A swim cap is a must, especially if you are going to swim regularly. When choosing hats, many questions arise: which hat to choose, which one is better, what is their difference, why is it needed at all. We will try to answer all questions so that you know exactly what you need and approach the purchase with knowledge of the matter.
Why swim caps are needed
Some wonder why swimming caps are needed at all, especially if you have short hair. In addition, often even under a cap, the hair becomes wet. But a cap is a necessary accessory for both men and women, and, of course, for children.
1 Pool water is most often disinfected with chlorine. Such water is very harmful for any type of hair. It is noted that with frequent contact of hair with water from the pool, the hair may begin to fall out, become duller and brittle. Thin children's hairs are especially susceptible to the harmful effects of water with bleach.
2 Beanies still keep the hair relatively dry. Usually only a little hair gets wet closer to the edges of the cap. Drying wet hair is easy.
3 If you do not use a cap, then hair will definitely get into the pool water. This disrupts the fine filters in pools.
4 Thanks to the cap, you do not freeze. Through wet hair, heat leaves the body much faster.
5 When swimming against the clock, the cap reduces the resistance of the water and you can move faster. Therefore, at competitions, all athletes have hats.
6 You are not disturbed by the hair that falls on your forehead and eyes. In addition, if you use goggles, they can get tangled in your hair that is not covered by a cap.
7 Cap is fashionable and stylish. Thanks to this accessory, it becomes clear to everyone that you are a real athlete. There are even special collections of caps that are produced together with sports swimsuits - they are made with the same patterns and in the same color scheme.
Where to buy a pool cap
Pool caps can be bought at any sporting goods store. You can also buy other paraphernalia for this sport there: a sports swimsuit, glasses, etc. A consultant in the store will help you understand the types of hats and their prices.
What are swimming caps?
There are several types of pool caps. The cheapest of all - latex. Perhaps the price is their only advantage. They do not stretch well, they are difficult to pull on the head, they are difficult to remove, since hair sticks well to them, they can cause allergies. In addition, they are very short-lived, quite easily torn. Latex hats are hard to care for. After drying, it must be treated with talc.
The most popular type of hats are silicone. They cost a little more than latex, but they have a number of advantages. They do not cause allergies, stretch well, are easy to remove, easy to care for. After visiting the pool, it is enough to rinse the cap in cool water and dry it, avoiding direct sunlight, and away from the battery. Such hats can be suture and seamless. It is believed that seamless beanies are better, as they do not tear. But it is very difficult to tear the caps with a seam. The choice of colors, models, designs, inscriptions - all this undoubtedly attracts and allows you to choose what you want. For children there are special silicone hats with children's prints, bright colors.
There are also fabric caps. They cost more than the rest, and let water through. Their advantage is that they are easy to put on and take off. But they get completely wet. Therefore, what is the essence of such a hat is not entirely clear.
Combined hats for swimming is the most expensive option. Outside, these caps are covered with silicone, and inside with fabric. This option is the most convenient and practical, and if you are satisfied with the price of such an accessory, then choose it. The cap is worn excellently, easy to care for, easy to put on and take off, almost does not get wet.
What are the sizes of caps for the pool
Hat sizes are generally standard. They are divided, as a rule, only into adults and children. Children, of course, have a smaller volume and better fit the head of the child. But hats from different manufacturers may have slight differences in volume. Therefore, it is better to choose a hat for yourself or with your child - if the hat is bought for him. In this case, you can immediately try on and compare to find out which cap is most comfortable.
How to put on a hat
Many beginners wonder how to put on a swimming cap in order to experience the minimum amount of discomfort. For many children, putting on and taking off a hat is also a whole problem, and few toddlers enjoy this process.
If you have long hair, then it is recommended to collect them first in a bun or braid the hair so that the neck remains open. To fix the hair, use only ordinary hair ties, without any jewelry and rhinestones. Do not pin your hair with hairpins and hairpins, it is also better to remove sharp and long earrings. It is advisable to remove jewelry from your hands before putting on a hat. For example, rings can tear a hat.
Some wonder how to position the seam in relation to the head on the cap right: from ear to ear, or from the forehead to the back of the head. Most often, a hat is placed with a seam from the forehead to the back of the head, that is, along the head. But there is no fundamental difference, it does not affect the process of swimming. So you can dress her up however you like.
So, to put on a hat, you should put both hands inside, so that the back of the hand touches the hat. The fingers themselves should not be spread out, round them so that they form a rounding. Now gently pull on the hat, starting from the crown. Hair and bangs that have fallen out from under the cap can be easily tucked under the cap. Taking off a hat is easier than putting it on. It is enough to bend its edges a little and carefully remove it.
