Turns out you can't search forum for the term "swimming cap", so I don't know if this has been answered somewhere already.
I'm a complete swimming newbie. I am teaching myself, because I'm one of those rebels who don't do well with lessons.
Never mind that my technique is non-existent, or that I usually get water up my nose twice every lap. My battle lies with my swimming cap.
I'm having trouble with my swimming cap. My hair is longer and annoying in the pool and when it is wet. So I bought a nice Speedo Latex swimming cap.
For the life of me, I cannot get this darn cap onto my head in such a manner as to contain my hair to some degree. I can only manage to pull it on my head with my hair hanging out and clinging to my neck.
Is there some trick to putting on a swimming cap if you have lots of hair? I tried pony tails and buns, but the process of trying to get the cap on usually destroys it.
Try getting your hair wet first in the shower, the cap should go on easier then. Also when my hair was longer I would braid it in a ponytail down my back, pull the cap over my head and tuck the braid in at the nape of my neck. You also might want to try a silicone cap, they are about ten bucks but last forever and you can stretch them more. Remember if Kaitlin Sandeno can swim with all her hair you can do it too!
Another trick I use when the cap is being particularly stubborn (don't laugh this works) is to pull the front of the cap over my eyebrows to start, then frown and furrow your brow as you stretch the cap to the back of your head - your eyebrows will hold the front of the cap on your forehead while you get the back around your cranium. Then you can push the front of the cap toward your hairline so you don't look too geeky with a cap halfway down your face. But it won't pull your hair so much if your hair is wet to start with . . . Ann
I remember posting a thread about caps about a year ago. I will tell you how I get on my cap. I have long hair (to my waist) that is long and thick. I get my hair wet first, A MUST. Then I split my hair in the middle and grab my cap. I put my hands in the cap and hold it open while I put the cap first on my forhead and then pull the cap back and over my head. So, at this point the cap is on and my hair is hanging down. Then I take one side and roll it in a twisting motion so that the hair is long but tightly curled. Then I stuff the hair into the side of the cap, kinda like Princess Leia from Star Trek. I repeat with the other side. When all the hair is in, I can then shift it around a bit so the hair is more at the back instead of the sides. This way works for me and I would recommend it. Although I will say that I go through a cap a week. They are always breaking.
Not being a woman with long hair, I approach this thread with caution. But at the risk of sticking my nose into a gender sensitive subject, have you tried filling the cap with pool water and "lowering" your head into the upside down full-of-water cap? That's how we used to put caps on when I swam as an age group swimmer. Just a thought.
I agree...getting your hair wet helps a lot. Try getting it wet and then pulling it into a really tight ponytail. One thing I learned when I started swimming was, after you put your hair into a ponytail, turn the cap inside-out, and then fill it with water. Then ,the bottom usually drips, center the drip over your head and drop the cap and pull the edges down as you do. This usually get it most of the way on and then you can just tuck up any remaining hair. And like mentioned above about the eyebrows, if that doesn't work...try biting it. Sometimes I have to hold the edge in my mouth and stretch the cap over the rest of my head. Then if you breath through your nose, it puffs up and you can get it to stretch easier. Good Luck!!
~Kyra
This might not work over a huge "pile" of hair but it's quick and easy for me.
Turn your cap inside out. Dunk it into the pool to fill it full of water (somewhat like an open water balloon). Hold it over your head and lower it on (or some can even "drop" it on their head). The cap will wrap itself over the obstacle (your head :) ).
It'll take a few tries at first but you'll get the hang of it if your particular pile of hair is not too humongus.
Everthing you will ever want to know about swim caps
Some long hair swimmers like the swim band also You make it by cutting a regular cap in half. It keeps hair up and gives a better seal under a other cap.
Swim Cap Guide Click on the girl with the whit swim band to see the swim band page
www.geocities.com/.../scg.html
Also see this thread from The Long Hair Loom. Its a long hair care site See the post from Leia about Grace and the swim band long hair and putting a swim cap on.
www.network54.com/.../thread
Or search the Long Hair Loom page on its search engine for swim cap or swim band..
If all else fails, you can go with a cloth/lycra cap. Great for tucking in hair without a huge show, not so good if you are looking to wrap yourself up so tight for less water resistance ergo better speed...
I can't wait to go back to the pool to try out my swimming cap. I'm going to even the score on this dratted little piece of latex. No more mid-pool hair strangulation for me. Thanks for all your tips!
Who knew there could possibly be so much information about anything anyone could ever possibly think to ask about swim cqps!!!
This thread cracks me up...
