The SWIM CAP Guide
Hair Care For Swimmers
NEW! SPEEDO FLOWER
PETAL SWIM CAP
Click On the left cap for more information SEE LINK ON BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE TO WBH Swim for a Smaller Sized Petal Cap!
Floral Rubber swim cap with inner
sponge rubber sealing band
and a chin strap for extra
protection against chlorine.
Waterskiers! Water Exercisers, Synchro Swimmers! And Even Alcatraz to San Francisco Swimmers Too!
Wear over a home made "Swim
Band" See the "create a swim band"
link below
NEW! Speedo Bubble Caps
Now available again in Black Click on the Cap For Info!
Classic strap swim cap in
black goes great with solid black or black & white swimsuits.
Black swim caps give the
impression you are swimming capless! Most peoples hair
appears black or dark when
wet in the pool.
Sponge rubber inner band for extra
protection against chlorine! Goggles are TYR Technoflex 2.0
NEW! SWIM CAPS FOR KAYAKERS
WINDSURFERS SURFERS
SURFER WINDSURFER SWIM CAPS
Retro Swim Cap Article From
MSNBC
RETRO SWIM CAPS
MSNBC
Jantzen Floral Swim Caps In
Solid And Multi Colors
JANTZEN FLORAL
SWIM CAPS
And Heres The Swim Cap Guide!
A swim cap is a important part of many swimmers attire. A cap can protect your hair from damage from pool chlorine, keep your hair from tangling in goggle straps, streamline you and keep you warmer in the water,as they insulate your head where you lose most of your body heat. A swim cap can add a fashion statement, compliment a swimsuit or make you look like a Olympic star.
There are many different
swim caps to choose from and there are differences between them.
NEW
LINK ! Swim Team Hair Care!
SWIM
TEAM HAIR CARE
This guide contains information
on...
Latex swim caps
Chin strap swim caps
Silicon swim caps
Lycra and fabric swim caps
Vintage swim caps
Water proofing tips
Cold water Open Water swim
cap tips
Tips for putting a swim
cap on
Hair care for swimmers,after
swim shampoo/cap and condition
What swimcaps are best for?
Web links for swim caps
Its a long scroll...sorry!
And the whole article will print ! Its 16 pages long.
LATEX SWIM CAPS
Latex rubber swim caps are
the most popular, as they are widely available,
in-expensive and provide
the best protection. They should not be worn by swimmers who exibit signs
of latex allergy. Rash, swelling and redness of the ears are possible signs
that should be reported to your doctor if they appear after wearing a latex
rubber swim cap.
Latex rubber swim caps have many styles,smooth strapless racing Style,Tank or pool style,chin strap style and decorated style
Smooth Strapless Racing Styles
These smooth caps are available in many colors and can be custom printed with swim team names. Made in two sizes child or youth and adult when pulled down low over the ears they provide good protection from chlorine damage. These caps are streamlined and used by most competive swimmers. Disadvantages of these caps are that they can be hard to slip on and have a tendency to roll up at the edges and pull hair along. These caps will not cover the ears fully and leakage can be a problem. Very light to wear as they are thin so care must be taken not to start a rip by puncturing with a finger nail. If not pulled down fully a "pop off" may occur.Almost all are the same size and they will stretch to fit most head sizes.
Tank or Pool Caps
These are the original swim
caps and have been used by swimmers since the 1920,s. They look similar
to the smooth racing caps but are made of more then one piece of rubber
glued together. These caps are a bit more durable then the racing caps
as the rubber is a bit thicker. They are easier to slip on then the racing
caps. Popping off and rolling up are not as much of a problem
with these caps. Pulled
down low over the ears they give good protection but leak at the ears.
Made for years by Ocean Pool Supply and others they were popular with life
guards and competive swimmers before the racing caps came on the market
in the 1970,s.They are available in solid colors,white,blue,and red
Chin Strap Swim Caps
These are the most watertite
of all swim caps. During the 1960,s Playtex made several caps in this style
that were the most watertight swim caps ever made. ( WAVE-GARD,
SWIM
PRETTY and STROMBOLI)
There are two primary types made today.
One a solid molded rubber
cap with a molded flap of rubber on the inside as a seal to keep
out water. Two- an air filled bubble crepe cap with a inner seal band of sponge
rubber. The bubble crepe caps are smooth on the inside and are easy
to put on and take off without pulling hair. They stretch to allow
for long and full hair styles. Chin straps adjust for fit and keep the
caps snugly in place.
