Request for secret wetsuit donning lubrication formula

Hello all,

Started a thread recently about folks giving up their secret giant abalone spots. Turned out to be quite a hot topic such as it were. Well, having no shame, I'm now asking folks to give up their super secret squirrel homemade wetsuit donning lubrication formula. Have heard that a 10% mix of H2O and hair conditioner is good to use in a spray bottle. Just got my new  Yazbeck dive suit today and will be needing a formula for greasing up. Many thanks in advance.

Shannon

Is this one of those unlined suits/ raw neoprene? If so I've heard baby powder but I would try a surfing rashguard top and shorts. I use a polypro pair of rash shorts for surfing and diving and that and a thick hood let me stay out a long time. I think the layering adds a little extra warmth..... jim/redyak

My friend Brandi always has her secret "spoo" with her in gallon milk jugs.  I think the milky ingredient likely is something like hair conditioner, but I've never really pursued the details.  I'm a glutton for punishment and too lazy to wise up...  She also brings warm water in more milk jugs to shower off with after our dives - I miss that woman!   

I have an open cell suit. Go to the dollar store and get a spray bottle. Put cheap hair conditioner and water in it and it will slide on effortlessly. That's how the pros do it and I copied them. I wore a rash guard under my lined suit because of the stitching and the scratching that it did on my skin. You won't have that problem with an open cell suit. Go commando for comfort.

Amphibian,

Thanks for the tip. Now, for the really secret part. What % mix of water/conditioner?

Shannon

It doesn't matter. I probably put about 10% conditioner but I'm guessing. If it's slippery then it's fine.

i dive wit a guy who has a wetsuit that he has to lube. i wonder if the fish smell that coming. maybe they like it.

You lube your wetsuit? Never had to do that, maybe because i wear a t shirt and bathing suit so my wetsuit just goes on easy.

My suit is open cell with a coating that is supposed to make it slip on without lube, Yeah right, it doesn't.  It does however make it so I can get it on with lots of baby powder instead of having to step up to a liquid lube. From my unlined open cell experience, use water mixed with hair conditioner, I settled on about 25% conditioner in the mix but then you need to rub it on as it's too thick for a spray bottle. 

As far as going commando, IMHO, with any westsuit you will be warmer wearing the least under the suit. Any material between your skin and the suit is just a place for water to collect and then your bod has to warm it up.  I feel better with a speedo style suit underneath, makes for some good laughs,

Dale L

My friend Brandi always has her secret "spoo" with her in gallon milk jugs.  I think the milky ingredient likely is something like hair conditioner, but I've never really pursued the details.  I'm a glutton for punishment and too lazy to wise up...  She also brings warm water in more milk jugs to shower off with after our dives - I miss that woman!   

hummmm... a girl named Brandi, big jugs and warm lubrication... I think you need to move this post to another forum abking!

Allen

 

My friend Brandi always has her secret "spoo" with her in gallon milk jugs.  I think the milky ingredient likely is something like hair conditioner, but I've never really pursued the details.  I'm a glutton for punishment and too lazy to wise up...  She also brings warm water in more milk jugs to shower off with after our dives - I miss that woman!   

hummmm... a girl named Brandi, big jugs and warm lubrication... I think you need to move this post to another forum abking!

Allen

Most divers(with open cell suits) use the cheapest hair conditioner they can find.  Usually Suave on sale.   
I've seen other ingredients used from KY Jelly (no scent, water-based, & slippery) to laundry detergent.  Hair conditioner is by the standard.

Ratio isn't critical with new suits - I've used straight water with newer suits.  Older suits necessitate higher conditioner content.  It's also nice to have a jug of HOT water to mix with the conditioner on a cold day.   


Pick a scent you like...

It's also nice to have a jug of HOT water to mix with the conditioner on a cold day.   

what a wuss.

I second the suave. 

My friend Brandi always has her secret "spoo" with her in gallon milk jugs.  I think the milky ingredient likely is something like hair conditioner, but I've never really pursued the details.  I'm a glutton for punishment and too lazy to wise up...  She also brings warm water in more milk jugs to shower off with after our dives - I miss that woman!   

hummmm... a girl named Brandi, big jugs and warm lubrication... I think you need to move this post to another forum abking!

Allen

Uh, yeah, I try to be humble, but the shrinkage is real when you realize she's kicking your ass at diving!   

 I make up a mix of hair conditioner and hot water and I put it in a water bottle with a sport top.  I stuff my bottle of wetsuit slick into my dive sock so that the neoprene insulates it.  When I get to the coast the slick is slightly warm still.  Putting on an ice cold wetsuit before getting into 46 degree water sucks.  The good news is that a cold, wet, open cell suit warms up in a few seconds, unlike a nylon lined suit.  I don't like to wear anything under the suit.  Nylon chafes especially on a long dive.   If I am diving back to back days I like to heat up my suit with a thermos of hot water.