Controlling your hair?

[Jadestone]

I went for my first tail swim this past week, and I had some trouble getting my hair to behave for pictures! It's fairly long, and I'd prefer not to have to tie it in a ponytail for photoshoots to give a more "natural" look.

So at first I mostly looked like this:
7289

But as I went I got the hang of things a bit, and figured out that moving in one direction for a short amount of time did a lot to straighten it out behind me and get it out of my face.

7290

Swimming down below the camera and coming up slowly also helped, as well as trying not to go backwards opposite the direction I just swam (my face ended up engulfed in my own hair every time!).

Any other Mers (long-haired or otherwise) have tips for dealing with hair in the pool? I'm considering french-braiding just the top of my hair/my scalp area and letting the rest hang free to see if that helps. If not I'll either learn to make this work or just use a ponytail, but my hair is pretty fine so if it's tied back all the way it looks sad and thin underwater.

[Winged Mermaid]

It can be frustrating at times for sure! And yeah, a ponytail just isn't as mystical of a look. I started wearing my hair half up half down. Dry portions of events I don't have to worry about the way it's hanging in my face or brushing it or anything - especially because near the water it can be very windy and get tangled then not "sit" right. Then underwater shots I still get the long flowy hair look, but only the hair I want in my face (some strands for bangs) ends up in my face. Plus the tiny pony tail I use to put a mermaid hair clip in, which I love to wear :) There are some pics in my albums if you're curious.

[Blondie]

Bobby pins maybe? A lot of them? I'm curious to know the answers as well xD

[Mer_Adella]

if you hair is long enough, why don't you do a french braid crown?? start with hair on one side by the ear and go across the top of your head (like a head band) and down to the other ear. this would probably keep most of it out of your face while giving it a mystical look and still keeping most of your hair flowy in the water. you could add things like bobby pins with shiny pears or beads into the french braid crown for effect :)

[AniaR]

I'm lucky. My hair is still too short to really do much to get in the way except when I'm surfacing. So now I've learned to slick it back as I come up for air so it's not all over my face.

[Mermaid Saphira]

My hair isn't nearly as long as yours (wish it was :( ) but I found that putting it a braid and adding pretty mermaid hair clips or pins makes it look really neat and it stays out of ur face :D

[Mermaid Lei Loni]

I actually hate it when my hair gets all over too! I'm thinking about cutting mine off though so I have fewer problems with it. (And I look better with short hair anyway.) For now, I like to have it back in a french braid with various clips in it. Sometimes I do a pony tail, and then loop it through so it has a twist in it (all you do is do a pony tail, and above where you tie it split it in half and shove the pony through it self so it creates this twisty thing). The twist helps the pony look more mermaid-y. Or I will do a ponytail on the side as opposed to the back. That way the hair still flows and I have some control of how it looks. :)

[Jadestone]

I like the half-up half down and french braiding idea. I'd just need to find a friend who can french braid!

Clips are also a cool idea. I'd be a bit worried about losing them in the water though... do bobby pins and such stay in well underwater? I never actually use them.

Thanks for the ideas, everyone!! Lots of things to test out for future swims :)

[Capt Nemo]

Might try a little baby oil before going in. It should float the hair, but might make a mess in the pool.

[uwmerman]

Jadestone, I think your hair looks beautiful underwater in both pictures.

[Mermaid Danielle]

Jadestone, your hair looks beautiful! I can see how it would be difficult to manage though. Braiding a part of it away from your face will probably help a lot...

[Lois]

you could do your hair like the mermaids on potc 4 Put the front int twists so its out of your face

[Mermaid Allie]

What if you covered a headband with seashells? Like one of the ones with the little pegs that held your hair?