Pop offs will not occur with
chin strap caps.Though they may keep water out as well as any cap
can..water may seep in at the ears and nape of the neck. This leakage can
be held to a minimum by wearing a snug fitting properly sized bubble crepe cap over a inner home made SWIM BAND. This
is now possible as Water Gear and Sprint make these caps in the bubble
crepe style in head sizes small medium and large. Additional if a bit of water seeps into your ears,you can prevent this by using earplugs.
Head sizes for bubble chin strap swim caps are: (measured around the head
from the forehead to the rear) child 20 ", adult small 21", adult medium
22", adult large 23" The original Playtex swim caps were a bit more water tight then todays caps as the sponge rubber inner band on the edge of the
cap was not punctured by the chin strap snap
Why were the 60's Swim caps
more water tight? How could cap makers improve?
60,s
and Todays Swim cap Seals
Silicon Swim Caps
Silicon swim caps are made
in one style that is very sleek and similar to the latex racing caps.
Originally designed as a
alternative to latex rubber caps for protection against latex allergy these
caps have become very popular because of the shiny colors they come in.These
caps are highly streamlined. The silicon material is more durable then
the latex material of the same design, many swimmers get a years use from
a silicon cap and swim daily. The price of the silicon caps reflect this
and they can be two or three times as expensive as a latex cap.These caps
are made in one size. However this could soon change as they are popular
and cap makers may make other sizes available. The current Speedo
silicon caps have a size marked AC on the package. Swimmers with small
to medium sized heads and short hair will find them to fit well, while
swimmers with larger heads or fuller hairstyles and longer hair may find
them to be overly tight and small.Because the silicon material is slicker
then latex they must fit tightly or will slip off. The opening on these
caps is very small when looking at it but the caps stretch well. Marketed
as caps that don't pull hair, the statement applies when removing the caps
but they can be hard to put on.They have a tendency to ride up at the ears
and have to be pulled down well. Some swimmers use conditioner under their
cap or wet there hair and if this is done the silicon caps can slip on
easier and slip off too when you don't want them to! Silicon caps
come in a wide varity of colors,pearl,silver,gold,blue,green,pink and in
swirled and multi colors. Speedo has recently introduced a new type of
silicon cap called the "Aquablade" The name implies slicing thru the water.
The cap has raised dots on the surface. The idea is that the turbulence
created by water flowing past the cap flows off in a way that creates less
drag upon the swimmer. Tyr has introduced a new silicon swim cap called
"Thunder Dome" This cap is slightly smaller in size then their regular
silicon swim cap and is marketed toward swimmers on swim teams who are
in their teens and early 20's. Some of the Olympic swimmers are now
wearing silicon swim caps.
Lycra and Fabric Swim Caps
These swimcaps are made mostly
of stretchy Lycra. They will not keep out water out as they are porous.
Very light in weight they are a ideal cap for swimmers with long hair who
don't care if it gets wet but want to keep it out of eyes and prevent their
hair from tangles in their goggle straps. Some swimmers wear these caps
under a regular latex cap to keep their hair in place and prevent pulling
from the latex cap.They can also be worn over a latex or silicon cap to
hide the inner cap with one that better matches a swimsuit perhaps custom
made from the same swimsuit material
Chin Strap swim cap covered by a lycra cap
Vintage and Fancy Swim Caps
Vintage Playtex Swim Caps Click
here! Playtex
Vintage Swim Caps
These swimcaps may
be decorated with rubber flowers or may be covered with fabric
or "what not"! Some of them
are really wild! During the 1960,s a typical sight around pools was
the bikini girl with her floral swim cap!They can be a more attractive
alternative to a plastic shower cap for water joggers and aquatic exercisers.
Water skiers and synchronized swimmers can find these caps to be great!
They are real headturners at any pool or beach! Some of these caps like
the Playtex swim cap shown can be very watertite as they have a sponge
rubber inner band and chin strap. No two of these caps will be exactly
alike as they are hand made. The flowers could slow a swimmer down a bit
but they could be a fun addition to some swimmers attire.Jantzen still
markets a cap that looks like the Playtex cap. It comes in multi and solid
colors. Fancy floral swim caps were made by several makers, Kleinerts sava-wave
caps were the most popular,They had a inner rim or band up under the cap
that helped keep water out and were made in head sizes. Popular brands
were Playtex, U.S.Rubber, Petty Products Sea Siren and Jantzen. Some of
these vintage swim caps sell for 15.00 to 35.00 on the EBay auction site
Looking For A Swim Turban
Swim Cap?
