Why Synchronised Swimmers Put Gelatin In Their Hair 

Of all the mysteries of synchronised swimming (otherwise known as “artistic swimming”), there’s one that plagues us.

Sure, years of training help them move through the water weightlessly, and miracles of physics see them tossing each other through the air even though their feet aren’t on the ground. But how do they manage to get themselves from the pool to the podium with nary a hair or lash out of place every time?

For those of us who can’t make it to the bus stop on a humid day without mascara making its way down our cheeks or seeing a carefully slicked-back bun go totally haywire, the phenomenon of synchronised swimmer’s hair and makeup can seem as magical as their underwater routines. 

At marie claire, we leave no stone unturned in our beauty investigations. With the Paris Olympics in full swing and the synchronised swimming competition approaching, we wanted (needed) this question answered.

With summer around the corner, whether we’re anticipating summer weddings or a sweaty night in a crowded bar, we figure Olympians waterproofing beauty tips won’t go astray.

So, we investigated synchronised swimmers’ hair and beauty secrets and returned with answers. 

One immediate question is, given the amount of time spent underwater, why don’t synchronised swimmers go barefaced like divers and… normal swimmers? Well, synchronised swimming combines elements of gymnastics, ballet, and water polo with traditional swimming. And, as with gymnastics and ballet presentation is part of the scoring system. It’s “artistic” swimming, after all. These aesthetic considerations are also why synchronised swimmers don’t wear goggles or swim caps; the aim is for the swimmers to look like they’re performing an effortless underwater ballet.

Of course, on-point hair and makeup are part of that illusion, and synchronised swimmers have some unusual ways of keeping their looks immaculate.