Mrs J: rec your swim cap

[emjacobs]

I'm going to start swimming on my lunch break at the local indoor. I'd love to not drench my hair in chlorine everyday so I need to get a decent cap. Any recs?

[mrs.jacinthe]

Are you planning on showering after? If so, I'd use conditioner before you put on your cap. It'll keep the chlorine from being absorbed by your hair.

If you're wanting to keep your hair dry ... there are approximately 50 tips and tricks, but everyone's head is different. You might have to experiment. One of the women in my masters group cut the top off an old latex cap and actually puts the "ring" on around the bottom of her hair before she puts on the full cap. It seems to work for her.

I actually wear two caps, but you'll probably want to invest in a good silicone one. I like the silicone ones by TYR - they work with my head shape. Like this - m.swimoutlet.com/product_p/1256.htm - its my favorite cap of all time.

That's probably more info than you wanted.

[emjacobs]

I'd like to keep my hair mostly dry so I can get pool time not shower time. I only have an hour break.

I'm allergic to latex so those caps are out. Ill check out your link in the morning! Thanks

[mrs.jacinthe]

Be aware - silicone does not seal as well as latex. You may have some leaking regardless of what cap you use.

[Susie]

Depending on your swimming style, keeping your hair dry might be a pipe dream. You may be able to do it if all you do is breaststroke with your head mostly out of the water, but if you swim freestyle for any length of time, and definitely if you start doing flip turns, it's pretty much over for hair dryness. Even if you keep it dry, it'll be kind of matted when you take the cap off. I think it's easier to just brush it wet and throw it up into a bun after I swim.

I have been swimming for most of the last 25 years, and am not very picky about caps. I wear leftovers from races, whatevs. I do have two silicone caps that I keep in my bag. They last FOR-EV-ER, but mrs. j is right that they don't "seal" all that well. They're too thick to perfectly conform to your head/ears. I'm always in the water for hours at a time, so keeping my hair dry just isn't on the radar. I don't have any tricks for that.

[emjacobs]

If its not possible it's not the end of the world ill just have to go back to the expensive shampoo and conditioner because my hair gets funky if I wash it daily. I definitely will not have time to swim, shower, and pick up a quick lunch on my hour.