Why swimming caps are beneficial to all swimmers

Swimming caps are great for all swimmers! While they may be uncomfortable and feel strange at first, they have a range of benefits for use in the water. 

Competitive swimmers wear swim caps as it makes their bodies more hydrodynamic and helps them swim faster, however, we encourage our swimmers to wear them for both casual recreational swimming and during swimming lessons for a number of reasons:

• Keeps your hair out of your face – so you can focus on your swim or lesson. 
• Secure all the hair (even those little fly-aways) so you won’t feel your ponytail dragging in the water. 
• Gives your goggles a smooth surface to stick to. 
• Helps make you more visible in the water. 
• Helps to protect your hair. Swim caps are not meant for keeping your hair dry, but they do add a small layer of protection against chlorine damage to your hair. 
• Helps to keep your head warm in the cooler weather. 
• Helps to protect our water and filtration system by minimising hair in the filters. 
• Ensures long hair doesn’t get stuck in lane ropes causing possible injury. 

Types of swimming caps: 

• Silicon Caps are thick, durable and long-lasting. You can even get silicon caps for extra-long hair! 
• Latex Caps are very thin, less durable and inexpensive. Latex does offer a great grip on the head however may pull on those tiny hairs. 
• Lycra Caps are made from the same material as swimsuits, these caps are best for activities where you do not submerge your head, such as aqua aerobics, as they may come off. 

Be sure to buy the correct size swim cap, as they are available in both adults’ and children’s sizes! 

Best way to put a swim cap on: 

The ever long question – how do you put a swimming cap on yourself or your little swimmer without making a fuss? Practice makes perfect in this case and once your little one becomes old enough, they can even do it themselves. Here is our recommendation for the easiest way to put your swim cap on your child: 

1. Tie long hair up into a tight bun or ponytail at the top of the head. 
2. Ask your child to hold the front of the cap to their forehead while you hold the back of the cap (Adults may ask a friend to assist in this method for themselves). 
3. Stretch the cap up and over your child’s head in one quick, fluid motion tucking in the hair as you go. 

TIP: asking your child to look down will help you capture all their hair in one motion. 

If your child cannot hold the front of the cap or you are putting the cap on yourself, follow these steps: 

1. Place your hands into the cap to stretch it as wide as you can.  
2. Line the front of the cap to your forehead. 
3. Stretch the cap up and onto your head in one motion from front to back. 
4. Tuck in loose hair as needed once the cap is on. 
5. Remember: Always go from forehead back when putting your cap on. 

We hope this guide supports you to try using a swimming cap and experience the benefits for yourself, whether you’re a frequent or occasional swimmer!