Dive Hair, Don’t Care: Insider Secrets to Gorgeous Caribbean Hair After Every Dive
If your dreams of beautiful carefree beach trestles have been squashed by the reality of knots, tangles and dry frizzy hair, don’t fret we have got the cure.
By now you have likely realized that diving is incredibly hard on your hair, but just because you are a diver doesn't mean you need to look like a sea monster after your dive. We have put together this guide to help you care for your luscious locks so you can enjoy beautiful bouncy beach waves all vacation long.
Let’s look at why diving is so hard on your hair.
Saltwater Exposure
You might find that your hair feels thicker after a beach day, that is because the salt in the sea water lifts the cuticle and makes the hair appear thicker. However, you might have found after repeated exposure your hair has become unmanageable, dull and tangly. This is because the saltwater pulls moisture out of your hair strands making them dry and rough. When your hair is dry the strands stick together, and create tangles, which will be increasingly worse if you have curly hair.
Sun and UV Damage
Instead of sunkissed hair you are now finding your hair looks orange and brassy. This is due to the sun exposure to UV rays. Just like you protect your skin from UV exposure you should also take steps to protect your locks.
Exposure to UV rays weaken the hair strands and roughen the cuticle which causes knots, tangles and frizziness.
Chlorine or Freshwater Effects
Even if you are not diving in the sea, cenotes, fresh water diving and pool sessions can be just as damaging. Chlorine can cause hair color to fade or change, depending on your hair color repeated exposure can make hair look orange or give it a greenish hue.
While some people report their skin and hair feeling softer after swimming in a cenote, repeated exposure can strip oils and create a mineral build up on your hair. Continuous exposure to chlorine or freshwater will make hair more porous and prone to tangles.
Physical Stress from Gear
There is nothing more horrifying than having to cut a mask out of someone’s hair, and it happens more often than you would expect. The combination of silicon, wet hair and friction have trapped many masks in long locks. Apart from the discomfort loose hair can be a safety risk for entangling in your equipment, and when it does become tangled sometimes the only option is to cut the equipment and hair loose. You might have also noticed many divers get a bald spot where the mask strap rubs on the back of their head. The less interaction your hair has with the gear the better to reduce damages.
Lack of Protective Oils
Continuous water exposure reduces and strips hair of natural oils. When hair isn’t pre-treated before entering the water it is more vulnerable to drying and tangling. Choose reef safe all natural conditioners and oils to pretreat your hair before diving.
Diving Hair Signs and Symptoms
Dryness and breakage: Are you losing handfuls of hair after each dive? Since saltwater is incredibly drying, your hair is more brittle and prone to snapping. Combining this with the stress of interaction with your gear it is not uncommon to lose hair when washing and conditioning after your dive.
Frizz: Is your hair completely unmanageable after diving? The humidity in the air combined with the dehydration in your hair can lead to an unruly, frizzy texture.
Tangles: Post dive tangles can be impossible to contend with. The residue from the saltwater can cause hair to stick together, creating knots and tangles. Especially if you have not pretreated your hair.
Sun damage: Is your hair looking dull? Has the color changed maybe to a more orange hue? This is caused by a combination of sun and salt which creates significant damage, including color fading and breakage. While some people like the look of sunkissed locks, excessive exposure weakens hair and leaves it looking damaged.
Diving Hair Care Routine
Being a diver doesn't mean being doomed to a life of dull and lifeless hair. With a little bit of protection and planning you can create an easy to maintain diving hair care routine that will keep your hair shiny and strong.
Pre-dive protection: Apply a leave-in conditioner, hair oil (like coconut oil), or a dedicated pre-dive hair product before getting in the water to create a protective barrier. Always make sure that the product is reef safe and will not contaminate the water.
Style your hair: Braiding your hair is the best way to keep your hair under control under the water. It will keep your hair neat and prevent tangles. If your hair is not long enough to braid you can choose to put your hair in a low bun. Use a lycra swim cap, a buff or a hood over your styled hair to prevent friction and interaction with your equipment.
Rinse after diving: Do not take your hair out while in the sea, this will just expose your protected hair to salt water. Wait until you get back to the dive shop or your accommodations to immediately rinse your hair with fresh water to wash away the salt. The longer the salt sits, the more damage it can do.