But what kind of hat was invented specifically for those who have long hair:
And here is a joke video on how to easily put on a swimming cap:
A swimming cap is an element of a swimmer's equipment that performs several functions:
protects the ears from water ingress;
protects hair from the negative effects of chlorinated water and getting wet (it is worth noting that no model is able to provide complete protection against getting wet when diving);
reduces water resistance, therefore, increases swimming speed;
protects against hypothermia: it is known that a person loses the lion's share of heat through the surface of the head;
removes hair from the face, which prevents hair from getting into the eyes or tangling them;
prevents hair from getting into the water and pool filters, which means they become clogged. The use of a swimming cap is a requirement for swimming in many pools.
Purpose
In addition to the usual models designed for swimming in the pool, there are the following types of swimming caps.
Home- Designed for professional swimmers competing in competitions. It is distinguished by high hydrodynamic properties: it perfectly follows the contours of the head and does not form wrinkles, therefore it allows the athlete to develop high speed. In some parts of the head, it can have a different thickness. However, the price of such a model is much higher than ordinary hats.
water polo- it is applied for team play in water polo. Unlike conventional models, such a hat is equipped with special plastic inserts (ear protectors) that protect the ears from a flying ball, inaccurate actions of players, and various blows.
For long hair- consists of a fabric bandana and an outer cap. This design allows you to first remove the hair, and then put on a hat.
Material
Latex a hat is inexpensive, but has a number of disadvantages: thin, easily torn, hard to put on the head, sticks to the hair, which leads to tearing when removed. In addition, a latex cap electrifies the hair and can cause allergies. This product is suitable only for people with a very short haircut. A latex cap may, as an exception, be used as a spare.
Important: so that the latex cap does not stick together, after drying, it should be treated with talcum powder.
Silicone cap - strong, durable and elastic (stretches 2 times): it is easy to put on and take off. The product does not let water through and tightly fits the head, but does not stick to the hair and does not pull it out when removed. The silicone cap ensures minimal friction with the water, which means it effectively reduces water resistance. This model does not cause allergies and is distinguished by a variety of colors and patterns.
All these advantages make the silicone cap the best choice in most cases. It is good for people with long hair. However, the price of such a product is higher than the latex model. In addition, for some sensitive people, the silicone cap can cause discomfort that is very strong, according to them, squeezing the forehead and ears.
Meet seamless And suture silicone caps. In theory, seamless models are stronger, but in practice, suture models demonstrate high strength and reliability.
The silicone cap is easy to care for: just rinse it in water and dry at room temperature.
Important: although the silicone cap is quite strong, but the hairpins can damage it. Therefore, to fix long hair, it is recommended to use elastic bands. Before putting on a hat, it is better to remove sharp earrings and jewelry from your hands - they can also ruin the product.
tissue(polyester, lycra, polyamide, elastomer) - inexpensive and soft hat: very easy to put on and take off; does not electrify the hair and does not squeeze the head.
The fabric model allows water to pass through and increases friction in the water: suitable for aqua aerobics, beginner swimmers, not for swimming at speed. The only property of a fabric cap is to keep hair from entering the pool.
Important: hairpins can be used with a fabric cap: a few small holes will not affect its quality in any way.
Combined hat - consists of two materials: silicone ( outer part) and cloth ( inner part). This combines the strength of silicone and the softness of fabric. The combined cap is easy to put on and take off, does not let water through and does not electrify the hair, easy to care for. This model is the most practical and convenient, but also expensive.
A combo cap is ideal for training and aqua aerobics, but not suitable for speed swimming due to the fabric. In this case, it is better to opt for a smooth silicone model.
rubber cap- an outdated version. Unlike the silicone model, it is not so elastic, but it is quite strong and wear-resistant.
Size
Swimming caps come in sizes for adults (male/female) and for children. The children's model differs from the adult cap in a smaller volume. Some manufacturers offer medium-sized models designed for people with small heads or teenagers.
Sometimes you can find the following gradation of sizes:
- Category 1 - children;
- Category 2 - universal;
- Category 3 - for people with a very large head.
The cap is selected with a mandatory fitting. This is the only way to evaluate how convenient a particular model is. The main criterion is that the cap should not squeeze the head too much.
Design
A modern hat can act as a decorative accessory. There are models in retro style (with a strap fastened on the chin) or with a three-dimensional pattern. Hats for women are often decorated with flowers in the form of flowers.
