The Swim Scrunchie: Why Your Hair Tie Should Be Made for the Water
Can You Swim With a Scrunchie?
Yes, you can. The real question is which scrunchie, because the one you wear to a pilates class or you throw on to run some errands isn’t always made to go in the water.
Getting your hair up and out of the way is one of the first things most of us do before swimming. A regular elastic can snag and pull on wet hair, and a lot of everyday scrunchies are made of cotton or velvet that soak up water, stretch out, and take forever to dry. Here’s what actually matters when you’re picking one for the pool or the beach.
What chlorine and salt water do to hair ties
Chlorine and salt water are both hard on fabric and elastic. Over time they can dry out the elastic inside a hair tie, which is why some lose their stretch after a few swims. Salt water also leaves residue behind as it dries, which can make fabric feel stiff.
None of this means you need to avoid wearing a scrunchie in the water. It just means the material matters, and so does what you do after you swim.
Why an XL scrunchie made from swim fabric holds up better
It’s made for water. Swim fabric is designed to get wet, stretch, and recover, so it doesn’t turn heavy and soggy the way cotton does.
It grips better. An XL scrunchie has more fabric around the elastic, which gives it more grip on wet hair. That makes it less likely to slide out when you dive in or get hit by a wave.
It’s gentler on your hair. The extra fabric spreads out the pressure, so you get fewer dents and less pulling than you would with a thin elastic.
It dries faster. Swim fabric doesn’t hold onto water, so it’s ready to wear again by the time you’re packing up.
How we make ours
At ReeFinedYou, our swimwear is made in New York City from deadstock fabric, meaning fabric that was already produced and would otherwise go unused. When we cut our swim pieces, there’s always fabric left over. Instead of throwing it out, we turn it into scrunchies, so nothing goes to waste.
That means every scrunchie is made from the same fabric as our swimwear, and it’s built to handle the same conditions. It also means they often match the suit you’re wearing.
Caring for your swim scrunchie
- Rinse it in cool fresh water after swimming in a pool or the ocean.
- Gently squeeze out the water rather than wringing it.
- Let it air dry before tossing it back in your bag.
- Skip the dryer, since heat is hard on elastic.
A quick tip for your hair too: wetting it with fresh water before you swim means it absorbs less chlorine or salt water.
Shop our XL scrunchies
All four of our scrunchies are $6 and made from leftover swim fabric:
Looking for something to wear with it? Browse our full coverage swimwear, made in NYC.