Step-Dad needs some advice!

[drl]

When my hair was long I used to spray on a little leave-in conditioner and French braid it. I still wear a scap or do-rag of bathing suit material to keep the flyaways out from my mask and to keep the mask from pulling hair. There are lots available, in pretty colors and patterns, and most are designed to accommodate a ponytail or braid.

 

[Esprise Me]

I actually find diving without a hood causes less of an issue with tangles. The hood causes awful snarls when I pull it on and off, so I used to leave my hood on all day. Now I tuck my hair into a beanie with a chin strap, and pull my hood over that. But on a tropical LOB, I just use leave-in conditioner, French-braid it, and use a headband to keep the wispies out of my mask. Be sure the conditioner is reef-safe; I use Stream to Sea.

 

[CanadaDan]

I have very thick, long, curly hair. When diving without a hood, I used to braid my hair, but still had lots of tangles at the end of the day.

Last dive trip, I put my hair in a bun - simply twist my hair and use a hair band to keep it in place. HUGE difference! It was very easy to adjust between dives, and I didn't have to work out the braid and resulting knots at the end of the day.

Hope that helps!

THANK YOU!! We’ll try that!

 

[chillyinCanada]

I'll be surprised if a teenage girl will wear a hood/beanie in those weather conditions.

Real Life Mermaid Shop by RealLifeMermaidShop on Etsy

And a buff or Bang Wrangler for flyaways

 

[Imla]

I think Dorota is the only one that can talk for 9 straight minutes about mask-straps

But... Strap-cover won't do. Get what she calls a Slap-strap in the video.
Here is my primary mask. A strapcover will still allow hair to get between cover and mask-strap. It is murder for long hair. Mask straps with velcro are difficult to get right sized and the velcro will damage the hair.
This strap was bought january 2013... so a pretty good investment.

This is my backup mask. As you can see, easily adjustable.

If you are staying somewhere with no freshwater available, I would not use a hood. Either braided pigtails, or ponytail with multible hairbands to keep hair down. I have hair to my somewhere mid back and do anything from winter diving in Norway to cavediving in Mx.

There is basically very little that will work as good as this type of mask strap. (Any manufacturer will do) But a good leave in conditioner and a very patient and careful helper to get the tangles out after the trip will be the best tip.

 

[divad]

Thanks for the heartwarming (pony) tale...

 

[chillyinCanada]

Wide tooth comb and a detangler brush

11 Detangling Brushes That Cut Knots Without Damage

 

[Altamira]

My wife uses a Lycra hood and then a tropical beanie on top if needed.

 

[-Moe]

If you are on Facebook just check out a bunch of dive shops because they post a lot of pictures of customers on their boats. Half the DMs in the Bay Islands are female so lots of ideas of what the girls who dive daily do with their hair.

 

[Stream2Sea]

Our Leave-In Conditioner is incredible! Conditions, detangles, protects, smells amazing - and best of all every ingredient is tested and proven safe for marine life! That plus a banded ponytail (these are super easy and she could do those herself)!