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.
Former Member
I have long hair, although it is very thin. I like using the silicone caps. I always put my hair into a high pony tail and get my hair wet before I put the cap on. When putting it on I start with my forehead and then stretch it back. After getting it on I tuck all my hair in. Putting your hair in a ponytail should help a lot. I have more problems when I forget my ponytail. It is a lot harder to get alll my hair up into the cap.
I pile my hair on top of my head - starting with a high ponytail - then clip it to the top of my head with a flat barrette. Then I use my hands to stretch out the cap over the hair, and as previous post replied, put it low on your forehead and "snap" the rest down to the nape of your neck. I put it on in the shower - wet hair and cap help a lot.
This thread makes me laugh because if it wasn't for my friend I swim with I would never get a cap on. I have to hold the front to my forehead while she actually puts it on my head. I'm sure it is an amusing sight. If she isn't there I just wear the only cap I can get on by myself. It's a TYR latex cap I got off of Aardvarkswim. It seems to be thinner and stretch alot more then my Speedo caps. I don't know if this is the only TYR cap that is like this or if they just make them bigger than other manufacturers.
i've found that the longer my hair gets, the better silicone caps tend to work. i always used latex caps during age group and collegiate swimming, but my hair was much much shorter than it is now. so i've switched to silicone for workouts (still use latex for meets). the only drawback to the silicone is that goggle straps tend to slip and slide on them and you end up with water in your goggles (at least this happens to me!)
everyone's suggestions above are really helpful- so hopefully you'll win one of these days!
To all of the ladies(or gentlemen) with long locks:
If and when you get tired of struggling with your long hair, donate it to a great cause. Locks of Love is an organization that makes wigs for children who have lost their hair.
Check out their website at www.LocksofLove.org
I donated my hair(14 inches) 2 years ago and will probably be ready to donate again soon.
I like the lycra caps best.
Swimmy : )
Swimmy - Locks of Love is great!
I find the easiest way to get my cap on is to get my hair wet first and then throw some conditioner in it, this also protects your hair from the lovely good smelling pool chemicals. The cap slides right on then. My teammates and I started doing this in high school I think that it got invented as a way of avoiding having to really shower after early morning practices. Why coaches think that a team of high school girls can get ready and get to class in 20 minutes is beyond me.
I actually have the opposite problem! I had long hair, used to wet it put it in a tight bun, put the swim cap over it (starting with the back so it would "hold" to the bun and not slip out, and my swim cap (silicone) would stay put perfectly.
Now I just cut my hair short about mid neck two weeks ago. Can't really tie it up as it gets loose, the swim cap now has to come way too far down on my forehead (making me have a nice vertical stripe once I remove it at the end of my swim, ugh) and during my swim the ends keep sticking out of the cap on the back and I have to tuck it back in. Can't wait to have long hair again!
I don't get it. I've got long hair, especially for a guy, and longer then most of the other swimmers on my team yeat I have no problems putting on a cap.
I take a hair tie, put it in a tail and wrap around once. Then pull the tail through again and tie it up off the back of my head, somewhere between the top and halfway down. Then I put the front on first and just pull it up and over. I always do it dry and never have a problem with it. Ok I do sometimes have a problem if it's an openwater swim and they give out the cheaper caps, but the ones I normally get always work.
My hair is around 6 inches past my shoulders, so it's not really long, but it is longer then most people's. I've always seen the women try and tuck their hair under the cap and never understood why.
Just my two cents:
I use only silicone caps and my hair is past my shoulders.
I make a LOW ponytail out of my WET hair and then take the cap - one hand inside and one hand outside - and gently glide it over the front/top of my head until I can tuck the backside under my ponytail in the back.
It took me a month to find something that worked for me. Now I use this method every time I swim.
I tried a latex cap once and it just wasn't for me. It felt like I was trying to stretch a balloon over my head.
I guess that's whey there are so many different caps - b/c there are so many different swimmers!
Good luck!
UPDATE: I beat the tar out of my swimming cap.
It went on my head, and stayed there. Swimming is much more enjoyable with it on, and now I don't have to spend 10 minutes untangling my goggle straps from my hair.
But I have a new question about my swimming cap now. Is it supposed to go down over my ears? Mine does, but it feels annoying, so I try to tuck it behind my ears. Otherwise it feels like I am wearing earmuffs made out of water and latex. Swimming caps aren't supposed to waterproof your ears, are they?