Moisturize: Condition your hair well after rinsing to restore moisture. Some divers suggest even skipping shampoo and only using conditioner to preserve natural oils. Especially if you are in and out of the water frequently alternate between days of shampooing your hair and other days of just conditioning.
Towel dry gently: Blot your hair with a microfiber towel instead of rubbing it, as this is less damaging, let your hair dry naturally and try to avoid using hair dryers and hot styling tools.
Diver Hair Care Essentials
Hood/Buff: Prevention is the best medicine when it comes to hair care. Limit the amount of physical exposure your hair has with the water by using a barrier protective method such as hood or buff.
Hood: A hood is best for diving in cenotes or colder water as it will provide thermal protection as well as hair coverage.
Our Pick: Aqualung 5mm Hood $700 MXN
Buffs: are great for snorkeling and diving as they are made from a lightweight microfiber material that will not pull or tug on your hair. As they are made from a fine material they will not offer thermal protection, which might be preferred for warmer Caribbean dives.
Our Pick: Multicoloured Diving Buff $100 MXN
Neoprene Strap /Mask with Comfort Strap: Silicone straps against the back of your head can create friction and lead to a bald spot on the back of your head. If your hair is short or if you don’t like the extra bulk of a hood or a buff, opt for a mask with a comfort strap or purchase a mask strap protector to cover the silicone strap. Not only will it be more comfortable for diving it will reduce the friction and damage to your hair.
Our Pick: Scubapro Synergy 2 Twin Mirrored Len with Comfort Strap, $4,500 MXN
All natural Shampoo: It’s been estimated that about 40% of pharmacy and supermarket shampoos have toxic chemicals in them. These chemicals can be damaging for corals and marine ecosystems, as well as for you and your body. For the health of the reef and your safety choose shampoos that are natural or reef safe. Not only are these shampoos gentler for your hair and skin they won’t harm the marine ecosystem.
Our pick: Travel Sized Eco Friendly Conditioning Shampoo and Body Wash, $150 MXN
Reef Safe Conditioner: Research has shown that approximately 80% of personal care products contain at least one of the "dirty dozen" toxic ingredients. These types of chemicals even in trace amounts can find their way into our water systems, and appear to be having an impact on the health of coral reef systems. As a diver you will want to ensure that when protecting your hair before a dive you are using all natural reef safe conditioners that won’t contaminate our reef systems.
Stream2Sea Leave-in Conditioner is a great option to hydrate hair before a dive. Coat your hair with this protective conditioner, braid or bun and then cover your head for diving. You will find after-dive washing and styling to be a breeze. Then reapply the conditioner in your hair after washing for luxurious shiny locks.
Our Pick: Eco Friendly Leave-in Conditioner, $350 MXN
BONUS:
Moisturizing Serum: You might overlook the importance of hydrating your hair, but once you have spent a lot of time in the water and contended with dry unmanageable hair, investing in hair care will become a priority. Just like you wash and care for your gear after a dive, your hair deserves the same love and attention.
Choose a hair serum with natural oils like coconut oil. Hair serum will help you lock in moisture, it creates a protective layer and can help you smooth and control your hair especially in humid weather.
Apply hair serum after washing your hair while it is still damp. If possible allow your hair to dry naturally and you can apply a little extra serum on your hair when it is dry to give it a fresh shiny glow.
Our Pick: Super Hydration Squalane Face, Hair and Body Oil, $420 MXN
Final Thoughts
Being a diver doesn't mean being doomed to a life of damaged dry hair. A little pre-planning along with post-dive care, can keep your locks looking luscious.
Don't forget these three keys to gorgeous Caribbean hair:
- Limit direct exposure to water by styling hair and using protective hair covering
- Keep your hair hydrated before and after diving with conditioners and serums;
- Always rinse and clean your hair after being in the pool or sea.
At Xico Dive Shop, we have a full range of reef safe and natural hair and skin products to keep you looking and feeling great in and out of the water.
Shop online and enjoy shipping anywhere in Mexico. Or stop by our shop located on Calle Flamingos in Playa del Carmen. We are open daily from 9am-8pm for all your diving needs.