Q&A for How to Put on a Swim Cap

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Can wearing earplugs or a swim cap help keep water out of your ears while you're swimming?

Hayley Church
Aquatic Manager
Hayley Church is an owner at Cooksey's Lifeguard & Swim Academy, LLC in Southern California. Hayley has been a lifeguard and swim instructor since 2007 and has dedicated her time to teaching people of all ages how to swim. Hayley and her team offer lifeguards and programming such as swim camp counselors, swim lessons, and water aerobics classes to clients of all sizes from large organizations to private homes. She received her Master’s degree in Recreation Management.

Hayley Church

Aquatic Manager

Expert Answer

Definitely. Anything that is covering your ears will help to keep water out of them.

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Question

How do I put on a swimming cap so I cover my ears?

Community Answer

You can buy swim caps that have ear flaps to better cover them. That's probably your best bet.

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Question

Do I put my goggles on before or after I put on the swim cap?

Community Answer

When to put on your goggles is mostly a matter of preference. Some people put their goggles on first, but this can cause unnecessary damage to the cap material. It fairly common to put goggles on after the swim cap. It is much easier to adjust the positioning of the goggles when they are placed outside of the cap, something that may need to be done several times if diving and swimming a lot of laps.

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Question

How do I take a swim cap off without messing up my hair?

Rey Starchaser

Top Answerer

Unfortunately, there's really no way to keep a cap from messing up your hair. There are ways to make your hair easier to brush after you take the cap off, however. Consider putting your hair in a ponytail before putting your cap on. That way, when you remove your cap, your hair won't get as tangled up.

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Question

What is the best swim cap brand?

Community Answer

All brands work well, although silicone is the most recommended material.

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Question

How do I make a proper small bun before putting on a swimming cap?

Community Answer

Tie your hair into three ponytails, then do a normal bun on all three. Put your cap on over the three small buns.

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Question

Should I cover my ears?

Community Answer

Ideally, when using a swim cap for competitions, it should go over your ears (with just the bottom tip pointing out) in order to decrease friction. However, if you are just practicing or if it is uncomfortable you may put in on and then uncover your ears.

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Question

Do boys wear bathing caps?

Community Answer

Some do. A lot of the guys I knew on swim team wear swim caps, especially during meets. Swim caps protect your hair from chlorine, and also help keep water out of your ears. If you have long hair, it really helps keep your hair out of your face while swimming.

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Question

I feel a bit tight whenever I wear the cap. How can that be prevented?

Community Answer

If you have long hair, there are special caps designed to fit your hair in. Most caps come in a universal size, but if the universal size doesn't fit your head, there are other caps designed larger.

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Question

Is it necessary to take a shower after wearing a swimming cap?

Community Answer

Yes, because you need to wash the chlorine off your body. Chlorine will damage your hair and will dry out your skin because there are chemicals in chlorine.

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Question

Can I swim without a swim cap?

Community Answer

Yes, you can definitely swim without a swim cap.

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Question

Can I make my own swim cap or is there another alternative?

Community Answer

No, but if you're a girl, you could pull your hair into a really tight, small bun to achieve a similar effect.

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Question

How do I loosen my swim cap?

Community Answer

You can stretch out your swim cap by pulling it (like you would a balloon) and that will make it a bit looser.

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Question

Is it okay if I can't shower immediately after wearing my swim cap and getting in the pool?

Community Answer

Yes, that should be okay, but only if the swim cap kept your hair completely dry. If you cannot thoroughly wash your hair after it was in chlorine, it is recommended that you at least rinse it quickly (either in the pool shower or bathroom sink) so that the chlorine does not dry and damage your hair and skin. If there is no facility nearby to help with this, I suggest rinsing it quickly from a water bottle.

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Question

Can males wear swim caps?

Community Answer

Of course! Lots of males on my swim team wear caps to protect their hair. There’s nothing wrong with wearing a cap.

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Question

Would it work to wear 2 swim caps if just one is too loose?

Community Answer

It’s strictly on preference. Some people wear two if they are worriedly their hair might fall out, but one is perfectly fine for practice and meets.

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Question

What can I do to put on the cap properly if my hair won't stay in a bun?

Community Answer

Tie your hair in a ponytail instead. Make sure the cap has been powdered to make it slide on with ease. Then ask a friend to help you when you put on the cap; perhaps they can hold the ponytail up or ease it in for you.

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Question

Can boys with longer hair bun their hair like girls? How do I tie it or pin it?

Nico

Top Answerer

Of course. If you have long hair, you should tie it into a bun: gender doesn't matter. Check out How to Make a Bun .

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