If you have long hair and love freediving or snorkeling, you probably have the same struggle! Tangled hair, flyaways everywhere, dryness and breakage from the salty water and the sun, and spending forever trying to brush it out after a dive.
I have lots of little baby hairs at the front of my head, and my hair is quite fragile. After years of freediving, I’ve experimented with different hairstyles, accessories, and ways to protect my hair from saltwater, sunshine, and tangling.
In this guide, I’ll share my favorite underwater hairstyles, which one is the most practical, which ones look pretty in underwater photos and videos, and how I protect my hair before and after diving.
Most days, I choose the low bubble ponytail. For photos, I prefer my hair down; when I care most about keeping it protected, I cover it completely with a UV gaiter.
6 Best Underwater Hairstyles for Freediving and Snorkeling
1. Hair Down for Underwater Photos
This is the simplest hairstyle on the list: I don’t tie my hair up at all. If I’m going in for a short snorkel and mainly want pretty photos or videos, I just leave it down. I used to do this quite often when my boyfriend was filming me underwater, and I’ve worn it this way in cenotes too. I love how long hair moves in the water, it gives the photos that soft, mermaid feeling.
The one thing I add now is a Diver Mon Art mask tamer over the silicone strap of my mask. The hair at the back of my head is quite fragile, and the silicone used to catch and pull at it when I put my mask on or took it off. With the tamer, I don’t feel nearly as much rubbing or tugging, so it makes wearing my hair down more comfortable for me.
I’d choose this for a photo session, but probably not for freediving training or a long day in the water. Loose hair looks lovely, especially if it reaches your shoulders or longer, but you may have quite a few tangles to deal with afterwards.
2. A Loose Braid
This is basically the first hairstyle, but with one very loose braid instead of leaving all my hair down. I don’t pull it tight or try to fix every little piece in place; I just tie the end with a hair elastic. It still moves underwater and looks pretty in photos, but the long lengths stay together instead of all floating into my face when I turn around or swim backwards. Fully loose hair does that more often than you might think from watching underwater videos!
I think this would work better if you have thick hair that’s mostly one length. Mine has layers and lots of shorter, frizzy pieces near the top, so they slip out quite easily. I’ve tried this underwater, but on my hair the braid can start coming apart after about 15 minutes. I wouldn’t count on it staying neat through a two-hour freediving session. It also makes my hair look a little shorter, which you can see in the photos.
3. Low Bubble Ponytail with a UV Gaiter
This is the hairstyle I wear about 90% of the time when I go freediving or snorkeling. I tie a low ponytail, then add a few more elastics down its length to make those little rounded sections. I wear it with my Diver Mon Art UV gaiter, folded into three layers so it looks like a headband, and a mask tamer over the silicone strap of my mask.
The gaiter keeps all my baby hairs around my forehead in place, so they don’t fly around or get caught when I put on my mask. The ponytail also stays together much better than the first two hairstyles. I can spend two or three hours in the water and it’s still there when I come out. Keeping the length in sections means it moves around and rubs less, which feels much better for my fragile hair.
The order is important when I put it on. Once my wetsuit is on, I pull the gaiter over my head and leave it around my neck. Then I make the ponytail and tie the sections, before folding the gaiter and pulling it up over my hair like a headband. The mask goes on last. If I try to pull the gaiter on after doing my hair, I end up messing up the ponytail. Once everything is in place, I can take my mask off and put it back on while I’m on the boat without redoing my hair.
For photos, there is one downside: if you shoot me straight from the front, you can barely see any hair and I feel like I look a bit like a nun! But when I turn my head or look to the side for a selfie, the ponytail floats into the shot, and I actually think it looks really pretty underwater.
4. High Bubble Ponytail
This is the same bubble ponytail as the previous hairstyle, just tied higher. I still wear it with my folded UV gaiter and mask tamer, but I think the high version looks a little prettier underwater. When I turn my head, the ponytail floats out to the side and shows up in the video more easily. You can also make the bubbles a bit fuller than I’ve made them in these photos if you want more movement in the water.
I wear this one quite often because it still keeps my hair together, but it takes a little more work than the low ponytail. I feel more pulling at the back of my head, and each time I put my mask on or take it off, I have to work the strap underneath the ponytail. That can mess up the shape a little. With all my baby hairs and shorter, frizzy pieces, I usually have to tidy it up more often.
If your hair is longer, thicker, or stays in place more easily than mine, you might find this just as practical as the low version. I like both, but I still reach for the low ponytail most days.
5. Two Low Bubble Ponytails
This is the same idea as my low bubble ponytail, just split into two. I part my hair down the middle, tie a low ponytail behind each ear, then add more elastics along both sides to make the bubbles. I wear my UV gaiter over the baby hairs at the front and place the mask tamer just above where the ponytails start.
I’ve worn this hairstyle underwater, and I really like it. The two ponytails stay in place well, and they also show up in photos when I’m facing the camera. With one low ponytail, I usually have to turn my head before you can see my hair; this one looks cute from the front too.
The only downside is the number of hair ties. For the version in these photos, I use 8 altogether, 4 on each side. If I haven’t brought enough, I just make one low bubble ponytail instead. But when I have the elastics with me, this is a fun option that’s still easy to manage in the water.
6. Fully Covered with a UV Gaiter
For this hairstyle, I leave my Diver Mon Art UV gaiter unfolded instead of turning it into a headband. I gather my hair at the back and tuck it all inside, then put on my mask with the mask tamer over its strap. Of the 5 hairstyles, this one gives my hair the most coverage. It keeps the shorter pieces and the long ends from floating around, helps keep them from tangling, and covers my hair and scalp from the sun. There’s also less to untangle after the dive.