Click On The Girl For A Link To Allstar Sales
All Kinds Of Fancy Swim Caps They are in Canada.
Also try the link On this page to Travel Trunk
For These styles
Water Proofing Tips
Do You Have Any Water Proof
Tips?
email [email protected]
Check
with your doctor before using any swimcap to keep water from the ears for
a medical reason! Go over any tips with the doctor first! Never wear a
water tite swim cap when diving or submerging more then 6 feet below the
surface! A swimcap can be used as a diving "beanie" but a holes must
be placed in it to allow water in at the ears to avoid ear squeeze!
It seems that some swimmers can not get a good watertite swim cap fit no matter what!
The only way to get a really
water tite fit is by wearing a head sized chin strap swim cap and even then you may
get a leak..Here are some tips that may help. A bit of warning...the
more watertight the cap
may get with some of the
tips the tighter it may be. A loosely fitting watertight swim cap
does not exist!
Tip #1 absorb the water that seeps in.
Years ago there were products
called "Swim Band" and "Dry Band" They were head bands made of polyfoam
that you would wrap around the hair line to cover your ears. you would
then slip a swimcap over the head band and what water leaked in would be
absorbed by the inner band.
SWIM BAND WORN UNDER A PLAYTEX
SWIM CAP
DRY BAND
These head bands are no
longer made but you could make one from some poly foam and a bit of velcro
to secure it at the front.Poly foam is a material made of foam on
the inside and material on the outside. A piece about 1/8" thick or so
would do..too thick and you would need a much larger swimcap.
Make
Your Own SWIM BAND!
Click On The Girl To
See How To Make A Swim Band
And Obtain Your Most Waterproof
Swim Cap Seal
Another way to absorb water
is to make a head band from chamois (what you use to dry a car.)
or from terry cloth
Some of the terry sport head
bands may work for you.
A popular way to keep hair
in place before slipping on a swim cap was to put it up in pin curls.
Tip # 2 The other way to get a more water tight seal is to wear two swim caps, one over the other.
This may be a bit tight so
take the first cap and cut it in half to leave the bottom looking like
a head band, put it on to cover the ears and hairline and slip one
of the more watertite caps on over it. The tank and pool caps work very
well to create a "swim band" in this manner!
A swim cap that keeps ears dry! A chin strap bubble crepe swim cap worn over a home made "swim band" and a pair of ear plugs can provide maximum protection for childrens ears with tubes in place, or swimmers with chronic swimmers ear problems. Remember check out all tips first with your childs ENT doctor first! The bubble crepe swim caps are available in child sizes and many colors. The chin strap keeps the swimcap from slipping off and holds the inner sponge rubber seal band snug against the sides of the head for a watertight fit
This swim cap combo will also provide maximum hair protection for permed or colored hair !
Cold water, Open Water swim cap tips
Any swim cap will help keep
you warmer as the heat from your body leaves from your head
quicker then any other area.
For cold or open water swimming a special swimcap is available from Barracuda
maker of swim goggles. It is called the hot head and is made of a insulated
material. Some swimmers wear a latex cap under the hot head cap to keep
out water as the hot head cap will not keep you dry. Like a ducks feathers
the air in your hair under a swimcap helps to keep you warm. Wet hair under
a cap will not keep you as warm
Hot head caps are Bright
orange in color they will keep you warm and let people know where you are.
Open water swim caps should be chosen in as bright a color as you can find
.The hot head is also made in blue for cold pool swimming. .
An easy and cheap cold water
open water cap system is as simple as wearing a bubble crepe swimcap
with a plain racing latex cap over it ( like the ones the swim event gives
to all swimmers) This creates a very
watertite and warm cap
The air between the caps insulate this cap combo...If the outer cap will not stay down and rolls up, Cut off the top of the cap to create a small hole in the crown, The extra snug fit from the outer cap will make the sponge rubber seal inside the first cap more watertite.
Bubble Crepe Swim Caps Come
In Many Bright Colors For Open Water Swimming
They are fairly inexpensive
less then 8.00 each
Some events only allow a single swim cap if you are going for a record. The English Channel swim ..the "Mt Everest" of swims allows a single standard swim cap. Bubble Crepe Caps have been worn and are allowed for this swim for record. Barracuda Hothead caps are not allowed. The oldest female swimmer to
cross the English Channel Carol Sing of San Diego California wore a bubble
crepe swim cap on her swim. Carol also just completed the swim around Manhatten
Island in New York City in 2001!
