There are a lot of men in the world who look great with facial hair. I’m not one of them. My beard finally turned grey several years ago, and I’ve shaved ever since. When I did have a beard, it was only during the winter season, and we dived from spring through fall. But some men keep beards year-round, or travel to warm areas in winter to dive. Is this a problem?
You can dive with a beard or other facial hair. But it is imperative that you take the proper care of it before and after you go on your dive. Issues such as water leaking in, discomfort, burning sensations on the skin and affecting the facial hair growth can arise if the necessary steps are not taken.
There are a number of issues that can arise if the proper care isn’t taken during your dive. And this is especially true pre-dive. It is imperative that your mask is able to create a complete seal around your face. Beards may need to be trimmed or shaped to allow this.
Why do I Need Proper Facial Hair Care Before Diving?
If you are not able to close your mask properly due to your facial hair, that will end up letting the water in. Water getting into the mask is no good. It will cause irritation and discomfort that may not only last just for the duration of the dive. If you have sensitive skin, you may end up with an irritating rash.
You may also experience skin drying around the area of your facial hair without a proper mask application. When this happens, the salt water and sun can quickly cause burning irritation to the skin. The skin can become overly sensitive.
There are beard and hair oils and products that you can apply before a dive to make things go smoothly. Try to find one that is environmentally friendly. Apply as needed before and between dives.
Why do I Need Proper Facial Hair Care After Diving?
It is important to take some additional steps after your dive is over to ensure that nothing will happen to that meticulously grown facial hair. It will dry out, become a frizzed-up mess, and then become an absolute chore to get it back to normal.
In order to properly care for your facial hair after a scuba dive, first and foremost, wash it with warm, fresh water. This will get all of the leftover salt out of your beard so that you can prepare it for the proper product you can apply to protect it.
There are tons of different products out there on the marketplace in the realm of proper beard oils. It’s a personal choice, I have no specific recommendations.
Are There Any Tips Available?
I have a few tips to share with you before your next scuba dive. Follow these tips for success, and you’re sure to have a great experience.
Shave the Area Just Under the Nose
If you can finagle this properly, it will help a ton in getting your mask to seal properly. If there is a lot of facial hair present there, this can be an especially helpful tip. If you need to use a thin razor to shave off just the right amount, we recommend it. Your facial hair will thank you in the end.
Using a Fat Substance
This tip can work well. And what we mean by “fat substance” is something like a body grease or petroleum or lip balm. Apply this around the edges of your facial hair, and it will serve to protect it. Note that it will leave a terrible aftertaste in your mouth. It will also wash off if you have to remove your mask underwater. Once the mask comes off, the coating is gone.
Use a Full Face Mask
Using a full face mask is a great option in that it will provide a better seal to your face, thus preventing any water from getting in. A full mask can create additional buoyancy, depending on the model. But it does create an excellent seal, which will definitely protect that facial hair.
The Extreme Solution Conclusion
There is one other option available, but it is the one we fear most, of course. In some situations, you may just have to shave it. That decision is ultimately up to you.
