St. Patrick's Day Hair in the Summer

I just got some interesting news. I don't know why I didn't know this before, and it makes complete sense like I should have figured this out on my own or something, but ahh well.

I have to be so careful with my hair in the summer. I bleach my hair blonde. I've been doing it so long that no one can even remember my real hair color - except hubby from that one time when I tried to dye my hair red and it didn't work but that is a whole other story.

Aside from bleaching/dying it, it goes through the wringer everyday. The wringer being "blow dryer and curling iron." Although, in the summer, these don't get done near as much.

I'll never forget the first summer my hair turned green from the chlorine in the pool. I thought maybe it was just a reflection from the walls in the bathroom when I discovered it. I was wrong. It was BAD. I went into extreme panic mode and yelled for hubby. I spent the next day with it up under a baseball hat frantically scouring Walgreens to find something to help and praying it wasn't going to cost and arm and a leg and half my hair.

I actually found a good shampoo. The unfortunate part is that it is a seasonal product and therefore, once it was no longer summer, they didn't carry it. So I had thrown out the bottle without remembering the name. In subsequent years, I have used a kid's shampoo by L'Oreal called Swim and Sport Shampoo - but the orange smell is really not my kind of thing and I don't think it lathers well. And honestly, I am not a 100% sure as to how well it works because after that first year, I avoid getting my hair wet so much in the pool if at all possible.

But I met up with a lady who does hair. She offered two suggestions. Cleansing Cream Shampoo by Redkin. The other was to GET MY HAIR WET WITH TAP WATER BEFORE I GET IN THE POOL. Giant DUH for me. This makes so much sense. She explained that by getting your hair wet first, the hairs have already absorbed water so they don't absorb the chlorine water!

So with all the pool sessions and swimming I do, this is my new plan of attack - so I don't look like a leprechaun or witch in the middle of summer!

Scuba Diving Swim Suits

The time is coming. Luckily, I have plenty in stock.

I am talking about appropriate swimsuits for scuba diving and classes. And before all you "guys" run away, a little note about appropriate swimsuits for men who dive.

I don't care who you are or what you look like or where you are from. You really had better not wear one of the those Speedo suits to teach a class or work with a class. Jeez - that would just be crazy. First, no one would respect you, and therefore, no one would listen to you. Besides, it might be hard for everyone to hear what you have to say if there is a bunch of newbies in the back snickering. Its just too much like being naked.

Second, if you are going to wear one of those red suits with the white stripe across the front for the scuba diving flag, PLEASE make sure it is a quality suit and the white part isn't see through!

Enough said. Guys, you may now leave as the rest pertains to us girls.

This has just been something I have personally come up with. When I dive on my own with hubby, I don't care what suit I wear, as long as he likes it. That is completely different when we are expected to help with a class.

I would love to wear a one piece, like those sleek ones the real swimmers wear. But I don't have a swimmer's body. Or enough water resistant glue to hold down the back of the suit to an appropriate spot (like they do in the pagaents). Besides, when I get in one of those I look like a majorly overstuffed sausage. And while I don't strive to impress, I don't want to look like an idiot with tons of rolls lolling around.

I try to find conservative 2 piece suits. And then I usually wear a tank top over the top part. This helps in more ways than one. It keeps me warmer, it allows me to go to the bathroom more quickly, and it keeps important parts covered up.

Once you get in the wetsuit, everything is fine. It's just getting to that point that you have to think about.

Another thing I am always conscious of is color. My bright fun swimsuits are okay for the pool. But I wouldn't dare wear them in the lake or quarry. They will fade, get mud stains, etc. So I look for dark colors (black, brown, dark purple) to wear in the "pond."

I'm also not gonna pay an arm and a leg for a suit, no matter where I am going to wear it. The butt gets snagged on the side of the pool on concrete or on the door walking into the portapotty and then your done. 100 bucks down the drain to look cute for a smidge of time isn't worth it.

Then there is something to be said for the ones that have hooks everywhere, rather than tie. Those knots can really be uncomfortable at times (like when you are out of the water with your bc and all the gear on).

Off the top of my head, I can't think of any more advice for diving swimsuits. Except maybe to make sure you won't fall out the top, if you know what I mean.