How to fit big curly hair into a swim cap
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I’ve witnessed and been victim to the struggle of trying to squash big or long hair into a swimming cap. While larger fit caps from brands like Soul Cap massively help, I’ve still found myself battling in the changing room or leaving the pool with parts of my hair soaked—on these occasions, I either chose the wrong size cap for my hairstyle or I put it on incorrectly.
Before we begin, I want to preface by saying that swimming caps aren’t designed to keep your hair completely dry. They’re mainly for keeping hair out of the pool and out of your face, reducing drag—if you care about speed or keeping your head warm in cold open water.
If you’re worried about chlorine or salt/mineral build up in your hair, try a chelating shampoo once a month, like the OUAI Detox Shampoo, or a pre-swim hair mask such as the Philip Kingsley Swimcap Water Resistant Mask.
Step 1 - prep your hair
If you have thick or long hair, braid it down or do loose chunky plaits or twists. I usually pin my plaits to my head with bobby pins, so my swim cap fits more streamlined.
This would be the time to dampen your hair and add your mask or conditioner for extra protection if you’re concerned about this. Otherwise, you can miss this step.
Step 2 - align the swim cap seam
Before you put the cap on, make sure the seam running down the centre of your swim cap is positioned to run from the middle of your forehead to the back of your neck, not from ear to ear. This way, you’re more streamlined in the water.
Step 3 - put the swim cap on starting at your hairline
Start by placing it on your forehead/hairline. You can either grab the edges of your swim cap and stretch it over your head, or spread your fingers inside the cap and guide it on that way. Tuck in any loose hairs/braids and cover your ears.
I’ve found that my hair stays the driest when the cap is pulled well over the nape of my neck!
