendly biodegradable hair product that won’t pollute the water and harm marine life around you.
Note: Some people recommend coconut or other oils, however, a study by the International Journal of Cosmetic Science shows that pure oil does not provide adequate UV protection. Furthermore, some environmental scientists have noted that emulsified products such as conditioner break down faster in a marine environment than pure oil.
Use a proper brush
Buy a special detangling brush or wide tooth comb made to treat your hair gently. Take your time, start at the bottom and slowly work your way up, adding more conditioner if needed.
Dive-Appropriate Hairstyles
A dive-appropriate hairstyle will help to prevent hair damage and keep your hair out of the way, so it doesn’t annoy you. Here are a few options you can choose from:
The French plait/braid
A braid is one of the best options for divers since it will keep your hair in place perfectly and prevent it from getting tangled. Starting at the crown of the head, French plait, in particular, works great for layered hair or mid-length hair that’s too short for a regular braid. Make sure though you don’t take it out until you’re showering - the salt water makes the hairs stick together and you’ll break a load of them undoing the braid!
The pigtails/dual plaits
The dual plates are also good for keeping your hair in place, plus they are easier to do and to get out. If you’re lucky, your tails will float up and you can really nail that Pippi Longstocking look.
The ponytail
This style is the easiest to do but not always the best. Ponytails tend to loosen during a dive, causing the mask strap to slip around and lose position as the hair moves. If ponytail loosens to the point that it becomes undone, the elastic band is lost and turns into underwater trash. In addition to that, ponytails allow your hair to tangle. The loose end of the ponytail becomes knotted and the elastic band often gets knotted into the hair.
If you do decide to go with the ponytail, make sure it is positioned either above or below the mask strap, and tie it tight enough so that it doesn’t slip out.
Instead of letting your ponytail fly free, you can also try a multi-banded ponytail, Princess Jasmine style. Tie off the main ponytail and then at separate intervals a few inches apart place another elastic.
Hair-Protective Clothing and Accessories
Hood
A neoprene diving hood is one of (if not) the most effective methods for hair control when scuba diving. A variety of hood styles are available, from neoprene beanies that fasten underneath a diver's chin, to full hoods that cover the head and neck, to hooded vests that can go under a diver's wetsuit. Hoods work well with all lengths of hair and have an added benefit of guarding you against sea lice, jellyfish and other irritants in the water. Not to mention that they are invaluable if you need some extra insulation in colder water.
Bandana/headband
A lot of places sell bandanas and different types of headbands that you can put over your head to keep your hair in place. While this may be somewhat effective, you need to make sure you secure the bandana on your head so it doesn’t slip out. Additionally, if you have really long hair, you’ll still need to braid it.
Mask strap wrapper
A mask strap wrapper is a great accessory that helps to solve the issue of rubber straps grabbing and ripping out your hair. It is a fabric piece that you simply slip over the standard rubber strap on your mask. Strap wrappers come in a variety of designs and colors, so you can easily style them with the rest of your kit and use them to stand out from the crowd.
Mask slap strap
Slap straps serve the same purpose as strap wrappers, but they replace the rubber strap completely for even more comfort.
Hopefully, these tips will help to make your dives more comfortable and keep your hair healthy.
