Are you ready to dive into the pool but worried about keeping your hair in style and protected? Whether you’re hitting the beach or competing in the pool, the right hairstyle can make all the difference. What’s the best style for your long hair or short hair? How can you keep your curly hair or black natural hair looking cute and tangle free all summer? In this article, we’ll explore 33 swim hairstyles that not only look great but also provide protective benefits for your hair. From braids for every length to styles that keep your hair secure during the most competitive swims, we’ve got you covered!
The Classic High Ponytail
The classic high ponytail is not just a staple for the gym; it’s also perfect for swimming. Ideal for those with long hair or short hair, this style keeps your hair off your neck and minimizes tangling and damage from pool chemicals. It suits almost everyone and adds a touch of sophistication to your swim gear.
To maintain the health of your hair, especially when frequently exposed to chlorinated water, consider using a leave-in conditioner or serum designed for protective hair care. Brands like AquaGuard and SwimSpray offer products that can help shield your hair from damage.
Braided Crown
A braided crown not only keeps your hair neat and controlled but also adds a regal touch to your swimming attire. This style is especially beneficial for those with medium to long hair. It works well for both easy and leisure swims and competitive situations, ensuring that no strands escape into your face.
When sporting a braided crown, use a smoothing hair cream to keep flyaways at bay and braid tightly to ensure longevity in the water. Look for products specifically designed for braids or natural hair to maintain moisture and elasticity.
Sleek Low Bun
The sleek low bun is an excellent choice for swimmers with long hair who prefer a more understated and protective style. This easy hairstyle is perfect for keeping your hair compact and out of the way during intense swims or casual dips in the ocean.
To ensure your sleek bun remains intact and your hair is protected, apply a hair gel or mousse that offers extra hold and humidity resistance. Products from brands like Ouidad and Moroccan Oil are ideal for maintaining a sleek appearance while providing nourishment.
Double Dutch Braids
Double Dutch braids are not only cute and sporty but also highly functional for swimmers. They work best for individuals with long hair or black natural hair, providing a protective style that prevents tangling and is easy to manage in and out of the water.
Incorporate a leave-in conditioner or a braid spray to keep your braids hydrated and neat. Products designed for curly or natural hair will help maintain the health of your hair and keep it looking fresh.
Side French Braid
A side French braid combines elegance with functionality, making it an excellent choice for swimmers with long hair. It’s a versatile style that’s both cute and practical for both casual beach days and competitive swim meets.
To keep your French braid in place and your hair conditioned, use a detangling spray or mousse that enhances braid hold while adding moisture. Brands like Cantu and Shea Moisture offer great options for braids and natural hair care.
Messy Top Knot
The messy top knot is a chic yet functional hairstyle for swimmers, especially suitable for those with long hair. It’s an easy style that adds a casual flair to your swim attire while keeping hair securely out of your face and neck. This style is particularly favorable for those who have a laid-back approach to their haircare but still want to look put-together.
For maintaining a healthy messy top knot, especially when swimming, use a texturizing spray or sea salt spray to add grip and volume to your hair. Brands like Bumble and Bumble or Not Your Mother’s Beach Babe are excellent choices for achieving that perfect undone look while providing natural hair protection.
Boxer Braids
Boxer braids offer a sporty and stylish look that’s perfect for swimmers with any hair type, from short to long hair. This hairstyle is particularly effective for keeping your hair compact and tangle free during vigorous water activities. It’s also a protective style that helps prevent hair damage from sun and water exposure.
To ensure your boxer braids stay neat and do their job, apply a smoothing hair cream before braiding and consider using a hairspray post-styling to lock everything in place. A product like Garnier Fructis Style Sleek & Shine is a good choice for providing extra hold and shine.
Wet Look Beach Waves
Wet look beach waves are the quintessential summer hairstyle for those who want to achieve a glamorous, just-out-of-the-water look. This style works best for those with medium to long hair and adds a touch of sophistication to your beach or poolside ensemble.
To achieve and maintain this look, use a gel or mousse that provides a wet appearance without drying out the hair. Look for hydrating ingredients that keep your hair conditioned and shiny, like those found in Herbal Essences Totally Twisted Curl Boosting Mousse.
Twisted Halo
The twisted halo is a beautifully elegant hairstyle that’s both practical and stylish for water activities. It suits individuals with long or medium hair, and its protective nature helps keep hair managed and secure. This hairstyle is an excellent choice for those looking for a cute, yet functional, water-ready look.
To keep your twisted halo fresh and in place, use pins that match your hair color and apply a lightweight hairspray or serum to add shine and reduce frizz. TIGI Bed Head Masterpiece Massive Shine Hairspray is a great product for adding that final touch while ensuring hold.
Half-Up, Half-Down Bun
This versatile hairstyle combines the comfort of having hair out of your face with the stylish look of flowing locks. It’s perfect for swimmers with long or medium hair and is an easy choice for both competitive and casual water settings. The half-up, half-down bun is particularly appealing for its playful yet practical nature.
To enhance this style, use a volumizing spray or light mousse on the loose parts of your hair to maintain bounce and body. Living Proof Full Volume Blast is excellent for giving that extra volume without weighing down your hair.
Fishtail Braid
The fishtail braid is a sophisticated twist on the traditional braid and is perfect for those looking for a more intricate and protective style while swimming. This hairstyle works well for swimmers with long hair or medium hair, providing a neat and tangle free way to manage hair in and out of the water. It’s particularly appealing for its elegant, woven appearance that can elevate any swim outfit.
To keep your fishtail braid in excellent condition, use a smoothing serum or braid spray to add shine and prevent frizz. A product like the Paul Mitchell Smoothing Super Skinny Serum can help in refining the braid and enhancing its durability, even in chlorinated water.