For people with long hair, interesting models have been developed with a special recess for hair in the form of a small comb or mohawk at the crown.
Children's models are distinguished by their bright design: execution in the form of an animal's muzzle, the image of cartoon characters and fairy tales. The design of the water polo cap is selected taking into account the symbols of the team.
To emphasize individuality, you can choose models that have the same colors and patterns as the bathing suit.
- Before putting on, long hair should be collected in a bun slightly above the back of the head.
- Put the cap on the palm of your hand and stretch it in different sides. After that, you need to slightly tilt your head forward and put on a hat from the top of your head, pulling it over your forehead, temples and back of your head. The ears must be completely covered.
- If necessary, you can smooth the cap with your palms so that it “sits” comfortably on your head.
- When put on, the suture cap is located with a seam along the head (from the forehead to the back of the head).
- Before putting on, you can moisten your hair with water if it is strongly electrified.
- After use, rinse the cap in cold running water and dry it at room temperature, but it is important to avoid direct sunlight on the product. In this case, it is desirable that the cap is as straightened as possible.
Manufacturer
The first criterion for choosing a hat is convenience, the second is quality. Among the brands that produce clothing and accessories for swimming, Arena is the undisputed leader: best quality and range of products. No matter how cheap a beanie from a nameless manufacturer is, the Arena brand will surely have a model in the same price range. Hats of specialized brands are also good, Beco, Head, Speedo, Volna and others. They are durable and serve for a long time without changing color and size.
The cheapest beanies from little-known brands, such as Sprinter or Intex, tend to tear quickly and are difficult to put on.
For professionals and amateurs, a visit to the pool cannot be carried out without the presence of special equipment: a swimsuit, swimming trunks and goggles with a swimming cap. While goggles, a swimsuit and swimming trunks are usually easy, many beginners don't know how to put on a swim cap. There are several rules for choosing and putting on a headdress for the pool, so you can't do without the advice of experienced swimmers.
Why do you need a swim cap?
Sometimes in the pool you can meet people who go into the water without a hat. Most often, these are beginners who believe that this accessory is more suitable for professionals, and not for those who come for the purpose of recovery or training. This is a false stereotype that can lead to undesirable consequences. You need to understand that a hat is no less important than swimming trunks or a swimsuit. You need to wear it when swimming in the pool, because it:
- prevents water from entering the ears;
- allows you to keep fallen hair, ensuring the cleanliness of the pool;
- retains body heat (the greatest heat loss occurs through the head);
- protects hair from bleach (constant contact with it can cause baldness);
- does not allow hair to get wet or dry;
- improves streamlining, which affects the speed of swimming;
- allows you to stand out from the rest.
The last point refers to those who prefer bright swimwear with unusual prints and patterns. The cap is not an accessory, but a mandatory equipment that even beginners must wear to visit the pool.
What are swimming caps?
The range of swimming products is huge, so novice swimmers can find it difficult to choose. This applies not only to the selection of the desired size, but also to the material. There are 4 types of material from which hats for the pool are made; each of them has its own characteristics.
Latex
The thinnest products are made from latex. They are quite difficult to put on without a certain skill. Sometimes they can pull long strands together, causing discomfort. Latex is more suitable for people with short hair, therefore it is more often the choice of men. One of the main advantages of latex is its cheapness. Despite the fragility, it is profitable to buy hats made of this material, because it is easy to replace a torn one with a new one. This makes them one of the most popular options even at low quality.
Silicone
A more modern and high-quality analogue of latex, which has a lot of advantages. Silicone tends to stretch a lot (2 or more times), so putting on an accessory is very simple. This great option for long hair, because most often silicone caps are purchased by women. It is undesirable to use hairpins while wearing a headdress - they can easily leave a hole in the material. Try to choose products in which the manufacturer has made a thickening at the edges: they give a better fixation and prevent water from entering the head.
Silicone allows you to apply any patterns and prints, which is another plus. There is only one minus - the price, which is significantly higher than for latex products.
Textile
Great option for water aerobics. The material is quite soft, does not cause problems and discomfort when dressing. Fabric products have a long service life. Most often, the basis is polyester and lycra. Among the advantages, one can single out the fact that hairpins can be used with fabric headdresses.
The downside is that the material is permeable, so this option is more suitable not for protection from water and bleach, but for fixing hairstyles. It has a rough surface, so it is not recommended for competitions.
Combined materials
One of the most popular options that combines the main advantages of other products. Usually inner side such accessories are fabric, which allows you to wear them without any problems, and the outer one is silicone, which protects against water. On the combined models, you can apply any drawings and patterns.