Diver Hoods worn over Swim
Caps Should only Be used for Surface Swimming Not Diving To Avoid Ear Squeeze!
One and Two Color Bubble Crepe Swimcaps
for Open Water Swimming Available From Vision Products Co. In Wholesale Quanities 973-428-3800
Tips For Putting A Swim Cap On
The racing crowd has a special
way to put on there caps..They turn them inside out..fill them with
water and drop them on the heads of their teammates..it works and you would
have to see it! The best way to put a cap on is to hold it by the
sides and bend your head down.Start putting the cap on at the forehead
and work it on down.Swimmers with really long hair can pull there hair
out to the rear and put their caps on half way..Then twist up the rest
and tuck it up inside as evenly and as far up as you can. If you put long
hair into a bun it can be hard to get a swimcap to cover smoothly and tightly
as the
And its so cheap as well!
After Swim Shampoo/Cap and Condition
And Capless Hair Care Tips!
Unless you have worn one
of the more water tight swimcaps you will have some wet spots. How to protect
your hair from these? You could rinse your hair in the shower and get all
wet before you put your swimcap on. This will fill and seal the hair shafts
and prevent chlorine from entering if it seeps in under your cap. Some
swimmers comb a conditioner thru before putting on a swimcap..This is being
called cap and condition., If you do this make sure your cap fits
snug enough to keep the conditioner from getting in the pool, also as stated
under silicon caps this can make your hair so slick a cap may pop off easy.If
a pop off happens a pair of swim goggles with a double or split headband
can help keep your cap in place.If you wish to swim capless try the tip
for wetting your hair in the shower before you swim then rinse well after
and use a conditioner after your swim. Expect to deep condition your hair
once a week if you swim capless. Try "The Hair Boutique" www.hairboutique.com
"Hair Talk" for excellent tips on leave in's and conditioners for swimmers!..
Swim and sun protection for swimmers with long hair who like the "wet look"
is available from the French Phytoplage company, try their Phytoplage Sun
Protection Oil.
The
Big Phytoplage Web Site
There are several good shampoos
out to remove the chlorine
hairboutique.com all
kinds of hair care information!
What Swimcaps are "Best"?
What ever swimcap works
best for you is the best swimcap. Racers prefer the smooth latex caps because
they are sleek, The silicon caps are not often used as often by competition
swimmers because of the pop off factor.For fitness lap swimming the cap
that is the most comfortable and gives you the protection you want is the
best. You will obtain the most watertite swimcap seal for ear or
hair protection with a inner swim band and a strapped sponge seal cap like
the bubble crepe swim caps. For open or cold water swimming a insulated
or bubble crepe swimcap is prefered in a bright color for visibility. If
you want to be noticed a vintage floral swimcap will standout in the crowd.What
swimcaps are the fastest? The silicon or smooth latex caps, however you
would have to be a top competition swimmer to really notice any difference.If
you have several types of swimcaps available try them with a friend clocking
your speed,your times will be real close.
Swim Cap Links
watergear.com watergear
head sized swim caps
kastawayswimwear.com all
kinds of caps ,suits ,shampoo ,goggles
speedo.com on
line speedo web site store
ebay.com vintage
swim caps and lots more search swim cap
traveltrunk.com jantzen
swim caps new
skylinenw.com Barracuda
goggles and swim caps,shampoo
allstar sales (Canada) All
kinds of swim caps , bubble crepe-flower petal in colors and head sizes plus ear plugs, goggles
wbhswim.comall kinds of swim caps and bright petal caps in smaller size
Swim caps on this page are
by: SPEEDO TYR JANTZEN PLAYTEX AND
KLEINERTS
Swim Goggles are by Barracuda
TYR and Speedo
Enjoy your swim!
Barracuda Hot Head swim
cap
bun makes the cap
stick out into a point, which can cause the sides of the cap to not seal
well to keep water out , wide fabric headbands can help keep hair in place
as well .
You might try a wig cap
liner. A wig cap liner looks like a fabric swim cap but is thinner..an
old stocking cut off and tied off can make a cheap wig cap liner.Some swimmers
use bobby pins but beware as they can puncture your cap if not carefull!
A bit of hair preparation goes a long way to help keep hair under
your cap where it can be protected and not sticking outside your swimcap!
If your cap is sticky and
drags try rubbing some of this magic powder on the inside
it will make your caps so
slick !
All
kinds of hair care tips and products
Click!
PHYTOPLAGE WEB SITE
Ultra Swim and the new
Aquia from Barracuda work well
Expect to spend about 6-7
dollars per bottle.
