Wetsuit Lubes vs. Conditioner

For the past two wetsuits I've owned, an XCEL Tri-Polar semi-dry and my current Mako 7mm Yamamoto I used a very popular wetsuit lubricant thinking that I was doing the best for my wetsuit and the environment. I didn't want to put anything on my wetsuit that could degrade it, and didn't want to put more chemicals in the ocean than are already there.

I was at a buddy's house the other night, and while talking about different dive topics the subject of wetsuit lube came across the table. I defended my decision to use a wetsuit-specific lubricant for the reasons mentioned above, and was told that I'd had the wool pulled over my eyes. He showed me a gallon bottle of Cure Care hair conditioner that can be bought at any Sally's Beauty Supply for under $10, and it's the same as the lubricant I'd been using.

I didn't believe him so I took home his nearly empty bottle, mixed it to the same ratio that I had my wetsuit lube, and you can't tell them apart. Color, feel, smell, viscocity, taste even. Exactly the same. I've attached a photo of the two side by side, and you can see for yourself. The one on the left only looks darker because of the lighting. They're the same in person. I know what I'll be using from now on!

THANKS..I just ordered my first dive suit this afternoon glad I only ordered a small bottle of lube with it ....

Call and cancel the bottle if you can. I bet the curecare is cheaper! You can have some of the gallon I just bought if you're on the SF peninsula.

fwiw....I've been using a 5mil open cell farmer john as thermal protection while paddling and crabbing, plain old water, sans any conditioner/lube/ky jelly, has worked just fine for me.

THANKS..I just ordered my first dive suit this afternoon glad I only ordered a small bottle of lube with it ....

Howard,

There's a Sallys Beauty Supply right next to the Target in Watsonville on Main St. right off the HWY.

Their gallon jug of Cure Care is a great deal.

http://www.sallybeauty.com/Hair-Skin-Conditioner/SBS-442010,default,pd.html

Any cheapo conditioner will work fine as well. I go heavy on conditioner cuz I don't wanna risk any possible ripping...and I like the way it feels when I slip and slide inside my suit.   

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Ok, Mr Jim.
A little T.m.i. trying to shake that one out of my head.

This is the lube that Jjjjeremy is referring to:

http://speargearshop.com/item-suitslip.html

I've never bought it and never used it so won't comment on it....

I will say that I personally will not buy anything from the manufacturer (even if his products were the best thing since sliced bread) after watching his interactions and behavior on other online forums...but that is just me.

Each person can decide for themsleves which vendors they want to give their business and $$ to.

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Thanks I will go by Sally's and get a gallon  ....I got a 8oz bottle of Mako suit juice with my suit..

Thanks I will go by Sally's and get a gallon  ....I got a 8oz bottle of Mako suit juice with my suit..

Mako makes their own now?

I have a number of reasons for switching. Online personas aside, I bought the stuff from the "manufacturer" at his house, shook his hand, met his wife, and talked about diving together. Being a shrewd businessman and repackaging a product for a different market is one thing. Selling snake oil to my face and pretending to be a friend of the community crosses the line.

FYI, The Sally's in Redwood City had the gallon mis-marked at $23. They corrected the system to $9.49 for me

I"ll show my age AGAIN,when I first started diving, wetsuits didn't have nylon on both sides,rubber only!
We used talcum(baby) powder to help slide in. This only worked when the suit was dry and after it was wet we had to dip it in the ocean and slide it on....BBBBRRRRRR! I am grateful for technology and love my modern wetsuit.So much has changed,some for the better some not so much.Glad to have lived and survived through it all.Man, if that wetsuit could talk. Ano Nuevo,Salt Point,Lovers Point,Big Sur,etc.....Just a tip....

Thanks I will go by Sally's and get a gallon  ....I got a 8oz bottle of Mako suit juice with my suit..

Mako makes their own now?

I do not know it is a blue bottle that says suit juice and cost under 10 bucks...

This is my first diving suit and it will be delivered next week...I am happy and excited for ME.

I"ll show my age AGAIN,when I first started diving, wetsuits didn't have nylon on both sides,rubber only!
We used talcum(baby) powder to help slide in. This only worked when the suit was dry and after it was wet we had to dip it in the ocean and slide it on....BBBBRRRRRR! I am grateful for technology and love my modern wetsuit.So much has changed,some for the better some not so much.Glad to have lived and survived through it all.Man, if that wetsuit could talk. Ano Nuevo,Salt Point,Lovers Point,Big Sur,etc.....Just a tip....

I've seen cave drawings of wetsuits being put on with talcum powder.......  I guess hair conditioner didn't exist back then???

Putting on an open cell wetsuit when you're already in the water is the easiest way to do it, but I'm not doing that anywhere outside the tropics! I did it once when I thought I was "too hot" in my 7mm in the summer in Orange County. Once I took off my top I changed my mind immediately!