Swim cap advice/recommendations

Barbara Diane

I'd like to swim and not have to do my hair each time. Is there a swim cap out there that will keep my hair dry and not give me a headache? It needs to fit over my "too large to fit a one size only hat" head and my somewhat long hair.
Suggestions appreciated.

6 years ago

Shopping

11 replies

Latest reply was from Barbara Diane

Barbara Diane

Veteran

Ignore this comment, something was odd about my post, above, but now is fine.

6 years ago

notsaf

Veteran

I use the brand Shhhowercap in the shower, but it can be used as a bathing cap as well. Not very aerodynamic, but if you're not racing, it might work for you. Certainly fits my big head and doesn't look half bad!

https://www.shhhowercap.com/

6 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I haven’t paid attention to whether they keep my hair dry, but they do cover it. These silicon hats were labeled at the sports store as being for lots of hair. Maybe similar would work for you.

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6 years ago

Locked

Active Member

I second the Shhhowercap, was also using it for shower.

6 years ago

Staysfit

Veteran

I have been a swimmer all my life and I can honestly and sadly say I know of no good options in swim caps that keep your hair dry and also improve aqua dynamics that are not tight. The main purpose of most current swim caps is to decrease any drag that might occur from your hair. They also keep sun off your hair. They are not designed to keep your hair dry. If you really want to prevent water leakage you need an air tight seal. I have done things like put conditioner in my hair, and even Vaseline on my skin, all around the edges where the cap goes to try to seal out water. I can appreciate the problem. I have a long history of being a swimmer and am prone to headaches from tight caps. I also have lived with chronically wet hair, hence my pixie cut!

I haven’t done this, but you can try wearing a regular disposable shower cap under a standard swim cap. I would put the swim cap on by inverting it, filling it with water and dropping it over my head once the shower cap is in place. (That should make sense to you if you are a lap swimmer or have seen other lap swimmers do this). I think that would have the lowest chance of dislodging the shower cap.

6 years ago

Toban

Veteran

Unfortunately Staysfit is right that no swim cap is designed to keep your hair dry. You’re not alone in wanting this ... it happens to be a regular question in a triathlon Facebook group I participate in and I’ve never seen a doable solution.

I would add that I use a special shampoo after swimming to remove the chlorine from my hair called Ultra Swim. Available at CVS and online at swimoutlet.com.

6 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Aubrey Organics also makes a post-swimming shampoo. There are others too. Another thing to help keep your hair in good condition is to wet it and put conditioner in it before you swim. And of course don’t style it with heat, including blow dryers.

I had the feeling though that it wasn’t your hair’s condition that you were worrying about, but that you want to be able to leave the pool looking presentable enough to go somewhere. There are swim caps big enough to put your hair in (Toban’s procedure is the best for putting them on) but like Staysfit says, your hair will always get wet at the roots around the edge of the cap.

Twists and braids can be good styles for wet hair, because it doesn’t slap around like it would if you wore it down. If you wash your hair before you put it up, you get the benefit of nice curls when it dries & you take it down

6 years ago

ClaraT

Veteran

Agree with the comments above—if you swim, your hair will get wet! I wet mine pre-pool swim (pre-cap) and condition after and my hair is healthy and shiny. I do not think the shower caps will stay on and block water if you swim in them, but I haven’t tried it. And swim caps are tight in order to stay on when swimming, but mine def stretch out a bit over time. Buying a cap for long hair may give you a bit more room and maybe less of a headache. Good luck! I love swimming and hope you can get something that works for you.

6 years ago

Barbara Diane

Veteran

Wow, thanks everyone. Sounds like I'm not alone. One of the things I am trying to do is to not to wash my hair twice on a day where it looks bad in the morning and I don't want to swim until later. Maybe I need to focus more on how to make my hair look better on those mornings.

Notsaf and Locked, thanks for the showercap recommendation. Sometimes my hair looks more dried out after my shower, sounds like even if Shhhowercap doesn't work for swimming it might help my dry hair.
Fashintern, thanks for the recommendation.
Staysfit, thanks for the suggestions. I will try them. I swim slowly for pleasure, so I'm not so concerned about being slowed down.
Toban and Fashintern, thanks for the shampoo recommendation.
Fashintern, thanks also for the using conditioner and after swim style recommendations. I had recently started wetting my hair before swimming to reduce chlorine absorption, but I will try adding conditioner. Although this post was focused on being able to have dry hair after swimming, my hair runs dry and frizzy, so that might help.
ClaraT, thanks for suggesting caps made for long hair.
Everyone, thanks for your help. I never thought about other ways to manage the problem, rather than solve it. And by asking for collective wisdom, at least I know that I have left no stone unturned. Lots of things to try to help keep dry, condition and style my hair.

6 years ago

Anonymous

Ditto that you won't be able to keep your hair dry, but there are latex and silicone swim caps. The latex ones are much thinner and more comfortable in my experience.

6 years ago

Barbara Diane

Veteran

Thanks suntiger.

6 years ago

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