Underwater Bun
The underwater bun is an ultra-protective and practical hairstyle for serious swimmers. Designed to keep long hair secure and compact, it minimizes resistance and drag while swimming. This style is an excellent choice for those who engage in competitive swimming but want to keep their hair healthy and tangle free.
When preparing an underwater bun, it’s beneficial to use a strong hold waterproof gel or pomade. Aquage Transforming Paste provides long-lasting hold and is water-resistant, making it perfect for maintaining the integrity of your bun during long sessions in the pool.
Triple Twist Ponytail
The triple twist ponytail adds a fun and dynamic twist to the traditional ponytail and is suited for swimmers with medium to long hair. This hairstyle not only looks sporty but also keeps your hair secure and out of the way while swimming. It’s perfect for both recreational and competitive aquatic activities.
To ensure the triple twist holds well, consider using a flexible hair spray or gel. Garnier Fructis Style Flexible Control Anti-Humidity Hairspray offers good hold without stiffness, keeping your twists in place and your hair looking fresh.
Low Side Ponytail
A low side ponytail offers a relaxed yet stylish look that’s ideal for casual swimmers and beachgoers. This easy hairstyle suits all hair lengths but is particularly charming on long hair. It provides a carefree look while keeping hair under control and minimizing knots.
Enhance this look with a light-textured hair oil to add shine and softness without weighing your hair down. Moroccan Oil Treatment is excellent for giving your hair a glossy finish while nourishing it during sun exposure.
High Braided Ponytail
The high braided ponytail combines the practicality of a ponytail with the elegance of a braid, making it an excellent choice for swimmers who need a protective, tangle free style. Suitable for long hair, this hairstyle keeps hair neatly away from the face and neck, allowing for unimpeded swimming.
For maintaining this style in water, use a rubberized hair tie for grip and a conditioning spray to prevent drying. Spraying a bit of Sun Bum Revitalizing 3 in 1 Leave-In Conditioner can help protect hair from chlorine and saltwater while keeping it manageable.
Space Buns
Space buns are a fun and quirky hairstyle that is perfect for swimmers looking for a cute, playful look. This style is particularly good for those with medium to long hair and works well in keeping hair away from the face and neck while adding a touch of whimsy to your swimwear.
To keep your space buns secure and neat, apply a mousse that adds volume and hold before twisting your hair into buns. TRESemmé Thermal Creations Volumising Mousse is excellent for providing lasting hold without stiffness, ensuring your buns stay intact during your water activities.
Waterfall Braid
The waterfall braid is an elegant and intricate hairstyle that adds a touch of grace to any swimmer’s ensemble. This style is particularly suitable for those with long hair and offers a beautiful way to keep hair managed while displaying a flowing, decorative look.
To ensure the braid stays in place, especially in water, use a lightweight styling cream that provides flexibility and hold. Aveda’s Light Elements Texturizing Creme is ideal for holding braids without making hair feel stiff or sticky.
Tousled Layered Bob
The tousled layered bob is a fantastic choice for swimmers who prefer a more relaxed, yet stylish look. Suitable for short to medium hair, this hairstyle exudes a carefree and accessible charm, perfect for those spontaneous dips in the pool or ocean.
To enhance the tousled effect, use a volumizing product like Schwarzkopf Got2b Powder’ful Volumizing Styling Powder. It provides lift and texture without the need for heavy products, keeping your bob light and bouncy.
Cornrows
Cornrows are an excellent protective hairstyle for swimmers of all ages and hair types. They keep hair securely braided close to the scalp, offering a neat, low-maintenance solution for extended periods in water. This style is particularly effective for black natural hair, providing a tangle free and stylish look.
For those wearing cornrows, applying an oil or balm to the scalp and hair can help maintain moisture and prevent drying from chlorinated or saltwater. Products like Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Balm are ideal for nourishing the scalp and keeping braids looking sharp.
Mermaid Waves
Mermaid waves offer a glamorous and whimsical look that is perfect for those who dream of a beachy, free-spirited hairstyle. Ideal for long hair, this style creates soft, flowing waves that evoke the beauty of the ocean. It’s particularly suited for relaxed beach days or poolside lounging, providing a natural hair appearance that’s both stunning and effortless.
To achieve mermaid waves, use a texturizing sea salt spray or a curl-enhancing mousse. OGX Moroccan Sea Salt Spray can give your hair that desirable wavy texture without drying it out, enhancing the natural movement and volume of your long hair.
Low Maintenance Pixie Cut
The low maintenance pixie cut is perfect for swimmers who prefer a no-fuss, stylish look that minimizes drying time and maintenance. Suitable for short hair, this cut is both practical and chic, providing a sharp look that’s easy to care for, both in and out of the water.
For those sporting a pixie cut, incorporating a light pomade or wax, like R+Co Continental Glossing Wax, can add texture and shine to the hair, allowing for quick styling adjustments and maintaining a polished look throughout the day.
Scalp Braids with Beads
Scalp braids with beads are a beautiful and expressive hairstyle that adds a touch of cultural flair and personal style. This protective hairstyle is perfect for black natural hair, keeping hair neat and managed while swimming. The addition of beads not only enhances the visual appeal but also personalizes the look to reflect individual tastes.
To maintain this style, especially when exposed to water, use a hydrating hair spray or braid sheen that keeps the hair moisturized and the scalp conditioned. Carol’s Daughter Black Vanilla Moisture & Shine Hair Sheen is an excellent choice for keeping braided hairstyles looking fresh and vibrant.
Now that you’re equipped with these stylish and protective swim hairstyle ideas, why not try them out on your next beach day or swim meet? Each style ensures you look your best while keeping your hair safe from the elements. Which hairstyle will you try first? Let us know in the comments below and share your swim hair successes!