There is only one minus of products - the price, which differs significantly from the cost of other models.
Swim cap size
In most cases, manufacturers produce hats in two sizes: adult and children. Modern products stretch perfectly and fit people with any head. If standard sizes cause discomfort, the best choice there will be silicone hats: they are easy to put on, they have the greatest ductility, so they will suit everyone.
Some manufacturers produce medium-sized accessories that are marked with the letter "M". They are intended for teenagers, although they are sometimes used by girls for whom standard adult sizes are large.
How to put on a swimming cap?
For many people who have started swimming, putting on a cap causes real discomfort. This is due to lack of experience and improper technique. Most of the difficulties arise in girls with a long haircut. Before putting on a hat, you need:
- remove all rings, earrings, bracelets;
- remove hairpins and hairpins;
- collect hair with an elastic band;
- put on a headdress.
It is important to consider that you need to wear it so that the seam is located from the forehead to the back of the head or across - from ear to ear.
To learn how to properly wear a swimming cap, it is best to use the simplest and most versatile technique:
- Put both hands inside the hat, placing your palms with the back to the inner walls of the product.
- Slowly pull the headpiece over your head from the top of your head to the back of your head. All strands that are knocked out, tuck inward. It is important that the hair is completely removed, otherwise it may be damaged.
- Stretch the edges so that there are no wrinkles.
If you have electrified hair or use latex products, you can moisten your head a little with water in the shower before putting on the headdress.
To remove the hat, simply pull the end of the hat on either side, then slowly remove it from your head.
Wearing a swim cap for long hair
Girls have the most difficulty with how to put on a swim cap for long hair. The technique in this case will be the same, but there are some differences.
Hair needs to be removed. The easiest way is to collect them in a ponytail, but with a large length it is better to tie them in a bun at the crown. You can not use hairpins - this will damage even the strongest hats. You need to fix your hair with an elastic band.
The main group is now made up of. Manufacturers produce them in multi-colored, colorful, and to the touch they are much nicer than latex ones. It is very important that these caps are hypoallergenic - they cannot cause allergies. Another incomparable plus is that silicone caps are very elastic, easier to put on and cause almost no inconvenience. If you buy a silicone cap from a well-known company, you will be surprised at how well it is made, it fits perfectly to the size of the head and does not form wrinkles on the skin. An example of an excellent silicone hat is models (solid silicone caps in different colors), (caps designed specifically for long hair), .
In addition to silicone and latex, there are also. They are great for swimming, as they do not cause any inconvenience at all and do not put pressure on the head, their only drawback is that the fabric allows water to pass through. The main materials from which fabric caps are made are lycra, polyamides and others. An example of a fabric cap - Arena Unix.
Thus, if it is important for you that the swimming cap does not let water through, choose a combined or silicone model. If you don't care if your hair gets wet during a workout or not, you can choose a fabric model.
Caps for professional sports swimming
If you are doing sports swimming professionally, then you need to pay attention to . In these caps, their hydrodynamic properties come first. For example, this is a cap soldered from two hemispheres. The most high-tech and, of course, the most expensive cap for speed swimming is the legendary cap. To neatly fix the hair under the starter cap, we recommend paying attention to the elastic lining cap. If you need pool caps with ears - for a tighter fit - consider the model from.
Swim cap sizes
Basically, swimming caps do not have a specific size, they are subdivided only into and.
Modern adult swim caps are very durable and stretchy, so they will fit all adults well. And children's pool caps are designed so as not to put a lot of pressure on the child's head. And, of course, they differ in brighter and more colorful colors, for example,. There are also children's caps for the pool, which are analogues of adults (for example, fabric cap). More recently, manufacturers have begun to produce medium-sized beanies that are suitable for teenagers and adults with small heads, for example.
Speedo Slogan Cap. At firms also in each collection there are several models with funny drawings.
Who can and is useful to visit the pool, you ask? Almost everyone.
The fact is that swimming allows you to reduce weight, improve your health, relieve stress, which is very important in our time, improve your mood and take a break from daily problems.
During swimming, blood circulation improves, skin rejuvenates, flexibility and mobility of all joints increase, and the spine relaxes.
If you decide to go swimming, then first of all you need to carefully read the rules for visiting the institution you have chosen.
With regular visits to the pool, of course, you need to get a few necessary accessories, namely: a towel, as well as a cap for swimming in the pool.
Having learned the rules of being in any health pool, you will see that the purchase of this cap for those involved is mandatory condition.
