Just say NO to conditioner

[nkw5]

I remember reading threads about underwater hair management and several people saying they put conditioner in their hair before going under. Please don't do this!

A couple of days ago, I was adjusting gear in the pool. After awhile, I noticed a strange taste in my mouth. I had to take the reg out and spit. This happened a couple of times before I realized I was tasting stuff I wear on my hair. Okay. I admit. I had LOTS of stuff in my hair that day, but my point is it didn't taste good and I really don't think fish and other creatures should have to deal with it floating in their water.

Please reconsider if you make conditioner part of your dive prep.

 

[SubMariner]

I This happened a couple of times before I realized I was tasting stuff I wear on my hair. Okay. I admit. I had LOTS of stuff in my hair that day, but my point is it didn't taste good and I really don't think fish and other creatures should have to deal with it floating in their water.

Please reconsider if you make conditioner part of your dive prep.

I disagree. If used properly, hair condition is rinsed out of the hair; there is no residual. Since you admit that you "had LOTS of stuff in my hair that day", then I think THAT was the culprit and not the hair conditioner.

Just my $0.02's worth,

 

[clementyn]

i agree with sub mariner in that if it's all rinsed out, you shouldn't have this problem.

i think what you were refering to tho nkw, is previous posts where people have referred to putting handfulls into their hair to help protect it from wear and tear during diving, without washing it off.

have to say, i've seen dm's do this on the boat before and watched the halo-slick around her head thru the dive too.

lorien

 

[nkw5]

OKay. Let me clarify. I made a jump in logic that I did not explain well. My problem, as SubMariner pointed out, was not conditioner. I just thought if gel were a problem, conditioner would be too. And I was referring to unrinsed conditioner before diving. I have nothing against using conditioner correctly. If I didn't condition, there wouldn't be enough room in my car for me and my dive gear!

 

[drbill]

Hmmm... the only time I use conditioner while diving is on my arms and legs to held that tight wetsuit glide on and off more easily. I hadn't actually thought of using the stuff on my hair!

Dr. Bill

 

[Mako Mark]

Too much gunk in the hair will make your mask foggy just like suncream does.

 

[nitroxbabe]

Hmmm... the only time I use conditioner while diving is on my arms and legs to held that tight wetsuit glide on and off more easily. I hadn't actually thought of using the stuff on my hair!

Dr. Bill

ROFL Dr. Bill! I'll bet you have the most combable body hair on the planet.

BTW NKW5 I think it's great that you're concerned about your impact on the environment. But unless the products you're using have any kind of warnings on them, they're probably pretty benign to lifeforms in general. The poor rabbits in the haircare company lab have already put that question to the test.

Anyhow, I'll bet that there's a lot of other things already in the water that are far more harmful to aquatic life than haircare products. Unfortunately.

 

[Firediver]

Hmm.. never used anything in my hair before to prep for diving.. or to get a suit on and off with.. should try it.....then again I am a girl who has never dyed my hair. I haven't had a problem with my hair being gross after diving. I shower when I get home from the dive and use Naturals shampoo and it gets the salt out.

 

[Zagnut]

But unless the products you're using have any kind of warnings on them, they're probably pretty benign to lifeforms in general.

I don't recall seeing any warnings on bottles of sunscreen. Sunscreen is safe for it's intended use..on humans...but when it comes off in the water, the resulting slick can block the sun's rays from getting to the reef below. Not so bad for humans but not so good for coral reefs. Places that see alot of dive traffic are starting to take this into consideration and require sunscreen that breaks down quicker to minimalize harm to the reef.

Nothing to do with hair conditioner I know.. I guess my point is this : Just because it's safe for land animals don't necessarily assume it's safe for all life forms.

Anyhows,..

 

[nitroxbabe]

I don't recall seeing any warnings on bottles of sunscreen. Sunscreen is safe for it's intended use..on humans...but when it comes off in the water, the resulting slick can block the sun's rays from getting to the reef below. Not so bad for humans but not so good for coral reefs. Places that see alot of dive traffic are starting to take this into consideration and require sunscreen that breaks down quicker to minimalize harm to the reef.

Nothing to do with hair conditioner I know.. I guess my point is this : Just because it's safe for land animals don't necessarily assume it's safe for all life forms.

Anyhows,..

That is kind of bizarre. (Not that I don't believe you! It's just strange to imagine that human-borne sunscreen could present a hazard in that way!)

At any rate, I was referring to toxicity only. I didn't imagine this type of hazard at all!