HOW TO KNOX

Step One: Get your hair up into a bun.

What you'll need: Brush, reliable ponytail holders, bobby pins suitable for your hair color (not the open mouthed V-shaped ones), a hairnet that matches your hair color and a small-toothed comb.

There are many theories about putting your hair up in a bun. The truth is that each swimmer's hair is different. For some it's easier to put up wet, for others it's easier to manage when it's dry.

I suggest these steps:

1. Get it your hair up into a smooth ponytail high enough on your head so that it's on the crown of your skull.
   
2. Twist or braid your ponytail (into two small braids for thicker hair) and then wind it around into a solid bun.
   
3. Using bobby pins that match your hair color when it's wet fasten the bun firmly in place.
   
4. Use a small-toothed comb to smooth out any bumps from the hairline to the bun. (Don't worry about bumps directly around the bun they'll be covered by a headpiece.)
   
5. Cover bun with a hairnet (cover once, twist, cover again) and pin in place.
   
   

***If your hair is too short for this process, some improvisation is required. You may need to purchase a bun maker or synthetic 'donut" (found at most wig shops) to act as a bun for your head. You will also need more bobby pins to take care of unruly hair strands that may be too short in back. Pin these up before knoxing.

Step Two: Make the Knox.

What You'll Need: An old reusable plastic cup (name on bottom), at least 8 individual paper packets of Knox = to two small cardboard boxes of Knox (available at grocery stores), a plastic fork or spoon for stirring.

1. Using Knox UNFLAVORED Gelatin, empty 4 individual packets of Knox into a clean, dry plastic cup. (A wet cup will make Knox bumpy and hard to stir.)
   
2. Using hot tap water (water heated in a portable kettle is not necessary and may bum swimmers scalp), slowly add about an inch of water (provided your plastic cup is not extraordinarily wide) to the Knox and stir with your plastic utensil. (If you cannot get hot water from the tap, try the showers. THSC will always have the portable kettles on hand in the Team bag at meets, but swimmers should learn to do without.)
   
3. The Knox should transform into a syrup colored liquid that is a bit thicker than rubber cement. If your Knox is too dark, slowly add a bit more hot water and stir until the Knox is of a good smooth consistently. If your Knox is way too thin, it's best to start over or see if another swimmer has some leftover Knox you can use. It's a waste of time and effort trying to salvage Knox that has WAY too much water.
   
4. If your knox has lumps in it, use your fork or spoon to skim the lumps off the surface and wipe them onto a paper towel to be thrown away.
   
   

Step Three: Knox your hair.

What You'll Need: An old towel that will fit over your shoulders to serve as your "knoxing towel", a paintbrush (not required, but some prefer using a paintbrush instead of their hands), a mirror, and a good sense of humor.

1. Okay, so your hair is up in a perfect bun and you have your Knox. Find a mirror (not a handheld one), drape your "knoxing towel" over your shoulders and take a deep breath.
   
2. Moving from your hairline towards your bun, use your hand or a paintbrush to smooth Knox onto your hair. Be sure to cover all areas of your hair with Knox before covering your bun, Don't miss any wispy strands; those look messy in the water if not knoxed. If you can't see the back, get another swimmer to help you. If you use your hand instead of a paintbrush it's easier to feel the areas you may have missed.
   
3. If the Knox starts dripping all over your face, ears and neck, STOP! Your Knox is too thin! Either make some new Knox or use some leftover Knox from another swimmer (if it's still "good" and not too cool and thick), Trust me on this one, Knox that dries all over your neck is itchy, painful and uncomfortable. Good Knox will congeal to your hair and not end up all over you.
   
4. If you have time, stand under a hand dryer to help the Knox set initially. Your hair does not need to be rock hard. Plus, once your hair gets too hard it's difficult and painful to put in a headpiece.
   
   

Step Four: Clean up after yourself!

People who manage and maintain pools hate Knox. It clogs up their drains, makes their floors sticky, and usually causes locker rooms to smell weird. So please do your part to BE NEAT WHEN YOU KNOX.

1. Shake the granules of Knox down to the bottom of the packet before you open them so the granules don't fly everywhere when you open them.
   
2. Find a small area (outside if it's warm enough) to Knox. That's the area you are responsible for cleaning up when you're done. Don't move all over the place.
   
3. Make your Knox correctly so it doesn't drip all over the place.
   
4. NEVER pour Knox down the drain. Give any leftover Knox time to congeal IN THE CUP. When it's hard enough it will actually peel out of the cup like a flubbery kind of plastic. Throw the hardened Knox away and you're left with a clean cup for use next time!
   
5. Throw all trash away, keep Knox off the floor, walls, or sinks (that's disgusting) and use a warm wet paper towel to wipe up areas where Knox granules or drips may have fell.
   
   

Now it's time to go put in your headpiece!

Follow these basics steps to insure that your headpiece doesn't fly off mid-routine.

1. First, check with the coach as to how she would like the headpiece to go in the hair.
   
2. Holding the headpiece against the hair in the manner determined by the coach, use a few bobby pins to tack the headpiece in place. You may need to use one hand to hold the headpiece and the other hand and your teeth to open and then slide the bobby pin into place.
   
3. Always put bobby pins in going under the headpiece towards the bun. Put one bobby pin in and then another in crisscrossing the first bobby pin to create stability.
   
4. Make sure the headpiece matches the other swimmers headpieces in your routine.
   
5. When finished, gently pull up on all edges of the headpieces to see if it seems stable, especially in the front where water is prone to get caught up underneath the headpiece and pull it out of place. (This usually happens upon diving or jumping into the pool.)