Do you really need a cap when visiting the pool?
It turns out that this is a very useful and necessary thing:
Which hat is best for you?
I hope that you need a cap for swimming in the pool, we figured it out. Now consider the question of which one to choose with all the variety of models.
When purchasing this accessory, you do not need to pay attention to the size, because it is not there, there are only divisions into adults and children (they are smaller in volume).
To date, the choice of these products is huge and will satisfy the taste of even the most sophisticated fashionista, because the pool also has its own fashion trends.
There you can see hats in plain and various colors, smooth and with voluminous figures and flowers, various patterns and inscriptions.
There are women's collections of hats that are produced together with swimsuits, with the same pattern and in the same color scheme.
Some companies can make you a custom swim cap with your own design. So that in the pool you can feel not only comfortable, but also stylish.
Manufacturers of swimming accessories produce these products from various materials (latex, silicone, fabric, combined).
At latex hats a huge number of disadvantages(thin, tear easily, difficult to put on and take off, stick even to short hair, cause many problems). At the same time, it is difficult to care for her, after you have visited the pool, she must be treat with talc otherwise it will stick.It must be kept in mind that some people may have allergic reactions for this material. They attract the buyer mainly only by their low cost, they are often sold in the pools themselves, if the visitor suddenly forgot to take his own.
Silicone caps for the pool are more popular today and are perhaps the most sought after species.
They cost more than latex, but they have many advantages.
They are hypoallergenic, do not stick to the hair, which is very important for ladies with long hair.
Easy to put on and take off, because the material is very elastic (this allows you to make models of various designs, with inscriptions, slogans, pictures). Such hats are suture and seamless.
fabric cap made of synthetic materials (lycra, polyester, etc.). She doesn't shake her head, but has a high coefficient of friction. This is an inexpensive option for lovers of swimming. It fits well and does not pull hair, but also does not protect them from the effects of water and chlorine because the fabric is waterproof. Such products are used mainly in aqua aerobics, as they serve rather to collect hair. They are not suitable for swimmers..
The disadvantages of fabric caps can be compensated combined caps: top - silicone coating, inside - fabric. This is of course the most expensive option, but the most practical and convenient. These hats are great to wear, easy to care for, practically do not get wet.
How to choose a swimming cap for your child?
It is problematic to find children who would not like to splash in the water. In the conditions of our cities and constantly busy parents, going to the pool is much easier than going to the sea or even the nearest river.If you are constantly swimming in the pool with children, then this is not only a pleasant activity for them, but also great way to be healthy. Strong immunity, muscles, healthy lungs, endurance, strength, agility - this is what your child will gain during these classes.
Just take him to the pool a few times a week. And most importantly, teach him all the security measures when visiting him.
Every adult who has ever visited the pool knows what things you need to have with you.
If you went to the pool with a child, their list can be improved somewhat.
Of course, a bathrobe will come in handy with the swimsuit so that your child does not freeze after swimming, goggles, fins for the pool, and, of course, a children's rubber cap.
With all this, the child will be able not only to swim, but also to dive.
How to choose a children's hat for swimming in the pool?
There are only two sizes of caps for the pool: for adults and for children. You don't need to know any specific numbers. A hat for children is no different from adults (a little smaller in size), they just can have small funny ears, bright children's prints, or be made in the form of an animal's muzzle.
If you need to purchase an accessory for your baby, just take a baby hat that he likes and fits in and go to the pool.
How to put on a pool cap easily and correctly
Having decided on the choice of a hat, you need to learn how to use it correctly.
Handle it carefully to avoid breakage. After visiting the pool dry the cap, but not in the sun and away from the radiator.
To easily put on a hat and not experience discomfort, you need to know a few simple rules:
- Remove jewelry (rings, bracelets) from your hands so as not to tear the hat;
- If you have long hair, collect it in a bun, secure with an elastic band and spread it over your head, leaving your neck open, it is important not to use hairpins, sharp hairpins that can damage the cap;
- Stretch the cap by putting both hands inside;
- Bend over and attach the edge of the product to the forehead;
- Take your hands back, distributing the product over your head;
- Taking off the hat is much easier than putting it on, you just need to bend its edges and carefully remove it.
And finally, where can I buy a hat? They are sold at any sporting goods store.. The consultant will help you deal with the types of hats and guide you in the price.
We would very much like that after reading this article, you would start regularly visiting the pool, while getting great pleasure, the joy of communicating with relatives and friends, with interesting people, strengthening your health and just relaxing.
