Men and Swim Caps

I am 57 and race in a cap. I don't care for them in practice. Allen, you were 59 last year at Mt Hood. How'd you become 55 again? ("I'm 55 and wear a cap at meets,not in practice, ...")

I'm 27 and I hate wearing a cap, it drives me nuts for reasons I am yet to figure out. Back in high school I had long-ish hair but I wouldn't wear a cap for races. Unfortunately these days I'm bald and it doesn't really matter anyways, I just shave my head. Now I'll only put one on for an open water race because you have to for hey-that-guy-might-be-drowning purposes.

Well i have mentioned to my gym about the chlorine smell and burning eyes I have after swimming in pool. They mentioned that they are fixing the problem but I think there is a correlation to this and the hair loss on my arms, chest and legs. Will it Grow back? after the problem is fixed? THANKS

I'm 50 and always race with a cap. I assume it is faster than letting the water run through my thick hair. I also feel a bit of bouyancy with a cap. Goggles under the cap.... But never in practice because I'm lazy I suppose.

Well i have mentioned to my gym about the chlorine smell and burning eyes I have after swimming in pool. They mentioned that they are fixing the problem but I think there is a correlation to this and the hair loss on my arms, chest and legs. Will it Grow back? after the problem is fixed? THANKS I noticed this thread re-started here in 2008 with this question (quoted). I have never experienced hair loss do to chlorine... perhaps there is something else going on in your water?

"Dave's not here" He's very not here, they've got Chong in prison. So I'm talking to a lady on our USMS team about why she washes her hair before practice, and she says dry hair is like a sponge, so washing it before saturates it with good stuff. That and a cap helps keep it from smelling like a pool. I asked her if she spelled her name, Allison, like the Elvis Costello song, and she says "Who?". She was serious; she had to go home and find it on the internet to listen to. I'm so old. Merry Christmas. Goggles ON. Paddles ON. Hair GONE. GO!

I wear a cap every time I swim. We have to here in Taiwan. All the pools require them. Keeps loose hairs from floating around the pool and clogging up the filters. I thoroughly wet my hair in the shower first (it is also required of everyone to take a shower before getting into the pool - much more hygenic this way) and then put my cap on. I have never had problems with dry hair. When I did a semester in Japan (grad school), back in 1996, some pools in Tokyo also had this rule, but not the Yoyogi Sports Center (which is where I swam most of the time). I cannot stand wearing a cap, it just feels so restrictive on my head. But I had a lycra cap then, and wore that if I 'needed' to (the lycra cap didn't feel as tight as others). Needless to say, I rarely if ever wear a cap. I just don't like the feeling around my head. I keep my hair pretty short, and have never (in recent memory) had any issues with my hair and swimming.

When in competition I wear the rubber lid. I don't like the feeling from a cap, yet I am faster when wearing one. I never shower before jumping in a pool.

I wear a cap every time I swim. We have to here in Taiwan. All the pools require them. Keeps loose hairs from floating around the pool and clogging up the filters. I thoroughly wet my hair in the shower first (it is also required of everyone to take a shower before getting into the pool - much more hygenic this way) and then put my cap on. I have never had problems with dry hair.

If you get a chance to see Cheech and Chong in concert, don't pass it up. They are touring again and are fantastic. I walked by their green room before a show. The smell made me laugh out loud.