I don’t wear it very often because I usually go underwater to film, and I actually like seeing my hair float around in the video. Covering it completely takes away that look. But if I were going in just to freedive or snorkel, without caring about photos, this is the hairstyle I’d choose when protecting my hair matters most.
My Favorite Hair Accessories for Freediving and Snorkeling
I don’t use many hair accessories in the water. Most days, it’s a UV gaiter, a cover on my mask strap and a hair tie.
Hair Gaiters for Protecting Your Baby Hairs
When I first started freediving, I didn’t wear anything on my head. I have a lot of short baby hairs that break easily, and no matter how I tied my hair back, they would still float up. You can see them flying around in some of my older underwater videos.
I tried a plain black fabric headband, but I could never get the fit right. It was either too tight or loose enough to slip off, and the fabric still rubbed against my hair. That’s why I started wearing a Diver Mon Art UV gaiter. The fabric feels much smoother, and the newer one I have fits my head just right. It holds those little hairs down while I’m diving and feels comfortable with my mask on.
I also like that I can wear it in different ways. I usually fold it over a few times to make a narrower headband, but I can leave it unfolded when I want more of my hair covered. On a windy or sunny boat day, I can wear it around my neck or pull it up over my lower face with a hat. The UV protection is useful, and there are so many colors and ocean designs that I can pick one to go with my wetsuit or swimsuit. It’s a practical little thing, but I also think it looks really cute in underwater photos.
Other Hair Accessories I Use Underwater
I also put a Diver Mon Art mask tamer over the silicone strap at the back of my mask. That bare strap can catch and pull my hair, especially when I’m taking the mask off. The neoprene cover feels more comfortable against the back of my head and spreads out the pressure, instead of leaving me with one narrow strap pulling in the same place. It stays in place well when my hair is in a ponytail, too.
I can swap the tamer whenever I want a different color, and sometimes I match it to my gaiter. It’s a small detail, but I like how the two look together in photos.
Apart from those, my hair ties are nothing special. I usually use simple black elastics covered in fabric, because they blend into my black hair and I can find ones that don’t break halfway through a session. For the low ponytail I mentioned earlier, I also use a three-strand elastic because the pull feels more spread out to me. I add smaller elastics down the length to make the bubbles. That’s really all I need for my hair in the water.
Diver Mon Art Discount Code
If you want to try the UV gaiter or mask tamer I use, you can use my Diver Mon Art discount code TIAN10 for 10% off at checkout. These are affiliate links, so I may earn a small commission if you order through them, at no extra cost to you.
The pieces I use:
How To Protect Your Hair Before Freediving and Snorkeling
I usually do this right before getting into the water, when my wetsuit is already on. It only takes a couple of minutes.
1. Wet Your Hair with Fresh Water Before Diving
I bring a small bottle of tap water and use it to wet my hair before I tie it up. I make sure I get underneath the outer layer too, so it’s damp throughout. The reason I do this is that hair already wet with fresh water may absorb less seawater at first. Salt water will still get into my hair, but I’d rather wet it with clean water before I go in.
2. Apply a Little Coconut Oil
While my hair is still damp, I’ll put a little coconut oil through it, starting at the ends and moving up to the middle. I spread it as evenly as I can and usually leave the hair near my scalp alone. I want a light coating on the lengths, especially the ends, which are the part I’m trying to keep from getting dry and tangled. Coconut oil can also help reduce protein loss from hair, which is another reason I use it before a day in the water. Plus, it’s like going to the ocean but getting a hair mask done 😉
3. Secure Your Hair Before Entering the Water
After the coconut oil, I use the 3rd hairstyle I mentioned earlier. I put the gaiter around my neck first, tie the low bubble ponytail, then fold the gaiter into a headband and pull it up before putting on my mask. I still keep the ponytail comfortable rather than pulling it as tight as possible.
How to Take Care of Your Hair After Diving
Rinse your hair with fresh water as soon as you can after getting out of the sea, even if you won’t wash it properly until you get home. That way, the salt doesn’t sit in your hair and dry there.
Take your mask, gaiter and hair ties off slowly. If a few strands are caught under the strap or wrapped around an elastic, loosen them with your fingers before pulling anything away. Work through knots from the ends upward, a little at a time. You’ve just spent hours in the water; there’s no reason to rush this part. If you’re still sitting in the sun on the boat, put your gaiter or hat back on.
Once you’re back home, wash your hair gently with a shampoo and conditioner that suit your hair. My hair isn’t thick, and it gets dry and frizzy easily, so I use L’Oréal Paris Extraordinary Oil Nourishing Shampoo and Conditioner for Dry Hair. After washing, I apply a little L’Oréal Paris Extraordinary Oil Hair Serum to the lengths and ends. It makes my hair feel smoother and easier to detangle, so I don’t have to pull at it as much. If you can, blow-dry your hair after washing it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Underwater Hairstyles
What Is the Best Hairstyle for Freediving?
If you want your long hair to flow in underwater photos, wear it down, but expect some tangles afterwards. If you’ll be swimming for a while and want to keep your hair protected, wear a low bubble ponytail with the gaiter folded as a headband, or tuck a loose bun inside the unfolded gaiter. The best choice depends on what matters more to you that day.
How Do You Keep Long Hair from Tangling While Snorkeling?
Put your hair in a small, loose bun, then pull a UV gaiter over it so the lengths are tucked inside. This keeps your hair from floating around and tangling while you swim. Make sure the bun sits comfortably away from your mask strap.
How Do You Keep Baby Hairs Out of Your Diving Mask?
Tuck the short hairs around your forehead under a UV gaiter before putting on your mask. Check that neither the hair nor the fabric is caught under the mask’s silicone edge, so the mask can still seal properly.
