To get competition-ready, Ramirez pulls her hair back into a ponytail and then creates two braids that get wrapped around the base to form a bun. "They have to be as tight as possible so that water doesn't drag when we swim," she says. After that: a hairnet around the bun. "Then comes the fan-favorite Knox, which is super thick and blow-dried."
But that's not the end of it — another layer of Knox or gel is added on top to create a glossy finish. Last but not least, a hairpiece is added around the base of the bun to dress up the style a little bit using enough bobby pins to ensure it won't fly out while swimming.
