If you have long hair and don't have a swim cap, tie your hair back in a ponytail, braid, or tight bun. This will minimize contact with chlorine.
With long hair, you'll want to avoid Lycra swim caps. Lycra swim caps don't provide a tight fit and will most likely slip off quickly if you put your head under water. This leaves us with latex swim caps and silicone swim caps. Both kinds provide a tight fit and work with long hair.
Pair a silicone headband with a swim cap for a better seal.
If you don't want to wear a cap, try any waterproof headband on its own. A headband can help keep your hairstyle in place so you won't have to worry about loose strands getting wet.
Swim caps offer the very best protection because your hair will not come into contact with chlorine, salt, or lake water. If you can not find a swim cap, you like then wear your hair in a ponytail or braid to minimize contact with chemicals in the water.
We've found that the easiest option for most is to put your hair into a bun and then put on your swim cap. Based on your preference and hairstyle, you can put the bun high or low. You can also braid your hair and then circle it up into a bun. Or just leave as a single braid and wear your cap.
Get Your Hair Wet
Since cap the material slides more easily over wet strands of hair, dunk your head in the pool or give it a shower before putting on your cap. You can also coat your hair with leave-in conditioner to further protect it.
This cap features extra space in the back of the cap to keep long hair tucked inside while maintaining a smooth fit. Quickly and easily put on and remove the cap without snagging your hair. For a superior fitting, durable, lightweight cap, choose the Speedo® Silicone Long Hair Swim Cap.
Protect your hair with oil or a swim cap.
According to Francois, it's always a good idea to thoroughly rinse your hair with clean, fresh water before you swim—no matter your length or texture, and regardless of the type of water you're splashing around in.
Sewing your own swim cap is actually pretty easy and quick, much more so than sewing a bathing suit. If you are just beginning to sew bathing suit fabric, this is a great way to practice. And if you are a veteran at doing it, you NEED a swim cap to match your swimsuits!
Adding a hydrating butter hair mask before pool time protects your hair from chlorine. Look for a deep conditioning treatment that contains dimethicone to coat hair strands, which helps to seal cuticles and offer a layer of physical protection that prevents pool chemicals from penetrating the hair shaft.
Swimming Cap Friendly Hairstyles
Braiding your hair keeps it secure and makes it much easier to put on the swimming cap. Plus, once you're done swimming, you can just unbraid your hair, and it will be tangle-free. If braids aren't your thing, you can also opt for a low bun or a twisted chignon.
A swim cap is a small, tight-fitting piece of headwear that is designed to keep your hair out of your face and prevent it from getting in your eyes and mouth while swimming. Swim caps are also used to reduce drag and improve hydrodynamics, which can help swimmers go faster and more efficiently through the water.
If you are swimming without putting your head in the water then a swim cap will protect your hair from splashes and will probably stay dry but if you swim with your head below the water line, water will seep into the cap because there is not a watertight seal.
WET YOUR HAIR
This tip for getting long hair in a swim cap will come as no surprise to anyone who has tried doing this with dry hair, which can be downright painful. Simply dampen your hair to help the cap slide on more easily.
Chlorine will leech all of your hair's natural oils from it, leaving your hair damaged, dry and rough. This natural oil is necessary for leaving your hair healthy and smooth. It also can cause chemical reactions inside your hair, changing its natural color, causing the ends to split and weakening the strands.
If you're a frequent swimmer or have hair that's more prone to chlorine damage, consider applying a leave-in chlorine protectant on your hair. Natural oils, including coconut oil, olive oil, and jojoba act as a protective layer to prevent chlorine and other pool chemicals from being absorbing into your hair strands.
Before a swim
Apply light oil or leave-in conditioner on your hair and soak your hair with fresh water before you step into the pool.
A silicone- or oil-based hair product like a conditioner or serum will act as a barrier between your hair and the chlorine in the water. By coating your hair before you swim, you'll prevent chlorine from stripping your natural oils. Coconut oil also works for this, or any products created especially for swimmers.
It is important to wash your hair thoroughly after swimming even if you protect your hair with a custom swim cap. This is the perfect opportunity to get rid of those unwanted pool chemicals from your hair, although many people hate showering in the showers at your local pool.