What to do when swimming?

• What to do when swimming?
  

  

  Greg Lovern

  
  

  I don't often go swimming, but I just came back from a week at a warm beach, where for the first time I had to think about what to do with long hair when swimming. I've been growing it for three years and it's down to my shoulderblades. It's mostly straight.

  As is my usual everyday practice, I tied it at the top of my neck at the hairline with ponytail tie. But much of the hair came out of the tie, and the tightly-wrapped tie kept slipping down. So much hair was in my face that I seemed to spend half my time wiping it away. And it clung to my face; I had to be real careful not to pull hairs out just trying to wipe it away from my face.

  Finally I tried just removing the tie. Big mistake. I put it back on after a few minutes.

  I noticed that many women had thier hair tied as tightly as mine, but much further up on the back of their heads. It may hold the hair better, but it creates a look that seems feminine to my eyes, and I wouldn't want to wear it that way.

  I thought about braiding, but I need to learn how first. :-)

  Once out of the salt water, we all would often want to rinse the salt off before going out someplace. As the only longhair in the group, I'm afraid I kept the others waiting sometimes. But I found that if I didn't detangle, shampoo, and condition when rinsing, I'd end up with a hyper-tangled rat's nest and would regret it.

  On the plus side, when I managed to turn a jet ski hard enough to throw me off, having the strap on my glasses below my ponytail may have prevented them from flying off the top of my head and getting lost at the bottom.

  Anyway, what do you guys do?

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  • Re: What to do when swimming?
    

    

    SFMarkH

    
    

    I don't often go swimming, but I just came back from a week at a warm beach, where for the first time I had to think about what to do with long hair when swimming. I've been growing it for three years and it's down to my shoulderblades. It's mostly straight.

    As is my usual everyday practice, I tied it at the top of my neck at the hairline with ponytail tie. But much of the hair came out of the tie, and the tightly-wrapped tie kept slipping down. So much hair was in my face that I seemed to spend half my time wiping it away. And it clung to my face; I had to be real careful not to pull hairs out just trying to wipe it away from my face.

    Finally I tried just removing the tie. Big mistake. I put it back on after a few minutes.

    I noticed that many women had thier hair tied as tightly as mine, but much further up on the back of their heads. It may hold the hair better, but it creates a look that seems feminine to my eyes, and I wouldn't want to wear it that way.

    I thought about braiding, but I need to learn how first. :-)

    Once out of the salt water, we all would often want to rinse the salt off before going out someplace. As the only longhair in the group, I'm afraid I kept the others waiting sometimes. But I found that if I didn't detangle, shampoo, and condition when rinsing, I'd end up with a hyper-tangled rat's nest and would regret it.

    On the plus side, when I managed to turn a jet ski hard enough to throw me off, having the strap on my glasses below my ponytail may have prevented them from flying off the top of my head and getting lost at the bottom.

    Anyway, what do you guys do?

    I swim regulary at a pool and wear a bathing cap made with *silicone*. It does not grab or pull hair the way latex caps do.
    You can find them at any sports store.

    At the ocean this summer- I swam with my hair pulled back in a ponytail and always wound up with tangles. I regret now that I didn't wear a cap but I did not find out about silicone caps till the season ended. Salt Water is horrible on long hair !

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  • Re: What to do when swimming?
    

    

    Loren

    
    

    I agree with SFMarkH. My hair is down to my shoulder blades.
    I swim in a pool at least three times per week. Silicon
    rubber swim caps are best.

    I use some Wal-Mart rubber bands for ponytails. Just a double
    twist of these small rubber bands is enough to keep the ponytail
    together. Then I tuck the ponytail up the back of my head and
    onto the top of my head--all underneath the silicon rubber swim
    cap.

    This keeps the chlorine out of my hair. I always wash with
    shampoo and conditioner afterwards, and allow the hair
    to air dry. I do not own an electric hair dryer--and have no
    plans to own one.

    Cheers,

    --Loren

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